{"id":167772,"date":"2024-04-15T08:50:02","date_gmt":"2024-04-15T07:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/?p=167772"},"modified":"2024-04-15T13:42:39","modified_gmt":"2024-04-15T12:42:39","slug":"major-victory-for-the-protection-of-the-marbel-buluan-watershed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/news\/major-victory-for-the-protection-of-the-marbel-buluan-watershed\/","title":{"rendered":"Major victory for the protection of the Marbel Buluan Watershed"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Marbel Buluan Watershed forms the catchment of several major river systems that straddle over three provinces on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. It is a vital biodiversity area spanning 121,000 hectares in the Roxas and Quezon Mountain Ranges that forms a headwater source for domestic, industrial and agricultural purposes. A controversial mine, the Tampakan copper-gold project, is planned at the centre of the watershed. Over the past decades, numerous local stakeholders have raised concerns on the impacts of the mining project to the environment, health, food security and livelihoods of the directly affected Indigenous and local communities and in low-lying areas. In March of this year, after years of preparation, the three provincial governments finally <a href=\"https:\/\/mindanews.com\/top-stories\/2024\/03\/south-cotabato-sultan-kudarat-maguindanao-sur-stakeholders-ink-pledge-to-protect-marbel-buluan-watershed\/#gsc.tab=0\">signed a joint ordinance (local law) creating the Mt. Buluan Protected Watershed<\/a>, in effect putting more than 8,000 hectares of mountain into formal protected area status and a \u2018no-go zone\u2019 for destructive projects.<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p class=\"has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ec70a1068e36ce6cb5e365d9e9574b35\"><em>Header photo: Tampakan, Philippines<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p>The Philippines is one of the world\u2019s most richly endowed mineral resources countries. The country is estimated to hold mineral deposits worth at least $1 trillion, mostly copper, gold, nickel, aluminum and chromite. At least 9 million hectares of the country\u2019s total land area of 30 million hectares are known to hold high mineral deposits. As of July 2021, nearly 764,000 hectares are covered by mining concessions<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_167772_1('footnote_plugin_reference_167772_1_1');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_167772_1('footnote_plugin_reference_167772_1_1');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_167772_1_1\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[1]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_167772_1_1\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/story\/the-human-rights-impact-of-mining-transition-minerals-in-the-philippines\/#note16270911\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"footnote_url_wrap\">https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/story\/the-human-rights-impact-of-mining-transition-minerals-in-the-philippines\/#note16270911<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_167772_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_167772_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script>. The Tampakan mining project seeks to exploit one of the world\u2019s largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits. It is estimated that the mine would yield an average of 375,000 tons of copper and 360,000 ounces of gold per annum over 17 years<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_167772_1('footnote_plugin_reference_167772_1_2');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_167772_1('footnote_plugin_reference_167772_1_2');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_167772_1_2\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[2]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_167772_1_2\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/story\/the-human-rights-impact-of-mining-transition-minerals-in-the-philippines\/#note16270914\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"footnote_url_wrap\">https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/story\/the-human-rights-impact-of-mining-transition-minerals-in-the-philippines\/#note16270914<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_167772_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_167772_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The impacts of the Tampakan project<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p>The mining project is located at the head-water of the Marbel Buluan Watershed, which is a biodiversity hotspot and home to 2,804 streams or creeks surrounding the Roxas and Quezon Mountain Ranges, and a main water source for domestic, industrial and agricultural purposes. The watershed had no protected status, which makes the commitment of stakeholders to protect the watershed even more significant. The mine would clear around 3,935 ha of old-growth, high-biodiverse forests and arable lands. It would affect five Bla\u2019an Indigenous peoples\u2019 territories and cause the relocation of more than 1,000 Bla\u2019an Indigenous families and affect the livelihoods of more than a million people downstream.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p>Local and Indigenous communities have been at the forefront of resistance against the mine for years. Although the mine has not been opened, 8 Indigenous people have already been killed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p>The signing by the governors of the three provinces of a Memorandum of Agreement for their commitment to protect and conserve the Marbel Buluan Watershed happened after years of campaigning by IUCN NL\u2019s partners Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) and the Convergence of Initiatives for Environmental Justice together with other NGOs, the Catholic Church and the indigenous and local communities in the area. Jaybee Garganera, National Coordinator of ATM, says: \u2018The protection of the watershed is a major victory in our efforts towards ecological integrity but also to uphold the dignity of human life, promote our socio-cultural fabric and safeguard the well-being of ecosystems\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p>The commitment of the provincial governments to protect the Marbel Buluan Watershed is significant. The watershed is crucial for biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation and the livelihoods of local communities. It provides a <a href=\"https:\/\/mindanews.com\/top-stories\/2024\/03\/south-cotabato-sultan-kudarat-maguindanao-sur-stakeholders-ink-pledge-to-protect-marbel-buluan-watershed\/#gsc.tab=0\">range of positive environmental benefits<\/a> such as water filtration and storage, air filtration, carbon storage, nutrient cycling, soil formation, recreation, food, and timber cultivation. The parties that signed the commitment range from the governors of the three provinces in which the watershed is located, to Catholic leaders and members of local environmental protection offices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p><strong>Further reading:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>IUCN NL: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/news\/governors-veto-against-mining-important-step-towards-protection-of-a-critical-watershed-in-the-philippines\/\">Governor\u2019s veto against mining important step towards protection of a critical watershed in the Philippines<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vrij Nederland: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vn.nl\/energietransitie-ontbossing-geweld\/\">Hoe de energietransitie tot ontbossing en geweld leidt <\/a>(in Dutch)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Bottom Line!<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p>With Bottom Line!, a coalition of Dutch and international civil society organizations is working towards a just energy transition with the least possible impact on people and nature. Both in the Netherlands and in the countries where the raw materials are extracted.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/project\/bottom-line-a-fair-and-successful-energy-transition\/\">More about Bottom Line!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Green Livelihoods Alliance<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<p>Through the Forests for a Just Future programme by the Green Livelihoods Alliance, we contribute to more sustainable and inclusive governance of tropical rainforests, in a way that promotes climate mitigation, human rights and preserving the livelihoods of indigenous and local communities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block block-container small-12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/project\/forests-for-a-just-future\/\">More about Green Livelihoods Alliance<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"background background-preset-primary\" id=\"block_fd82b89e9a9dbc15b53742b9d5ba61ce\">\n             <div class=\"dark custom-padding-top\">\n    \n\n\n<div class=\"smallteam-members__name12 large-offset-1 large-10\">\n\t<div id=\"team-members-block_c23b0deec348363ebb67893270929a84\" class=\"team-members team-members-block block\">\n\t\t<span class=\"anchor-id\" id=\"\"><\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"team-members__title\">\n\t\t\t\t<div>More information<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"team-members__body small-12 grid-x\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-members__item grid-x small-12 medium-6\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-members__image cell shrink\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/maartje-hilterman\/\" target=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-members__image-wrapper lazyload\" style=\"background-image:inherit;\" data-bg-image=\"url(&#039;https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IUCN-Anonymous-user-icon.jpg&#039;)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IUCN-Anonymous-user-icon.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; 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if (l_obj_Target.length) { jQuery( 'html, body' ).delay( 0 ); jQuery('html, body').animate({ scrollTop: l_obj_Target.offset().top - window.innerHeight * 0.2 }, 380); } }<\/script>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Marbel Buluan Watershed forms the catchment of several major river systems that straddle over three provinces on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. It is a vital biodiversity area spanning 121,000 hectares in the Roxas and Quezon Mountain Ranges that forms a headwater source for domestic, industrial and agricultural purposes. A controversial [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":168013,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[309,184,174,197],"class_list":["post-167772","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-bottom-line","tag-mining","tag-protected-areas","tag-responsible-value-chains"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167772","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=167772"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167772\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":168077,"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167772\/revisions\/168077"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/168013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=167772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=167772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=167772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}