Integrating Watershed Zoning into CLUPs: A Collaborative Approach for Sustainable Land Use and Watershed Protection

Land use practices, ranging from urban development to agriculture and forestry significantly affect watersheds and ecosystems. Inadequate planning and enforcement are key contributors to deforestation and ecosystem degradation, with inappropriate land use and land conversion resulting in deforestation and loss of habitat and biodiversity.

Professor Emeritus Rex Victor Cruz from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) emphasized the need for watershed-based land use planning to support sustainable development. Data showing a significant increase in built-up areas within closed forests (167 hectares in 2010 to 10,388 hectares in 2020) underscores the need for stricter enforcement and improved management practices.

Collaboration among LGUs, government agencies, and stakeholders is essential for successfully implementing watershed-based land use planning. Advocacy projects such as the WILUP or the “Institutionalization of Guidelines on Watershed Integrated Area Land Use Planning Towards Resiliency” address policy gaps, training needs, and data collection challenges, enhancing LGU capacity to integrate watershed zoning into CLUPs. The WILUP project, funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST PCAARRD), is implemented by the College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR) of UPLB.

According to Cruz, watersheds should serve as the foundation for development planning, with LGUs prioritizing their protection to ensure sustainable and resilient growth. Pilot projects in Los Baños, Laguna, and San Gabriel, La Union demonstrate the potential for replicating successful practices nationwide. By optimizing watershed zoning and aligning CLUPs with ecosystem protection, LGUs can safeguard critical ecosystem services and promote sustainable development.