The first in-country TUL-SEA ToT was held in Malaybay, Philippines, on 11-15 February 2008 for “Rapid Hydrological Assessment (RHA)” and “Rapid Carbon Stocks Assessment (RaCSA)” to assist in developing schemes for payments for environmental services. The Bukidnon Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) of the provincial Government of Bukidnon, Philippines, agreed to host the in-country training.

The training introduced the TUL-SEA project and explored ways to collaborate with local partners (NGOs, government officers or universities) and implement the tools in their activities. The concepts, principles and approaches of RHA and RaCSA suitable for Philippines and that will lead to payments for environmental services were discussed, as was the appropriate implementation mechanism per project site.

Nine training sessions were conducted: TUL-SEA overview; presentation of key issues and approaches in natural resources management; how the TUL-SEA project works (modalities); participatory approaches in landscape appraisal; introduction to RHA and the application of different tools and hydrological models; a field trip to Lantapan and Miramar within the Plague Watershed; a workshop on RHA, particularly the Gen-River model; RaCSA workshop; and, finally, the formulation and presentation of the RHA and RaCSA workplan and implementation by local partners.

Participants were the national partners of local resource managers/implementers who were to be equipped with the TUL-SEA tools and approaches. The national partners are also expected to be actively involved in testing the use of the toolbox in areas where new agroforestry technology is the primary driver of change, and where water and carbon stocks as part of key environmental services are cause for concern.