The Cordillera Review Volume 1 Issue 2

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36 The Cordillera ReviewSome individuals first ‘survey’ the different saguday to whichthey have access and then they approach the membantay where thebest trees for housing are found. The latter determines the numberof trees to be cut and points out the best places to get the requiredlumber. Although the membantay has the final word with regardsto which part of the saguday to cut trees from, the requestingparty could negotiate and compromise with the membantay (p.39).By choosing the village or ili as the appropriate planning unit, theNRMP 2 research was able to demonstrate, among other things, thecritical role that the rules and regulations of indigenous property regimesplayed in the sustainable management of forest resources in the researchsites.4. Collective Action, Norms and Economic ChangesIn this process of devolution in natural resource management whereby“user groups will take on roles formerly assigned to the state,” someform of collective action is necessary. The collective action may be tocoordinate individuals’ activities, develop rules for resource use,monitor compliance with rules and sanction violators, and mobilizethe necessary cash, labor or material resources (Meinzen-Dick and Knox2001, 45-46).Collective action may be enabled by a strong sense of communityoften found in traditional communities. Here, resource users follow therules of use and access to forests defined by their indigenous propertyregimes. Rules are enforced and violators are sanctioned. The actions ofindividuals are easily observed by others in the traditional ili. Individualbehavior is governed by the values of reciprocity, solidarity and socialpressure based on common norms and values.Customary NormsCollective action based on customary norms has been observed in severalof the ‘traditional’ communities of the Cordillera. The examples fromthe community studies of Fidelisan and Demang in the previous sectionattest to this. Also, the collective action is enhanced if local users findsupport from their local governments. Customary norms that regulatethe utilization of forest products can be reinforced through ordinancespassed by the barangay or municipal government. This is the case inBarangay Ankileng, where the support of Barangay Ordinances tomendoza 25-52.pmd361/27/2010, 2:33 PM
Po licy Inno va tio ns a nd Effe c tive Ma na g e m e nt o f Fo re sts 37enforce customary rules regarding forest management was reported byCabalfin (2001, 16-17):The Barangay Ordinance No. 10, series of 1997 made the preventionof forest fires the task of every community member. Anotherordinance rewards a forest guard (chosen by the barangay councilin consultation with the members of the dap-ay) who catches aperson who cuts trees without a permit or one who causes wildfires.Collective action has also been confirmed in communities that havealways exercised their management prerogatives over their forests as inthe forests of Patay, Sagada (see Diaz 1994). Patay is one of the NRMP 1research sites. The community study described the modus vivendibetween the community and the DENR since the early 1980s wherebythe community, not the DENR, regulates its members’ use of the forestsfollowing the rules of their indigenous property regimes as long as theforest products do not leave the geographical territory of the municipality(or the barangay) where the forest is located. State rules are enforced bythe DENR only when these forest products leave the community’sboundaries.That the pine stands of the municipality of Sagada are mainlyartificially established is also the assertion of Tacloy (2001, 2) whostudied the forestry practices in Sagada. He reported about howcustomary norms 14 coordinate community members’ action in times offorest fires:In case of fire, the villagers are mobilized automatically to helpin fire suppression, especially if it threatens other properties suchas granaries and houses.The respondents reported, however, that this spirit hassignificantly diminished. Forest fires in the communal forest aremost likely ignored by the villagers when no important propertiesare threatened.Some respondents commented: ‘let the DENR come and suppressthe forest fires because they prohibit us to cut trees under ourcommunity rules’ (Tacloy 2001, 5).If there are communities where collective action for natural resourcemanagement exists supported by customary norms and indigenousproperty systems, there are also communities where little or none ofthese institutions exist. This is the lesson from the community studiesof NRMP 1. In traditional communities, both property rights andcollective action support the community’s forest resources managementpractices. Hence, the forest resources are utilized in a sustainablemendoza 25-52.pmd371/27/2010, 2:33 PM
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