COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION OF KALISUNGAN: INPUT FOR POLICY NOTE FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS

Abstract

The study investigated the role of community involvement in the biodiversity conservation of Mt. Kalisungan and its implications for policy development in teacher professional growth. Specifically, it explored the demographic profile of residents to understand how these factors influence participation in conservation efforts. The research further analyzed the level of community involvement in participation rates, training initiatives, and locally driven conservation programs. Additionally, it evaluated the implementation of social-environmental policies, focusing on decision-making processes, policy integration with local livelihoods, and governance structures. Based on the findings, the demographic profile of Mt. Kalisungan's respondents revealed a community characterized by gender balance, a concentration of individuals in their early middle age, and a predominance of high school education levels. This composition fosters a blend of seasoned local knowledge from long-term residents and innovative perspectives from newer community members. Community engagement and policy implementation were observed to be moderate. However, factors such as sex and educational attainment play a significant role in predicting the level of participation. This underscores the importance of inclusive strategies that consider these variables to enhance community involvement. The relationship between community participation and policy implementation highlights the necessity for educational programs and collaborative efforts. These findings highlighted the importance of empowering communities and fostering trust to ensure sustainable biodiversity conservation and enhancing academic programs, community-driven awareness campaigns, sustainable livelihood initiatives, and strong partnerships and participatory governance. These can empower communities to take an active role in biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, these integrated strategies not only address key challenges but also create a foundation for long-term, inclusive, and effective environmental policy implementation.