NAGA CITY, Philippines (May 22, 2002) - The tropical landscape of the Philippines can be both stunning and menacing. This is a nation of verdant islands: coastal lowlands rising suddenly to striking volcanic peaks. In between, there are palm trees and rice paddies, water buffalo, and rustic farming and fishing villages.

But when the monsoon rains come, this lush, fertile landscape can turn sinister, especially for those communities at the base of any one of the many mountains dotting the archipelago. The consequences of years of indiscriminate logging and insufficient land-use regulations come roaring down in torrents of mud and rock. The farmers at the bottom of the mountain may escape with their lives, but their homes and crops often are swept away.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. At the edge of Mount Isarog National Park, home to a magnificent extinct volcano that reaches a height of 1,966 meters (6,450 ft.), CARE and farming communities are working to strike a balance between preserving the environment and increasing the prosperity of the people who live off the land. .

"We’re trying to build a social fence around the protected natural area — a perimeter of communities that abide by and enforce the park’s regulations," says Raul de la Rosa, director of the SuMMIT (Sustainable Management of Mt. Isarog’s Territories) Project. "People don’t have to be the enemy of nature. The communities around Mt. Isarog can and should play an important role in monitoring and conserving the environment."

Created in 1928, Mt. Isarog National Park is the oldest national park in the Philippines. But that title didn’t offer much in the way of environmental protection until the early 1990s. Before then, Mt. Isarog’s unique ecosystem was fair game for anyone who wanted a piece of the forest. In the past decade, however, the government of the Philippines has taken action to protect this and other valuable wilderness areas. Through SuMMIT, CARE has become an important partner in these efforts.

But SuMMIT is not merely a partnership between the Philippine government and CARE. Local governments, Philippine conservation organizations and, most importantly, local communities are among those involved in the protection of this ecosystem.

Joaquín Brizuela plants corn in his field on the outskirts of the Philippines' oldest national park. (©J.F. Housel 2001/CARE photo)

For example, CARE helped the community of Panicuason form a cooperative so local farmers could increase their buying power, agricultural output and earning potential -- all while practicing environmentally sound farming and protecting the land that serves as a buffer zone around Mt. Isarog.

"All of us have grandchildren we want to help support," says 65-year-old Rosendo Gonzales, a farmer and chairman of Panicuason’s cooperative. "If we do a good job now, the projects we have started will continue from generation to generation."

The projects he refers to include breeding chickens, making organic pesticides, raising and selling organic produce, beekeeping and candy-making. All of these projects are by-products of the farmer’s co-op.

But the co-op is less than a year old, and Gonzales says members have yet to see many bottom-line benefits.

"We are making some sacrifices now, to build up the co-op," he says. "But we are certain the sacrifice is worth it. Our goal is to help each member of the community have a sustainable livelihood. The community has embraced a spirit of cooperation, a spirit of helping each other."

This sense of commitment and determination is not unique to Gonzales or his village. It can be found in one small community after another. "By helping farmers organize, improving access to credit and providing technical expertise, CARE is helping ensure these agricultural cooperatives make it through the tough, lean years," says de la Rosa.

The communities involved in SuMMIT have committed to work together for the greater good, despite the challenges that lie ahead. They have put their limited resources and a considerable amount of time into experimenting with new crops, organic farming techniques and reforestation efforts. The whole process of learning by doing ensures the sustainability Gonzalez spoke of: Even after CARE’s involvement ends, the farmers living near Mt. Isarog will know how to improve their yields while protecting the environment.

They will know because they’ve done it themselves.