Freedom Fighters for Forest Frontiers: Developing a Sustainable Forest Management Model for Bangsamoro Peacebuilding

ABDUL-JALIL UMNGAN

This study explored the role of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) in promoting peacebuilding in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, a region challenged by historical conflict, deforestation, and economic instability. To address these issues, this research develops an SFM model that integrates environmental conservation with peacebuilding initiatives. Using an exploratory sequential design, the study combines qualitative and quantitative methods. In the qualitative phase, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with government officials, community leaders, former combatants, and representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Insights derived from these activities guided the creation of a structured survey questionnaire, administered to 711 respondents across six areas in Maguindanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur. Data analysis involved thematic analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The findings identify five critical dimensions of SFM in the context of peacebuilding: (1) Community Empowerment - education and capacity-building; (2) Cross-Border Cooperation - collaborative forest resource management; (3) Economic Impact - agroforestry, ecotourism, and forest-based enterprises for poverty reduction; (4) NGO Contribution - roles in capacity-building and conflict resolution; and (5) Cultural Influence - Islamic principle of Khalifa (stewardship), which aligns forest protection with spiritual responsibility. The CFA validated the model's structure, demonstrating an acceptable fit with a Comparative Fit Index (CFI) of 0.948, Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) of 0.935, and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) of 0.056 (90% CI: [0.050, 0.063]). The proposed integrative SFM model combines these dimensions to achieve environmental preservation, socio-economic growth, and post-conflict stability. The study highlights the importance of participatory governance, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and culturally relevant approaches to forest management. Recommendations include strengthening institutional frameworks, offering livelihood incentives, and engaging former combatants in SFM initiatives to promote reconciliation and trust-building. Keywords: Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), Peacebuilding, Community Empowerment, Sustainable Development, Environmental Conservation.