Guidelines in the Identification and Recognition of Biodiversity-Friendly Enterprise (BDFE)

July 25, 2017

BMB TECHNICAL BULLETIN NO. 11-17

 

Pursuant to DAO 2016-26, Guidelines for the Implementation of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP) and in line with the DENR development principles on partnership with civil society, ecosystem integrity, sustainable consumption and production and social justice, the attached "Guidelines in the Identification and Recognition of Biodiversity-Friendly Enterprise (BDFE)" is hereby adopted to ensure that conservation and sustainable use of resources in upland and coastal communities translate into tangible and sustainable economic benefits for the communities within and around protected areas and other conservation areas. HTcADC

This Technical Bulletin is issued for the guidance of all concerned.

(SGD.) THERESA MUNDITA S. LIMDirector

ANNEX A

Guidelines in the Identification and Recognition of Biodiversity-Friendly Enterprise (BDFE)

I. Introduction

Pursuant to the implementation of the DENR Administrative Order No. 2016-16, in Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP), Republic Act No. 7586 (National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992), Republic Act No. 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act), and other relevant issuances, the Guidelines in the Identification and Recognition of Biodiversity-Friendly Enterprise (BDFE) is hereby issued.

In the Philippines, despite records of degradation, protected areas still provide valuable ecosystem goods and services that people need. Protected areas conservation must be seen in a broader landscape where the natural wealth continues to provide for the needs of the people. Part of the socio-economic considerations of managing protected areas is ensuring equitable access to opportunities, especially for the poor and marginalized communities who are almost entirely dependent on natural resources for their livelihood. If the interests of the Indigenous People and local communities, entrepreneurs, consumers local and national government are aligned and met by linking protected areas to the landscape and seascape where people make a living, and by equitable allocation of access to the land and natural resources, there will be less competition over the resources that are set aside for conservation.

The DENR-BMB Biodiversity Partnerships Project (BPP) developed a framework and assessment tool in Profiling/Identifying/Evaluating a Biodiversity-friendly Enterprise. The developed tool is substantial and provides strategies in the crafting of this Technical Bulletin. CAIHTE

The main guiding framework of this BDFE is the sustainable development (SD) framework, anchored on Sustainable Development principles the biodiversity-friendly enterprises contribute to the objectives of environmental protection, economic development and social development through the conservation, sustainable use and equitable sharing of resources and at the same time promote sustainable businesses that support environmental protection, economic growth and social equity.

Consequently there is an increasing acceptance that businesses also possess biodiversity relevant knowledge, technical resources and management skills which can be used to better manage biological resources.

The scoping activity conducted on biodiversity-friendly enterprises in the BPP sites indicate that there are already existing enterprises or livelihood projects but are not just consciously considered as being biodiversity-friendly. There are also potential biodiversity-friendly enterprises that can be developed with just the right push and policy support.

The 3 pillars of Biodiversity-Friendly Enterprise are:

1. Environment — the business operations must protect ecology

2. Economy — the business must provide economic benefits for the community

3. Equity — the business must provide equal benefits for all stakeholders especially women and Indigenous People

II. Objectives

Recognizing that the biodiversity resources are the major source of livelihood and income of the upland and coastal communities and that conservation is a viable economic proposition, this Technical Bulletin is intended to:

a) provide guidance in the identification, assessment and promotion of biodiversity-friendly enterprises;

b) provide options to the communities for sustainable and biodiversity-friendly enterprises;

c) serve as basis to encourage communities within and around biodiversity-rich areas to engage in biodiversity-friendly enterprises;

d) provide basis for enabling environment leading to social enterprise and incentives for primary stakeholders and private sector investments;

e) guide the identification and implementation of other economic activities and investments linked to and in support of biodiversity-friendly enterprises to enhance the contribution of these enterprises in the local economic landscape; value chain: the chain from production to consumption and

f) heighten the awareness and participation of communities within and around protected areas and other areas of high biodiversity values in the wise use of biodiversity resources. aScITE

III. Scope of Application

These Guidelines shall apply primarily to enterprises and livelihood of primary stakeholders/communities dependent on the ecosystems services provided by biodiversity situated within Protected Areas (PAs), Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), and the wider landscapes and seascapes.

This will also apply to local communities, industries utilizing resources or benefitting from the protected areas, critical habitats and other ecosystems.

To fully maximize the utilization of these Guidelines, the Protected Areas Superintendent and staff as well as other DENR field personnel are advised to refer to their Protected Area Management Plans, Critical Habitat Management Plans, Local Development Plans, etc. for reference.

IV. Definition of Terms

For the purpose of this Technical Bulletin, the following terms are hereby defined to mean as:

• Biodiversity-Friendly Enterprises (BDFE) — are economic activities and practices of micro-, small and medium enterprises, local government units, and people's organizations that promote the sustainable use of biological resources; create wealth and value; and open opportunities for the equitable sharing of benefits among stakeholders

• BMB Core Team — consists of BMB technical staff designated by the BMB Director who shall oversee, monitor and evaluate the implementation of this Guidelines

• Business/Enterprise — any entity engaged in an economic activity, irrespective of its legal form. This includes, in particular, self-employed persons and family businesses engaged in craft or other activities, and partnerships or associations regularly engaged in an economic activity. In this Technical Bulletin, enterprise may include local government units, people's organizations or associations, cooperatives, rural improvement clubs and the likes who are engaged in economic activities

• Economic Activities — actions that involve the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services at all levels within a society. DETACa

• Inventory — listing of existing and potential enterprise using the prescribed matrix (ANNEX 1)

• Leveling-up — progression/evolution of enterprise/livelihood from Enterprise to BDFE

• Medium enterprise — category of enterprise with a total assets valued at up to P15,000,001.00-P100,000,000.00

• Micro-enterprise — category of enterprise with a total assets valued at up to P3,000,000.00

• Primary Sector — These are the economic activities that rely on the agriculture, forest and marine resources for its raw materials or core industry but at the same time contribute to the sustainability of such resources by engaging in practices that replenish biodiversity. Under this sector are industries engaged in Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry and Coastal/Marine Resources.

• Primary stakeholders — persons who belong to the following group/sectors such as farmers, fisherfolk, workers in the informal sector, persons with disability, indigenous peoples, women, senior citizens, victims of calamities and disasters, youth and students, children and informal settlers

• Secondary Sector — This includes economic activities that basically promote the use of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) as raw materials from the areas not designated as strict protection zones within protected areas and critical habitats and such other non-endemic/abundant resources from the marine areas or seascapes. Enterprises engaged in manufacturing belong to this sector.

• Small enterprise — category of enterprise with a total assets valued at up to P3,000,001.00-P15,000,000.00

• Tertiary Sector — This includes economic activities that can generate fees for the biodiversity services to encourage maintenance and protection of biodiversity. Service-oriented enterprises are considered under tertiary sector.

V. Criteria for Identifying/Evaluation Biodiversity-Friendly Enterprise

The criteria for identification and evaluation of Biodiversity-friendly enterprises are ecological, economic and equity. In addition, legal and institutional considerations criterion may be used encompassing the foregoing three criteria:

Ecological Criterion: deals with the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of biological resources. Look into the implications of enterprise operations (i.e., inputs, process, and outputs) on ecology (the interaction of organisms and their environment).

Economic Criterion: deals with the viable, sound and broad-based development of economy that create wealth and value and positive financial returns that benefits the community, LGU and biodiversity.

Equity Criterion: deals with the equitable sharing of benefits arising to the use of the biological resources. It emphasizes the benefits of both men and women, the indigenous peoples (IPs) and all the other stakeholders in all stages of the economic activity or business. This also includes the impact of the business to the conservation of biodiversity in a certain locality, protected area, Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) or wider landscapes and seascapes. HEITAD

VI. Industry Sectors of Biodiversity-Friendly Enterprises

The enterprises within the following industry sectors can be considered biodiversity-friendly:

1..1. Enterprises in the primary sector (Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry and Coastal/Marine Resources). These are the economic activities that rely on the agriculture, forest and marine resources for its raw materials or core industry but at the same time contribute to the sustainability of such resources by engaging in practices that replenish biodiversity.

1..2. Enterprises in the secondary sector (Manufacturing). This includes economic activities that basically promote the use of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) as raw materials from the areas not designated as strict protection zones within protected areas and critical habitats and such other non-endemic/abundant resources from the marine areas or seascapes.

1..3. Enterprises belonging to the following tertiary sector (Services). This includes economic activities that can generate fees for the biodiversity services to encourage maintenance and protection of biodiversity.

A Preliminary List and Models of Biodiversity-friendly Enterprise is listed in ANNEX C.

Scaling up of Enterprise to Biodiversity Friendly Enterprise Diagram

 

VII. Process Flow

Procedure on the assessment of potential biodiversity-friendly enterprise shall be guided by the following process flow:

1..4. Inventory (ANNEX A.1 and A.2.) and Profiling of Enterprise using ANNEX B Form 1 — initial screening; if passed proceed to Step 2.; if fail, provide appropriate intervention to qualify for the Assessment stage

1..5. Assessment using ANNEX B Form 2 — if fully compliant, proceed to Step 3; if low score to certain criterion, apply appropriate mitigating measures

1..6. Recognition of Biodiversity-Friendly Enterprises (labelling)

 For enterprises recognized as BDFE, such will be given preferential assistance as incentive. aDSIHc

ANNEX A.1

List of Small and Medium Enterprises within Protected Areas

ANNEX A.2

Guide in Determining Livelihood Options/Opportunities for Coastal Areas and Terrestrial Areas

ANNEX B

Assessment Tool in Profiling/Identifying/Evaluating a Biodiversity-friendly Enterprise

FORM 2

Criteria for Identifying/Evaluating Biodiversity-Friendly Enterprises (refer to PA Management Plan)

ANNEX C

Preliminary List and Models of Biodiversity-friendly Enterprise