This scoping study identified the obstacles that a Tagbanua community in Napsan, Palawan is facing as they apply for ancestral domain status for their land. This project aims to meet their economic needs while also bridging communication gaps by developing and implementing a toolkit that will assess the opportunities for them to participate in the production and processing of cotton, a resource that grows wild in their forests but is currently underutilised for profit.
The Happy Weaves Handmade Artisan Handicrafts, the implementor of the project, hopes to answer the question of whether cotton farming and processing can become an economically viable and environmentally sustainable livelihood option for the Tagbanua community in Napsan, Palawan.
Woven Networks – Craft changemakers conserving forests is a partnership between the Forest Foundation Philippines and its grantee, the British Council through its Crafting Futures global programme. It aims to initiate new collaborations and support projects that champion indigenous knowledge systems towards sustainable resource management and improved livelihood of craft communities. The grants support research projects that highlight sustainable practices of indigenous craft communities for forest conservation.
