Trento, Agusan del Sur – On May 26, 2026, a Ceremonial Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Signing for the Sustainable Land Management (SLM): Rehabilitating Degraded Agricultural Lands in the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor (EMBC) was successfully conducted at the Conference Hall, Municipal Agriculture Office, Trento, Agusan del Sur through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/Global Environment Facility (GEF) Biodiversity Corridor Project (BD Corridor Project).
The activity marked another significant milestone in strengthening collaborative actions toward biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience within ancestral domains and critical landscapes of the EMBC.
Various key individuals signing the Memorandum of Agreement for the Sustainable Land Management (SLM): Rehabilitating Degraded Agricultural Lands in the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor (EMBC)
The MOA signing was participated in by the ICCs/IPs of CADT 223 with Manobo Indigenous Cultural Communities through Cassava Women’s Farmers Association together with the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM), witnessed by the Municipal Local Government Unit of Trento, Municipal and Regional Offices of the Department of Agriculture, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) representative, DENR Caraga Region, and the EMBC Project Management Unit (PMU).
Present during the ceremony was Trento Mayor Hon. Kristoffer G. Calvez, who emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, “We should not waste this opportunity. There is no one else who can help protect our ecosystem and environment but us.”
The initiative aims to rehabilitate degraded agricultural lands through SLM approaches that promote soil conservation, climate-resilient farming systems, crop diversification, and biodiversity-friendly land-use practices. Beyond agricultural productivity, the intervention also supports erosion control, watershed protection, and ecological connectivity across the corridor landscape.
During the activity, representatives emphasized that SLM is not only about planting crops, but also about restoring ecological balance and protecting landscapes that support both people and wildlife.
As emphasized during the discussion, planting trees and integrating fruit-bearing species across agricultural areas help stabilize soil, reduce erosion, and create ecological pathways for wildlife movement — including important species, such as the Philippine Eagle, known to inhabit parts of the cluster landscape.
Through partnerships, shared responsibility, and community-led stewardship, the BD Corridor Project, through the EMBC-PMU, continues to strengthen efforts toward resilient landscapes where biodiversity and communities thrive together.
This story is published under the DENR-UNDP/GEF Project “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, promote sustainable land management, and enhance local biodiversity-friendly livelihoods.
The project is led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with the Sustainable Land Management (SLM) component being implemented by the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). ✍️🪴
