Environment and Food Security Interactions Under Climate Change: An Investigation in Selected Communities of the Sta. Cruz Sub-watershed Laguna, Philippines

This project investigated the effects of climate change on the environment and food security interactions at three levels of elevation in the Sta. Cruz watershed, Laguna, Philippines. Using the vulnerability assessment framework, it identified the adaptation strategies of farmers and traders, communities and households as they cope to maintain food security. Primary data were generated through household surveys, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Results revealed that there are differential impacts within the watershed: upper communities are less vulnerable to food insecurity than lowland households. But lowland households cope by using their savings or taking out loans during times of food emergency. The markets are well functioning in the study watershed thus communities felt that they are food secured even in times of extreme events. At the watershed level, there has been an increase in agricultural areas. From a positive point of view, it has supported food security; however, in a negative sense, it has facilitated the environmental degradation such as soil erosion and other hazards such as landslide and flooding since the increase in the agricultural areas are in the fragile steep upland areas. Therefore, government policy should promote the watershed development planning that will be consistent with municipal development plans and comprehensive land use plans to minimize the trade-offs between food security and the environmental integrity especially with climate change.