Seeking sustainability: A synthesis of research in SANREM CRSP-Southeast Asia, 1993-98

Addressing site selection criteria, the NRC panel had emphasized the need to identify and work in sites that are representative of a broad crosssection of ecological conditions, and stressed that research must be responsive to local constraints and concerns&a learning process must take place, not only at the scientific level, but at the policy level, in the host country's capital (NRC 1991: 45). The SANREM partners identified the southern Philippines as broadly representative of upland agricultural conditions in the humid tropics, and as displaying common forms of environmental stress associated with unchecked resource exploitation. From the set of feasible sites, the Municipality of Lantapan in Bukidnon province, Northern Mindanao was chosen for a variety of reasons relating to the landscape-based approach to SANREM research.