The project has activities in three pilot sites: Hingyon and Hungduan Municipalities in the Province of Ifugao and Lake Sebu Municipality in the Province of South Cotabato. These sites were selected due to their high levels of crop diversity, including traditional rice varieties, taro, yam, banana, abaca, etc.
Ifugao Province
Hingyon and Hungduan Municipalities in Ifugao consist of irrigated and rain-fed rice grown in the mountainous terraces, along with cultivated crops. The livelihoods of the local communities are largely agriculture-dependent, which makes agriculture central to their lives. Hungduan is one of the five municipalities covered by the World Heritage Site Destination. It is also a demonstration area for piloting dynamic conservation of Globally Important Agriculture Heritage Systems (GIAHS). Further, both Hingyon and Hungduan have maintained rice terraces which harbor high biodiversity and ABD. Among the main ABD crops planted in these municipalities are: lowland/upland rice, maize, sweet potato, taro, yam, banana, peas, beans, fruit trees, and coffee.
South Cotabato Province
Lake Sebu is the biggest municipality in South Cotabato Province. Most farmers in mountainous areas are practicing rainfed systems in their agriculture lands. Lake Sebu hosts several ethnic groups. The T’boli and Ubo groups harbor ABD in their traditional farming systems. Other group such as Tasaday group is also active in conserving biodiversity in the area. The main ABD crops in Lake Sebu include rice, root crops and the endemic abaca or Manila hemp which are part of a bigger diversity of the remaining forests of the Allah Valley. The ABD areas have been diminished over time and are maintained by only a few communities.