DENR Bans New Logging Permits

Leagzpi City (4 Oct) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has cordoned off from new logging contracts the country's second-growth forest, which is also referred to as "natural forest."

DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje issued Memorandum Order No. 9 directing all field officials of the department to stop accepting and processing all forms of applications for new timber contracts "with logging component in the natural forests."

The order was issued with a stern warning that "any official who will violate this instruction shall be automatically relieved and charged accordingly."

Paje explained his order is consistent with the country's climate change mitigation program as it will effectively remove the pressure from existing old-growth and second-growth forests that are important in the fight against climate change.  Trees have excellent capacity to store carbon dioxide, according to him.

At the same time, Paje said the move will promote tree planting in both public and private lands, from which to source domestic timber needs to minimize timber importation.

The Forestry Master Plan recommends the establishment of at least 550,000 hectares of timber plantations for the country to achieve self-sufficiency in its wood requirements.

On existing logging contracts, the environment chief said a thorough review by the department is in place, adding that erring holders of DENR-issued timber permits will be trimmed especially those whose concession area include natural forests.

With the passage of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) in 1992, the remaining old-growth forest areas have been designated as "protection forests" and that logging has shifted to residual forests.

Results of a 2004 study, Forest Resource Assessment (FRA), showed that old-growth forest designated for protection purposes account for some 1,700,050 hectares or 24% of the total forest cover of 7,162,560 hectares. Protection forests include natural reserves, national parks, and managed protected areas.

In terms of use, FRA data show that about 5,462,510 ha. or 76 % is set aside for production purposes with 2,102,942 ha. was covered with tenurial instruments some of which involve logging activities within natural forests.

Natural forest, on the other hand, covers about 6,535,368 hectares or 91.2% while the tree plantations cover about 627,192 hectares or 8.8%. Natural forest and tree plantations are the primary sources of the country's wood needs.

The government pursues reforestation and plantation development approaches to sustainably manage the country's forest resources while addressing the local timber requirements and forest-based services.

These strategies consist of the development of open, denuded, and inadequately stocked residual natural forest through tenure instruments in varying scope, such as the Industrial Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) at   500 hectares to 40,000 hectares;  Socialized Industrial Forest Management Agreement (SIFMA) at  1 to 10 hectares per family or individual and up to 500 hectares for cooperatives;  and  the Community-Based Forest Management Program (CBFMP) at an  average of 912 hectares per agreement-contract.