A total of five communal forests/community watersheds has been selected for this study, based on the criteria : minimum size of 500 ha, already existing for at least five years and representative distribution throughout the Philippines. 
This study aims to :

• To review the actual status of selected communal forest sites.
• To assess the implementation of devolved function of DENR to the LGU in the management of the reviewed communal forests/community watersheds pursuant to Republic Act No. 7160 (Local Government Code) and DENR-DILG JMC No.

As early as 1997, Deputized Environment and Natural Resources Officers (DENROS), more popularly known as Bantay Gubat Volunteers, have been identified and organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to help in conservation efforts along the area of Mt. Poras in Sibalom, Antique in accordance with Department Administrative Order Number 41 series of 1997 of the DENR. Due to lack of financial and technical resources, however, the Bantay Gubat Volunteers were not properly guided and monitored.

The purpose of this study was to assess the avoided deforestation and resulting reduction of forest carbon emission during both phases of the Forest and Climate Protection Project in Panay (ForClim I and II) from 2011 to 2017. For this, the forest cover changes in the Panay Mountain Range (PMR) before 2010 (start of ForClim I), from 2010 to 2014 (ForClim I) and from 2014 to 2017 (ForClim II) were considered.