Local Knowledge on Water Use and Water-Related Ecosystem Services in Lowland, Midland, and Upland Villages in Mindanao, Philippines

Abstract

AbstractWe explore local knowledge on water in lowland, midland, and upland villages in the Libungan-Alamada Watershed in Mindanao, Philippines. Specifically, we investigated local knowledge on water use and other natural benefits derived by the villages from their water sources (i.e., river and spring) or water-related ecosystem services (WES). We implemented a two-stage participatory exercise in each village that engaged diverse residents to collaboratively identify how they use water and other WES they obtain from their water sources. Results of our participatory exercise indicate the richness of local knowledge on water, reflecting that their water sources do not only supply water for domestic and agricultural use but also WES that shape the very social-ecological dynamics of their village. Villagers’ local knowledge captures how the water sources are a complex biome of several water-dependent ecological units (e.g., trees and shrubs that form riparian forest strips) that all contribute natural benefits for subsistence, livelihood, and cultural identities of each village. We found similarities in local knowledge across all villages, especially on traditional WES that have intergenerationally supported the basic needs (e.g., food) of their village. More importantly, we found several unique local knowledge for each village, demonstrating place-based specificity of local knowledge based on biophysical (i.e., elevation) and socio-cultural variations. In particular, we found local knowledge among Indigenous communities in the upland village to mirror their traditional heritage. We discuss that our findings can strengthen the need for engagement, recognition, and documentation of local knowledge for more sustainable, resilient, and equitable water management.KeywordsUplandWatershedRiverIndigenousParticipatory