The Republic of the Philippines, with assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has launched efforts to promote sustainable community-based natural resource management (CBNRM). These efforts led to the creation of the Community-Based Forest Management Office (CBFMO) within the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

In the Philippines, the Law and Communities Program contributes to efforts by public interest law organizations and other non-government organizations (NGOs) to promote and strengthen sustainable community-based natural resource management (CBNRM). CIEL interacts with and provides assistance to two primary constituencies: 1) the DENR/CBFMO/USAID's Natural Resource Management Program, and 2) local communities and NGOs participating in community-based forest management activities, especially those involved with DENR projects.

The Law and Communities Program in the Philippines consists of working with Filipino public interest lawyers, and advising local communities. Hundreds of rural communities are now participating in various community-based natural resource management projects. An array of legal problems and complications exist at many, and probably most, of these projects. Many communities do not know or fully understand their legal rights and options vis-a-vis CBNRM. Likewise, some DENR policies, programs and projects may not fully respond to the needs, problems, potentials and perspectives of local communities. The Law and Communities Program, in collaboration with its Philippine partners is providing direct legal assistance at various DENR-sponsored CBNRM sites. Participating NGO lawyers, after consultations with communities, advise them on their legal rights and options for securing tenure and other legal incentives for sustainable natural resource management.

USAID, the Ford Foundation and the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund help fund the Law and Communities Program work in the Philippines.

For more information contact: Owen J. Lynch (olynch@ciel.org) or or Lauren Baker (lbaker@ciel.org).