Thesis (BS Environmental Science) – Mariano Marcos State University-College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development, Batac City

Bibliography: leaves 45-48.

ABSTRACT AGUEDAN, BIEN DAVE V. and NACAR, ANGELA MAY A. 2020. Perceived Ecological Impact of Indigenous People's Forest-Based Activities in Barangay Bacsil, Bangui, Ilocos Norte. Undergraduate Thesis. College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development. Mariano Marcos State University, City of Batac, 2906, Ilocos Norte. 62 pp. Adviser: Mr. Ronnel S. Pagurayan and Mr. Elmer Francis Morales The study was conducted to determine the perceived ecological impact of Indigenous People's (IPs) forest-based activities in Barangay Bacsil, Bangui, Ilocos (1) determine the existing forest-based activities of Norte. Specifically, it pursued the IPs in the forest, (2) determine the ecosystem services of the forest, and (3) to identify the ecological impacts of the activities as perceived by the IPs. Data were obtained through one-on-one interviews with a total of 25 key informants. Most of the IPs that were involved in the study were male, married, have obtained high school education and are part of the Yapayao ethnic group. The existing forest-based activities of the IPs in the forest are panag-anop (hunting of wild mammals), panag-nateng (gathering of medicinal and edible plants), panag-silo (hunting of wild birds and reptiles), panag-sunog (gathering of wild honey), panag-kayo (gathering of firewood), panag-gabol (gathering of wild grass), panag- uring (charcoal making) and panagsalsalwad ti kabakiran (gathering and surveying of trees). Some activities are still practiced by the IPs like their panag-nateng and panag- kayo while other activities have been decreasing like panag-troso or their practice of cutting of trees for lumber, panag-uma (swidden farming). Panag-uring have been severely modified because of stringent government regulations on the use of the forest. Ecosystem services of the forest include its function as a source of firewood clean drinking water and nutritious food and its use as a protection of the community- against strong winds, floods, and landslides. Other role of the forest include shelter/habitat to farm animals, provision o nutrients through the food growing in it, cultural identity, spiritual sanctuary and recreational place. Panagkayo is perceived to be the cause of soil erosion while panag-naleng i observed to have been contributing to the reduction of vegetation. For land degradation panag-gaboi, punag-uring, and panag-iroso are believed to have been the activitie with great influence. Few of the IPs believe that their forest-based activities caus degradation to the quality of water resource in their place. For its impact to the forest's biodiversity, panagkayo is perceived to have be causing disturbance to the wild animals while panag-silo is believed by most of the to have been responsible for the loss of some wild species. All activities that inclu the process of burning (i.e., panagsunog, panag-uring, etc.) are perceived to cause pollution in their village. The results give new insights to agencies tasked in the protection of for resources like the DENR CENRO for Northern Ilocos Norte and the Local Government Unit of Bangui in making programs or ordinances that can prevent further loss of forest resources. This can also be used by the IPs as a basis in the formulation of rules and regulations in the management of the forest taking into consideration the various ecosystem services at stake and the forest-based activities that have potential to cause significant environmental impacts.