Located within the rich landscapes of the province of Surigao del Sur in the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor (EMBC) is the ancestral domain of the Indigenous People (IP) Group called the Manobo. The Manobo Tribal Council Sote (MATRICOSO) serves as the governing body of the tribe who are tasked in protecting the community’s culture and lands by upholding sustainable practices, environmental vigilance, and formal representation in engagements with the government and other beneficial institutions.
Ancient Guardianship, Modern Stewardship
The MATRICOSO’s efforts are centered on the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) 239, where the Manobo people continue a long-standing tradition of protecting and honoring the environment within. Their profound conservation morals are rooted in centuries-old practices upheld by the “Baganis” who are traditional warriors entrusted to patrol and protect the forests long before the term bantay gubat came.
To this day, the responsibility of these warriors in maintaining vigilant patrols to ward off illegal logging, timber poaching, and other activities that threaten the ecological balance of their ancestral land lives on in the current generation.
Sacred Ground in Crisis
Even with their commendable commitment, the Manobo still face escalating pressures such as timber poaching, slash-and-burn farming, and the expansion of plantations that encroach upon their Indigenous Community Conservation Areas (ICCAs) which put not only the forest, but also the tribe’s cultural and spiritual foundation at stake. The community knows that without staunch defense, the land that sustains them could be slowly lost.
To safeguard their sacred and inherited land, the Manobo established the LIT-AG Force, a special group of ancestral guards composed of Tribal Council leaders and community members which include long-time settlers who share the tribe’s advocacy. They’ve sought on a mission to protect critical ecosystems, secure water sources, and maintain wildlife corridors linking protected areas.
These conservation efforts are based on Resource Use Policies that guide the community’s relationship with nature. Far from being symbolic, these policies are actively strengthened through regular community assemblies where members discuss stewardship responsibilities. Violations are also reported through Indigenous Peoples’ Structures (IPS), which secure accountability and strengthen collective awareness against environmental abuse.
A Spiritual Connection
For the Manobo, the forest is not just a piece of land but rather a carrier of various pieces of life, spirit, and legacy. Datu Sayaw (Mr. Rodino Domogoy), Vice President of the Mindanao Bukluran and Indigenous Peoples’ Consultative Bodies (IPCB), and IP representative of the Corridor Alliance Advisory Committee (CAAC) for the Caraga Region, captures this sentiment by saying:
“Our dream is for the land to remain. The tribe needs the forest spiritually speaking, because the evolution of our ancestors came from the forest, and comes back to the forest, laid to rest.”
The tribe’s belief is perfectly encapsulated and reinforced in this statement to which they believe that their existence has an intimate relationship with the forest’s fate. That being said, if they lose their land, they would also lose their culture and identity as a Manobo.
The Future of the Forest
The Manobo tribe have become centered on strengthening self-governance, securing intergenerational continuity, and pursuing sustainable livelihoods that coincide with conservation efforts over time that have been guided by the MATRICOSO.
With these goals, the community is developing Biodiversity-Friendly Enterprises (BDFEs) and enhancing their Community Conservation Plan (CCP) through the support from the DENR-UNDP/GEF Biodiversity Corridor Project (BD Corridor Project). Ecotourism initiatives are also being planned that are tailorfit in striking a balance by providing economic benefits together with ecological integrity. This balance will allow visitors to experience the forest’s beauty that leads to its support for protection.
At the same time, the Manobo are determined to inherit ancestral knowledge to future generations by combining traditional forest management with scientific approaches and directly involving the youth in conservation activities. These measures ensure that the wisdom from their elders continues to guide the protection of their ancestral homeland which leads to a proactive and connected form of conservation.
It is clear how the Manobo tribe cherish their ancestral ground because for them, protecting the forest is not just an avenue to ensure survival but rather a sacred responsibility, a promise to their ancestors, and a gift to generations yet to come.
This initiative is part of the DENR-UNDP/GEF Project on Integrated Approach in the Management of Major Biodiversity Corridors in the Philippines or BD Corridor Project, which seeks to operationalize integrated management of biodiversity corridors to generate multiple benefits, including effective conservation of globally threatened species and high conservation value forests, reduce deforestation and degradation, and enhance local biodiversity-friendly livelihoods.
The project is implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and funded by the Global Environment Facility. 🍃⛰️
