26/06/2025
IIRR & VSU LAUNCH PROJECT TO RESTORE LEYTE'S LARGEST PEATLAND 🌏🌱
Measuring at 2,107 hectares, the Leyte Sab-a Basin Peatland (LSBP) is the second largest peatland in the Philippines. As Leyte’s primary water catchment, it has played a key role in disaster risk reduction, economic livelihoods, and biodiversity conservation. However, decades of land conversion have pushed the peatland to a critical state of degradation.
On June 17-18, 2025, a two-day inception workshop was held to formally launch the Local Natural Environment Stewardship in Leyte Sab-a Basin Peatland (LUYON) initiative. Led by the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) and Visayas State University (VSU), the LUYON programme is a four-year project designed to enhance local stewardship of the Leyte Sab-a Basin Peatland. Targeting over 14,000 residents, the project aims to promote equitable restoration solutions while supporting the development of peatland-friendly policies and programs.
LUYON builds on IIRR’s earlier work in Leyte. Back in 2018, IIRR led the Leyte Sab-a Peatland Forest Restoration Initiative (LSPFRI), which initiated the process of reinstating, reverting, and restoring peatland areas. The initiative accomplished several key milestones including confirming the Leyte Sab-a Basin as a peatland, delineating the peatland’s boundaries, launching awareness campaigns, identifying flora and fauna, conducting technical and legal studies to support the development of the LSBP management plan, and drafting a provincial local conservation area ordinance.
The workshop convened members of the Leyte Sab-a Basin Peatland Management Council, composed of local government units, national government agencies, and civil society organizations. Throughout the two-day workshop, stakeholders worked together to align efforts, identify priorities, and outline next steps.
Welcoming remarks were delivered by IIRR Asia Regional Director Emily Monville-Oro and IIRR Deputy Director Magnolia Rosimo, followed by a project overview presented by IIRR Project Manager Juvilyn Salazar. To recap past milestones, Deputy Executive Director of the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC), Atty. Rafael Pajares and VSU Faculty Jayson Baldesco presented highlights of the LSBP ordinance and management plan, respectively.
Researchers from Visayas State University presented research studies aimed at deepening understanding of the peatland’s hydrology, biodiversity, and socio-economic conditions. Government agencies and several LGUs likewise shared their current efforts in peatland protection and restoration.
Rewetting and revegetation efforts - key components of the initiative - were also highlighted during the workshop. Successful peatland restoration requires communities to be actively engaged in conservation efforts. Continuous drainage and other harmful practices increase the risk of flooding, drought, and peat fires over time. In line with this, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has formed and capacitated community fire auxiliary groups in San Miguel, Sta. Fe, Alangalang to help combat peat fires. Meanwhile, IIRR Senior Adviser Julian Gonsalves and Technical Consultant Ernesto Militante shared practical strategies for peatland restoration while also providing communities with alternative sources of income.
As LUYON moves forward, it offers renewed hope for the recovery of the Leyte Sab-a Basin Peatland. By building on past successes, grounding decisions in science-based evidence, and fostering strong local partnerships, the project underscores the critical role of multi-sectoral community-led stewardship in restoring degraded ecosystems. The workshop is but the first step of a long journey - one that seeks not only to rehabilitate the peatland and surrounding watersheds, but also to provide communities with sustainable livelihoods, protect biodiversity, and strengthen climate resilience for generations to come.
