Researchers validate research results to communities

The community validation meetings conducted on 26 February to 10 March 2005 once again exemplified the participatory and collaborative nature of the Biodiversity Research Programme (BRP). The purpose of the validation meetings is to present to the community the results of the different studies and to affirm the "truthfulness" of the data presented.

As an important part of the research process, community validation meetings were held in various barangays in Misamis Occidental, which were study sites of the BRP research projects. These were: Mansawan and Lake Duminagat in Don Victoriano, Toliyok, Tabuk Norte and Villaflor in Oroquieta City, Mamalad in Calamba, Kauswagan and Tipolo in Plaridel, Peniel and Danlugan in Lopez Jaena, and Small Potongan in Concepcion. Barangay officials, representatives of the different sectors in the community, and a number of local researchers participated in the activity.

The BRP Site Coordinator started off the meetings with a brief explanation of the history, nature, and objectives of the BRP. After which a representative from each of the studies presented their data, their preliminary analysis, and their recommendations. At the end of each presentation, the participants were asked in an open forum whether they agreed or disagreed with the data presented, and were given opportunity to express their own concerns and recommendations for biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource use. It is noteworthy that the people are aware of the importance of biodiversity conservation. In fact, in each of the validation meetings, the people enumerated a number of ways to conserve biodiversity in their respective barangays. However, poverty and lack of other means of earning a living prevent them from applying these conservation practices in their everyday lives. Consequently, one of the recommendations of the communities was for the Programme to provide livelihood projects. Others requested for training and/or seminar on organic farming and integrated pest management.

Posters highlighting important research results were strategically posted in the venues to facilitate understanding of the concepts discussed in the validation meetings. Some handouts and brochures were also disseminated to the participants for greater appreciation of the results of the studies.

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