CSU Sago Satoyama Initiative

Promoting sago wetland conservation for flash flood buffer and disaster risk reduction...








https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HR7vjji8W/

Discussion with the Barangay Council of Banza, Butuan City re the collaboration on the project "Mainstreaming the Sago Landscape for Food, Cultural Preservation and Climate Change Adaptation". It was attended by the full council which showed interest in the project and endorsed the forging of a MOA with CSU.

Banza is the leading processor of the traditional Butuanon foods (native delicacies), where sago-based products are among the goodies promoted to tourists and Balik-Butuanons. Native delicacies made of "unaw" (sago starch) such as palagsing, kinabol, tinumpi, inisab are still common in Banza and cooking these goodies is still part of the culture of the village. The village celebrates annually the "Lumbia Festival" to showcase the cultural connection with this lesser-known food source and an efficient carbon sink. Looking forward to working with the vibrant people of Banza...

Collaboration and networking among stakeholders are important strategies to carry out projects to achieve the shared vision and goals...

In pursuing the "Mainstreaming of Sago Landscape for Food, Cultural Preservation and Climate Change Adaptation", a Memorandum of Agreement is drafted for the partnership between the Caraga State University and its collaborating barangays (to be called the sago eco-villages) and ready for signing among the parties. The parner barangays include Baan 3, Buhangin, Banza, and Mahay.

The wetlands, where sago palms grow, can be proposed as a local conservation area (LCA) to support wetland biodiversity that includes the wetland birds, aquatic flora, and fauna. The LCA is provided for in the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP 2015-2028. LCA refers to small conservation areas that are covered or managed by the LGUs even without the help of the national government. This can be a locally declared “critical habitat” through local government ordinances. The Caraga State University (CSU) through the Center for Research in Environmental Management and Eco-governance (CRÈME) will work closely with Butuan City to identify the sago area to be declared into a LCA. All the data gathered from the fauna and flora assessment and the initiatives to promote sago-based livelihood among the residents generated from this SDM project will be used as inputs for the declaration of the sago area as LCA. The wetland habitats of sago are important in absorbing excess water during the rainy season, thereby preventing flooding. To do this, we will (1) conduct GIS mapping of the remaining sago patches, (2) conduct stakeholder analysis to identify the stakeholders to be involved in capability building in sago-based economic development, (3) conduct capability building activities related to sago product innovation (food products, livestock feeds, and polymers), and (4) educate the local people on sustainable sago-based livelihood.

SDM 2024 Inception Workshop Brings Together Global Grant Recipients
2025.02.12

https://satoyamainitiative.org/news/sdm-2025-inception-workshop-brings-together-global-grant-recipients/

Presentation of the Sago (Lumbia) Satoyama Project (Mainstreaming the Sago Landscape for Food, Cultural Preservation and Climate Change Adaptation) to the Barangay Council of Mahay, Butuan City under the leadership of Kap Marilyn Burdeos. This project is funded by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) in Kanagawa, Japan.

IGES promotes research cooperation with international organisations, governments, local governments, research institutions, business sectors, non-governmental organisations (NGO) and citizens. As well as conducting research, the Institute will share its research results and also host international conferences and study workshops.

Discussion with Hon. Gemma Plaza Tabada, Punong Barangay of Baan 3 and the ABC Representative to the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Butuan City on the Project funded by the Institute of Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) in Kanagawa, Japan under the International Partnership for Satoyama Initiative (IPSI) titled "Mainstreaming the Sago Landscape for Food, Cultural Preservation, and Climate Change Adaptation". This project aims to introduce science and engineering innovations to promote awareness on the value of sago (lumbia) for the development of innovative food products; non-food products; reconnect the culture of lumbia to the new generation Butuanon as food source, housing material, furniture; for carbon sequestration to contribute to attaining Zero Net Emission (ZNE) and ultimately climate change mitigation; conservation of wetland biodiversity associated with sago; and to reduce flooding risks in vulnerable areas.

The Sago Satoyama Project titled "Mainstreaming the Sago (Metroxylon sagu Roettb.) Landscape for Food, Cultural Preservation and Climate Change Adaptation" is an initiative aimed to promote sago locally known as "lumbia" for innovative foods, cultural re-connection, and for carbon sequestration for climate change mitigation/adaptation.

The project is funded jointly by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) and the Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MOEJ). For more info, follow: https://sdm.satoyamainitiative.org/projects/2024_philippines/