BAGOBO TAGABAWA FARMERS AND CFP-PBCI TEAM LAUNCH AGROFORESTRY PROJECT IN MT. APO TOGETHER

A new agroforestry initiative is set to take root in the ancestral lands of the Bagobo-Tagabawa community in Barangay Binaton, Bansalan, Davao del Sur. Led by Coffee for Peace (CFP), PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI), and the Indigenous Ancestral Domain Association (IADA), this project aims to rehabilitate deforested lands in the foothills of Mt. Apo while boosting sustainable livelihoods for local farmers. The project will begin with a 2-hectare demonstration farm, with plans to expand up to 32 hectares as funding allows. The initiative will integrate coffee farming and reforestation, balancing ecological restoration with economic opportunities for indigenous farmers.

Each participating farmer will be responsible for managing 1,000 square meters, planting 79 Arabica coffee trees alongside native forest species. These efforts will not only generate income but also sequester carbon, restore biodiversity, and enhance watershed protection in the Mt. Apo Natural Park — a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act.

A Partnership for Sustainable Coffee Production

The collaboration builds on the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed in 2019 between the Provincial Tribal Council, Alegre Tribal Council, PBCI, and CFP to establish a model coffee farm in the area. Datu Rogelio B. Manapol,representing the tribal community, has been a key advocate for integrating indigenous knowledge with modern agroforestry practices.

Economic and Environmental Impact

The initiative is projected to:

• Sequester over 85 metric tons of CO₂ in five years.

• Produce 6,660 kg of coffee cherries annually once trees reach full maturity.

• Generate Php 555,000 per harvest cycle from green coffee beans at current market rates.

The project will support 20 farmers with training, seedlings, fertilizers, and daily work allowances.

Indigenous Leadership in Climate Action

For centuries, the Bagobo-Tagabawa people have viewed Mt. Apo as sacred. However, deforestation due to logging, agriculture, and climate change has drastically reduced the region’s forest cover. This project is a step towards reclaiming ancestral stewardship by combining traditional forest management with climate-smart agriculture.

“We are planting not just coffee but a future for our children,” said one participating farmer. “This land has always provided for us. Now, we must give back.”

Looking Ahead

As the project scales, organizers hope to attract more partners to expand sustainable coffee production while strengthening indigenous rights, climate resilience, and regenerative agriculture in the region.