Paris, France – AsiaDHRRA, represented by Ms. Mags Catindig, Program Officer, together with PAKISAMA farmer leader, Ms. Conchita “Inang Conching” Calzado, participated in the “Farmers Fighting Climate Change” conference organized by Agriculteurs Francais et Developpement International (AFDI), with support from AgriCord and Agence Francaise de Development (AFD). It was held on 17 November 2015 in Paris, France and participated by representatives from farmers’ organization, agri-agencies, NGOs, researchers, and media coming from Asia, Africa, Australia,  Canada, and, Europe.

Inang Conching, joined in the panel discussion on “water, the key resource in food security” together with other farmers from Algeria, Australia, and France. She shared the experience of Agta-Dumagat-Remontado Tribe (ADRT) from General Nakar, Quezon in protecting their ancestral land and water. Currently, Inang Conching takes the lead in the campaign against the construction of mega-dams under the New Centennial Water Source Project, a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Project of the current administration. The said construction would submerge at least 2,352 hectares of land where seven villages of Rizal provice and one village of Quezon province are located; and, would affect an estimated 37,700 hectares of watershed areas surrounding the said villages, which are all part of the ADRT’s ancestral domain.
The conference culminated with an endorsement of the “Call to the Participants at the COP21.” The call was accepted by Mr. David Nabarro, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Food Security and Nutrition.
Photos courtesy of AFDI