Author : Pasa, Arturo E.

Summary : The Community-Based forest Management (CBFM) Project in Midwestern Leyte province was studied to assess the following environmental services : (1) carbon stocks or storage, (2) biodiversity conservation, and (3) soil and water conservation. The local people's perspectives on environmental services, rewards, and rewarding mechanisms were also studied. The CBFM project area has stored an average amount of 333.28 mg/ha carbon from aboveground biomass down to the soil complex. In addition, a total of 1,903 plants belonging to 325 species and 94 animal species were recorded based from actual survey and ethnofaunal assessment. Soil and water resources of the site were in good condition. Soil had very low bulk density while infiltration rate was high ranging from 326.10 ml/min during the dry season to 68.09 ml/min during the wet season. Surface runoff was minimal while water quality was in superior condition. Various rewards and rewarding mechanisms were mentioned by the respondents. Accordingly, money or cash was the most preferred type of reward. One of the rewarding mechanisms was the drafting of a barangay resolution to be forwarded to the municipal or local government unit for financial support. framework for rewarding was developed to widen the opportunities of environmental service providers.