Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research

5

Authors: Benica S. Briones and Prima R. Silvestre

Understanding climate change and its impacts is needed to help decide coping, adaptation and mitigation measures, actions, and policies, and or their appropriate combinations. This baseline study was done to conduct knowledge, attitude and best practices survey on climate change adaptation and mitigation among the different community members in Pangasinan in terms of their ability to describe adverse impacts of climate change and identify appropriate adaptation as well as mitigation measures. The results of the survey showed revealed that there is a moderate level of understanding about climate change, climate change adaptation and mitigation, climate variability, weather and climate. Climate change experienced through extreme weather variability such as more frequent and strong typhoons and flood occurrence demands corresponding adaptation and mitigation strategies. The identified best adaptation practice along agriculture is to practice organic and or sustainable farming. The best practices for mitigation include proper waste management, reforestation or re-greening of forest or denuded areas. Alongside with these is the conduct of networking and information and education campaign on climate change and its impacts. These best practices could be recommended for policy implementation and information and education campaign. These data on best practices could be recommended for implementation as climate change and mitigation strategies.

9

Authors: Shella C. Parreño Pangasinan

- Biological and physico-chemical components of Buenlag-Sabangan River as well as stakeholders’ interventions were studied to assist the municipal government of Binmaley, Pangasinan in the preparation of a proposal for the development of the area. Results revealed 23 species of macroflora in the riparian system of the river with Rhizophora apiculata as the most important species (IVI=36.81%). The macrofloral diversity of the riparian system; however, was low (H'=1.31). Aquatic macrofaunal community, on the other hand, is composed of 20 species of fish, 11 species of crustaceans and six (6) species of mollusks. The community structure of aquatic fauna is characterized by high importance value index (IVI=43.94%) of non-edible species of small mussel (unidentified) and very low IVI (<5%) of economically important of fish species, an indication that the river is overfished. Aquatic macrofaunal diversity was also low (H=1.71). Recorded water physic-chemical parameters were within the standard set by the DENR for Class C water, which suggests that the water is fit for fish cultivation. The river and its resources were moderately utilized mostly as sources of water for fishpond, as sources of food and livelihood. Strategies employed by local stakeholders relevant to resource protection, conservation, and management were moderately implemented; however, a more serious problem on low catch was still encountered by the respondents. Reduction in the number of fishing apparatus, provision of an alternative source of income and implementation of property right system, was proposed to increase catch per unit effort.