Final Technical Report: Capacity-Building for Intensified Forest and Biodiversity Protection Framework and Training Program Development

The program aims to conserve biodiversity in forest areas, reduce forest degradation in priority watersheds, enhance capacity to conserve biodiversity, manage forests, and monitor low emissions development, and increase capacity for disaster management in highly vulnerable areas. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through its Forest Management Bureau (FMB) and Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) in partnership with the B+WISER Program adopted the Lawin Forest and Biodiversity Protection System as part of the national forest and biodiversity protection strategy in March 2016. The Lawin system uses information on forest cover change and current forest condition to formulate forest conservation area plans, and it integrates mechanisms to respond to threats to forest ecosystems. A capacity gap assessment was conducted to identify the needs of the DENR in implementing the Lawin system. The assessment found that the DENR had a shortage of skilled and competent staff, inefficient and adaptive organization, and an enabling legal and policy environment. The assessment also identified the need for a capacity-building framework to guide the DENR in developing effective capacity-building practices. The capacity-building framework developed in June 2018 aims to build and maintain a skilled and competent staff base at the core of the Lawin system, house the technical them in an efficient and adaptive organization, and support an enabling legal and policy environment. The framework advocates for the DENR to develop a skilled and competent staff base, improve institutional systems and processes, and establish an enabling legal and policy environment. A proposed capacity-building training curriculum was developed to build the knowledge and skill of the staff according to the roles that they perform in forest and biodiversity protection. The curriculum includes training on Lawin system implementation, forest conservation, and biodiversity management. The proposed training program curriculum and detailed module syllabi have been presented to the Human Resources Development Service for consideration. The capacity-building framework and training program are critical components of the B+WISER Program's efforts to sustain the gains and enhance nationwide Lawin implementation beyond the program life. The framework and training program aim to build the capacity of the DENR to implement the Lawin system effectively and sustainably, and to ensure the long-term conservation of biodiversity in forest areas and the reduction of forest degradation in priority watersheds. The Lawin system has been rolled out nationwide to protect all the remaining natural forests in the 16 regions managed by DENR. The critical good reception of the Lawin system has made way for its institutionalization, which entails its further integration into the systems and processes of DENR, as well as the improvement of the various capacities of the implementing agencies. The capacity-building framework and training program aim to support this institutionalization and ensure the long-term sustainability of the Lawin system. The capacity-building framework and training program aim to address the capacity gaps identified in the assessment and to build the capacity of the DENR to implement the Lawin system effectively and sustainably. The framework and training program are critical components of the B+WISER Program's efforts to sustain the gains and enhance nationwide Lawin implementation beyond the program life.