An Assessment of the Natural Resources Management Practices of Local Government and Indigenous Communities in Bucloc, Abra

Abstract

The municipality of Bucloc experiences conflicts between the government and the Tinguian community in the management of the natural resources found there. An assessment of the systems practiced in the municipality will be made in order to find a way to reconcile these two stakeholders for a better natural resource management system. The most notable tool of the Tinguians in the management of their natural resources is known as the LAP AT. LAP AT is a system of prohibition by common consent of all the people. of the destruction of natural resources. It is based on the belief that this would create ill effects on the lives of the present and future generations. The primary purpose of the LAP AT is to preserve, control and regulate the resources for the benefit of all. Actual projects and development strategies for the resources in the municipality characterize the natural resource management practices of the local government of Bucloc. The main objective is to develop under-used lands in the area into agro-forestry areas for productivity to generate income for the residents in the area. Another main objective is also to promote cottage industries and more projects for capital formation. The researcher plans to analyze the natural resource management systems as applied to specific areas involving indigenous practices, government policies and other groups. The study will explore natural resource management systems of government and indigenous practices as applied in the municipality of Bucloc, Abra. The historical approach will rely mostly on existing records gathered from credible sources, agencies, and research centers found in Bangued. Abra. Basing from the comparisons that will be made from the different indigenous and government practices for each common resource, the researcher will then prove that a co-management scheme of the resources in the area will be the best option for natural resource management.