Hanuno Mangyans and Deforestation

An article that I had read from Novermber 2015 touches on the topic of a certain Indigenous group in the Visayan region called the “Hanuno Mangyans” and their connection to Deforestation in the Philippines. Rappler’s article, “Magyans and Kaingin”, opens up with an anecdote of their lives to illustrate the struggle and the history of the Hanuno Mangyans. I chose this issue since it connects a little bit with postcolonialism and environmentalism.

We can learn about how interaction/occupation of other countries had forced these groups into displacement and how it contributed to their struggle to protect their lands. The practice of “Kaingin” is a form of swidden or commonly known as “slash and burn” of vegetation. This is normally done at a smaller scale than what most people tend to believe. Many non-Indigenous Filipinos even mistakenly associate this practice with images of larger scale burnings. This misinformation led to controversy around the Mangyans’ methods.

Mangyans actually only burn certain plants like the “hagonoyan” which is a kind of weed and they do not burn big trees. Even with this clarification, there is still discussion on whether or not it is good for the environment. There are efforts to help reduce the amounts of kaingin necessary for this community to practice while there are also those who argue that the Indigenous people of this land should be trusted to care for their own environment. The organization in charge to reduce kaingin has presented solutions such as planting more trees but many claim that this plan is not even being carried out carefully nor are the trees being planted properly.

One of the biggest efforts many non-Mangyan people can do to help is to educate ourselves on the different methods of swiddening and which forms are actually detrimental to the environment. These steps cans help Indigenous peoples in protecting their land.