Five Aspects of Upland Resource Environment

FIVE ASPECTS OF UPLAND RESOURCE ENVIRONMENT

by Antonio C. Antonio

February 5, 2015

Upland resources management planning is largely dependent on quantitative and qualitative data and information of the area.  The availability of resources and the capability of the land must first be established before workable planning could be done.  The absence or lack of the necessary knowledge on the upland resources and land potential will determine the viability of any plans for the area.

Upland resource environment could be subdivided into the following aspects:

ECOLOGICAL - The upland is an ecosystem.  And, therefore, an assessment of the ecological aspect of upland resource environment becomes imperative and indispensible.  This assessment is primarily concerned with the proper use of the land in relation to the ecosystem in general.  In considering land use options, the dynamic relationship between the existing elements (biotic and abiotic) in the ecosystem should be considered.  The possible impact and the extent of such impact on land use option should be critically examined and considered.

SOCIAL – The social aspect of upland resource environment pertains to the people, groups of people and communities directly or indirectly involved in the upland plan or program.  Demographic and other social indicator data (such as age, sex, educational attainment, religion, income, etc.) must be gathered together with other information such as beliefs and worldviews on land use, social change, politics, customs and traditions, etc.

POLITICAL – The political aspect is closely related to the social aspect of upland resource environment.  It should be noted that there are several “actors”, stakeholders or interest groups in the upland.  These groups have their own agenda and interest to protect in the upland scenario.  They could either be facilitators of oppositors to any upland plan, project or program.   Equally important is to know exactly what these groups stand for and their behaviour in the manner by which they pursue their aims and objectives.  Existing laws, rules and regulations will also have to be examined if the planned upland program is in conformity with these public policies.

ECONOMIC – The economic aspect is concerned with the present and future state of the economy of the area where upland projects and programs are to be implemented.  The primary focus of examining the economic environment is to ascertain the positive economic impact of the lives of upland dwellers.  There, however, should also be greater concern on sustainable development.  This has a lot to do with assessing the production techniques, the bearing and tolerance capability of the area, the products from the area, availability of markets and the equity involved in the distribution of wealth from the production activities in the area.  Additionally, some concern should also be made in the area of availability of inputs, employment potentials, and availability of capital and credit.

TECHNOLOGICAL – The technological environment means the determination of the available technology that could be used in the actual project or program in the area.  Technology, in this case, has a lot to do with assessing the suitability of a specific land use technology in a specific area.  Traditional production methods known to upland dwellers as indigenous knowledge systems should also be considered for use or the use of new technology together with or in combination with traditional indigenous knowledge.

Upland resource assessment is an indispensible “must” in the planning of upland resource management projects and programs.  In this effort, the above-mentioned aspects will have to be considered to come up with a comprehensive approach in upland resource assessment… the five aspects of upland resource environment.

Just my little thoughts…

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