Community Participation in the Management, Protection, and Conservation of Watersheds: The Case of Davao City

Abstract: Watershed management is putting land use and water management practices in place to safeguard and enhance the integrity of water and other natural resources within a watershed. This is done by regulating the use of those land and water resources in a comprehensive approach [3]. Due to these concerns, watershed management often meets scientific problems and issues in public policy. The watershed areas of Davao City are critical as they are sources of essential services that support the city's economy, environment, and people's quality of life, such as clean drinking water and healthy fisheries. Watershed management in Davao City also faces challenges relative to the city's developments, including the threats brought by increasing population, culture, climate change, and resource overuse. In this study, the researchers evaluated the multi-sectoral participation in crafting policies, guidelines, and strategies toward ensuring the health and sustainability of the watershed areas. The study uses a qualitative research design that involves sending out structured questionnaires. This design can assess the multi-sector participation in the management, protection, and conservation of the eight watersheds in Davao City. The study provides information on the stakeholders' community participation in managing the Davao City watershed. The community is highly aware of the need to participate in managing, protecting, and conserving watersheds. This was exemplified by the organization of the Davao City Watershed Management Council members as a group with legal and moral duties to protect the watershed and sustainably utilize it.