Meeting halfway towards sustainable development: Localization and co-production in the forest

This study examines co-production of forest goods and protection services, focusing on the rules, norms, and practices of the Ikalahan/Kalanguya, an indigenous community in Northern Luzon, Philippines. It analyzes institutional arrangements by addressing the following research questions: (1) how do state and non-state actors collaborate in forest protection under co-production arrangements? and (2) what are the barriers in carrying out the co-production process? State actors, such as the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Local Government Units (LGUs) - act as regular producers. Meanwhile, non-state actor - the Ikalahan/Kalanguya community, functions as the co-producer. An ethnographic method including field research, participant observation, focus group discussions (FGDs), and interviews, was used to collect data. The study identified key themes, revealing that state and non-state actors collaboratively agreed on capacity building, institutional strengthening, and the localization of forest policies. It also identified barriers, including ambiguity of authority, ownership conflict, distrust, and contrasting knowledge systems. Addressing these challenges requires continues effort between indigenous community members and government agencies to develop agreements, policies and programs that promote mutual respect and equitable access to forest resources. While statutory policies are necessary, indigenous forest governance is equally important. Results show that co-production is essential in shaping forest protection and governance.