Landscape fragmentation, the breaking up of land use type into smaller parcels, isdamaging watersheds worldwide. Without addressing its causes, landscape fragmentation canpermanently destroy habitats and compromise ecosystem services (ES) that a watershed provides.This paper aims to establish associations between watershed landscape fragmentation and ES byintegrating science (satellite imageries and fragmentation analyses) and local geographicknowledge (key informant interviews and focus group discussions) at different time periods. Usingthe case of the Baroro River Watershed in Northern Philippines, this paper posits that localknowledge, when integrated with scientific knowledge, becomes a significant medium throughwhich watershed landscape fragmentation and declining quality of ES can be better understood andaddressed. Results also indicate that people’s experiences and knowledge on ES coincide withwatershed landscape fragmentation as evidenced by satellite images and fragmentation analysesdone at different time periods. This implies that people’s knowledge is well grounded on facts andcomplements scientific knowledge necessary in crafting more effective landscape policies that cantackle watershed fragmentation. Study results are also crucial in providing information to serve asinputs in the development of a more robust watershed management plan; particularly inimplementing sustainable land uses without sacrificing the watershed’s overall integrity.

A statistical downscaling known for producing station-scale climate information from GCM output was preferred to evaluate the impacts of climate change within the Mount Makiling forest watershed, Philippines. The lumped hydrologic BROOK90 model was utilized for the water balance assessment of climate change impacts based on two scenarios (A1B and A2) from CGCM3 experiment. The annual precipitation change was estimated to be 0.1-9.3% increase for A1B scenario, and −3.3 to 3.3% decrease/increase for the A2 scenario. Difference in the mean temperature between the present and the 2080s were predicted to be 0.6-2.2 • C and 0.6-3.0 • C under A1B and A2 scenarios, respectively. The water balance showed that 42% of precipitation is converted into evaporation, 48% into streamflow, and 10% into deep seepage loss. The impacts of climate change on water balance reflected dramatic fluctuations in hydrologic events leading to high evaporation losses, and decrease in streamflow, while groundwater flow appeared unaffected. A study on the changes in monthly water balance provided insights into the hydrologic changes within the forest watershed system which can be used in mitigating the effects of climate change.

Purpose -The Philippines is among the countries vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. However, many local government units (LGUs) and the people themselves are not aware of the climate change phenomenon and do not have the capacity to undertake appropriate climate change adaptation measures. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the climate change adaptation strategies of communities and LGUs and the barriers and recommendations to enhance their adaptive capacity. Design/methodology/approach -The study covered five communities vulnerable to climate change impacts. Information on extreme climatic events and their impacts and adaptation strategies undertaken were gathered through focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews.LGU staff members were assisted in the preparation of their climate change adaptation plan (CCAP). Findings -The LGUs and communities have low adaptive capacity and employed temporary adaptation strategies. Strong social cohesion and spontaneous collective action are factors that could enhance the communities' adaptive capacity. The pursuit of awareness raising and capacity building activities on climate change phenomena, alternative livelihood, preparedness and adaptation possibilities, technology and infrastructure development and collective action, which are critical adaptive capacity enhancement factors were laid-out in the CCAP. Originality/value -The paper presents the barriers that constrain the adaptive capacity of communities and LGUs, the recommended adaptive capacity enhancement measures to overcome these barriers and the highlights of the CCAP jointly prepared by the partner LGUs and scientists.

This study determined the impacts of landscape pattern on population density of C. cebuensis within AWR, a conservation priority in Cebu, Philippines. Three land uses were identified, namely, (a) cultivated (3,399 ha/45%); (b) forestlands (3,002 ha/40%); and (c) build-up (1,050 ha/15%). Forest patches at class have irregular/complex shapes; thus the forest areas in AWR are more fragmented and heterogeneous. Estimated population density of C. cebuensis was 52 and 53 individuals per hectare in mixed and natural forests. There were only three predictors at the landscape and four at the sampling site level, respectively have able to explain the behavior of the population density of C. cebuensis. Relative humidity and canopy cover were having high positive significant correlations while tree basal area has high negative correlation (at landscape). Elevation and canopy cover have positive high significant and significant correlations, while slope and shrub cover have negative significant correlation with C. cebuensis population density. The adjusted R2 values were 0.345 and 0.212 (at landscape and sampling site). These suggest that about 34.5% of the variations of the population density of C. cebuensis have been accounted for by the former and only 21.2% by the latter. Preservation and protection of remaining forest fragments within AWR are paramount.

One of the main impact areas of climate change (CC), and land use and land cover change (LULCC) is the hydrology of watersheds, which have negative implications to the water resources. Their impact can be indicated by changes on streamflow, which is quantifiable using process-based streamflow modelling of baseline and future scenarios. Here we include the uncertainty and associated risk of the streamflow changes for a robust impact assessment to agriculture. We created a baseline model and models of CC and LULCC “impact scenarios” that use: (1) the new climate projections until 2070 and (2) land cover scenarios worsened by forest loss, in a critical watershed in the Philippines. Simulations of peak flows by 26% and low flows by 63% from the baseline model improved after calibrating runoff, soil evaporation, and groundwater parameters. Using the calibrated model, impacts of both CC and LULCC in 2070 were indicated by water deficit (− 18.65%) from May to August and water surplus (12.79%) from November to December. Both CC and LULCC contributed almost equally to the deficit, but the surplus was more LULCC-driven. Risk from CC may affect 9.10% of the croplands equivalent to 0.31 million dollars, while both CC and LULCC doubled the croplands at risk (19.13%, 0.60 million dollars) in one cropping season. The findings warn for the inevitable cropping schedule adjustments in the coming decades, which both apply to irrigated and rainfed crops, and may have implications to crop yields. This study calls for better watershed management to mitigate the risk to crop production and even potential flood risks.