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Programs
on the Man and the Environment
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People-Oriented
Forestry
This
primary development program component aims to rehabilitate the degraded
forestlands and the environment along the efforts to improve forest productivity.
It unfolds the Master Plan strategy to advance equitable access to opportunities
in forest development as well as sharing of benefits from forest resources.
Through this program, the local communities and notably, the indigenous
cultural communities, shall be given the chance to participate actively
in managing, conserving and using the forests.
The
people-oriented forestry programs include six sub-programs, namely, Integrated
Social Forestry, Community-based Forest Management, Contract Reforestation
with Forest Land Management Agreement (FLMA), Ancestral Land Management,
Wood Production in Alienable or Disposable Lands and Non-Governmental Organizations
(NGOs) in Forest Development.
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Soil
Conservation and Watershed Management
The
migration of lowland farmers into the uplands, illegal logging and the
building of infrastructures have put the uplands under severe ecological
stress. Critical watersheds are endangered. Extensive soil erosion in the
uplands and the siltation downstream of irrigation, hydroelectric and other
facilities are devastating the fragile environment.
This
program is geared to arrest these blights to the life support system. The
focus is on the spread of soil and water conservation practices in the
upland and in other types of land.
The
other sub-programs are: Assisted Natural Regeneration, Range Management,
and Soil Conservation in Forestry Operations.
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Integrated
Protected area System (IPAS) and Bio-diversity Conservation
The
alarming rate of forest destruction in the twentieth century has decimated
a wide variety of tropical forest plant species, diverse endemic animal
species, and several marine and coastal eco-types. This program seeks to
establish a protected areas system that is representative of major bio-units
and ecosystems and recognizes as well as local cultural values.
Definitions
and delineation of protected areas is the first step in the establishment
of the IPAS. The integrated system will include all national parks, wildlife
sanctuaries, and forest reserves for their bio-diversity. Likewise to be
kept are the mossy forests, virgin forests and steep second growth forests.
The other sub-programs are the Buffer Zone Management, Protected Areas
Management, and Bio-diversity Conservation in Forestry Operations.
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Urban
Forestry
Scenic
and healthful environment in the cities is the objective of this program.
This will be done by establishing urban forests, small nature parks, greenbelts
and landscaped grounds around hospitals, schools and other public buildings.
Industrialization and the influx of more and more people into the metropolis
have exacerbated pollution such as by toxic gases.
City
and town governments shall spearhead the Urban Forest and Natural Parks
sub-program for creating mini-forest and parks. Greenbelt Development shall
line the roads and highways with trees. Grounds Landscaping shall decorate
the surroundings of buildings with trees, grasses and ornamentals.
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Forest
Protection
Adequate
protection of all natural forests, plantations, national parks and reservations
is the objective of this program. These are to be protected from illegal
loggers, poachers and the increasing number of people settling in the uplands.
In 10-15 years, all of these areas are envisaged to be well managed; conversion
of these lands to other uses will be minimal.
The
components of this last program under "Man and Environment" are Strengthened
Capacity of DENR for Forest Protection; Policy and Legislative Reform and
Public Information; and Integration of Forest Protection in Forest Management.
Programs
on Forest Management and Products Development
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Management
of the Natural Dipterocarp Forests
Comprising
about 70% of all forests in the country, the dipterocarp forests have been
the major source of timber and other forest products. As of 1990, the country’s
dipterocarp forests have dwindled to about 984,000 hectares of old growth
or virgin forest, and to about .46 million hectares of residual forest.
These figures show that major areas in the islands are no longer under
forest cover. In 1934 there were some 17 million ha. of forests including
11 million ha of virgin forest. This program aims to put all dipterocarp
forests under sustainable management, to improve their productivity, to
prevent their conversion to agricultural and other uses, and to perpetuate
a stable environment.
The
components of this are: Establishment of a Permanent Forest Estate; Enhancing
the Productivity of the Dipterocarps; and Practice of Sustainable Forest
Management System.
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Management
of Mangroves, Pines and Other Natural Forests
Products
and services that provide income and livelihood to many people comprise
the more viable benefits from these natural forests other than the dipterocarps.
Less visible are the effects they exert on the web of relationships in
nature-the ecosystems-in the areas where they are found. This program is
designed to put all the mangroves, pines and other natural forests under
scientific management and under the same regimes set by the objectives
in dipterocarp forests management.
The
components of this program are: Establishment of a Permanent Forest Estate;
Management of Pines, Mangroves and Other Natural Forests; and Pine and
Mangrove Plantation Establishment. The natural forest types included in
this program fall under the declaration of a permanent forest estate to
protect the forests from their destroyers.
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Forest
Plantations and Tree Farms
Forest
plantations shall be developed through the combined efforts of the government,
local communities and the private sector. Various approaches such as contract
reforestation with FLMA (Forest Land Management Agreement) have been formulated
towards this participatory development thrust. This program package addresses
problems in forestry such as : the onslaught of degraded, denuded and eroded
resources; the exploding upland population; the need for wood and other
forest goods to augment the products from the natural forests; protection
for the watersheds and other critical areas.
This
program has five components, namely: Contract Reforestation with FLMA;
Industrial Forest Plantations, Mandatory Plantation Development by TLA/Timber
Production Sharing Agreement Holders, Community-based Plantations, and
Agro-forestry Plantations.
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Wood-Based
Industries Development
The
Philippines intends to maintain self-sufficiency in wood products for the
construction industry. It also intends to develop more export wood products
with high value added and that are competitive worldwide. The industry
has provided jobs over the years. However, the industry is presently beset
with many problems. This program seeks to rehabilitate the industry particularly
through the measures and innovations featured in six sub-programs:
Developing
Favorable Business Environment for the Wood Industry, Rationalization of
the Industry, Provision of New Technologies, Promoting Further Processing
and Downstream Industries, Development of Community-based Wood Processing
Industries, and Establishment of a Timber Industry Board.
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Non-Wood
Forest-Based Industries Development
The
decrease of supply of raw materials for the rattan and bamboo furniture
industries has been noticeable along with the general decline of the forest
resources. This is true as well for the sources of resins, gums and other
exudates. This industry-centered program aims to develop the various sources
of non-wood products using sustainable methods, augment the raw material
supply by establishing plantations, and assist in setting up community
industries.
The
sub-programs include the following: Rattan-based Industry Development,
Bamboo-based Industry Development, Medicinal Plants Industries Development,
and Resins, Gums, and Essential Oils Industries Development.
Programs
on Institutional Development
The
implementation of the primary development programs discussed in the two
preceding sections requires institutional support. To cite some examples
of such needs: supportive policies and laws have to be formulated and passed;
human resources have to be trained and organized, extension agents have
to do community organizing work; planning and monitoring mechanisms have
to be set in place. Policy and legislation lead the concerns presently
addressed under this third umbrella program.
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Policy
and Legislation
This
program aims to develop the policy and legal framework for the forestry
sector and to update the laws and regulations on forestry. It seeks to
set the environment for utmost participation of the local people in forest
resources development. It eyes a better business climate for the forest-based
industries to enhance their contributions to the economy.
The
sub-program entitled "Policy Studies and Development" shall initiate the
study of forestry laws and regulations in order to form a legislative agenda.
The program is directed to the enactment of appropriate laws and their
"tuning in" to fit changing times and conditions.
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Organization,
Human Resources, Infrastructures and Facilities
The
capability of the DENR in terms of its organization, human resources, infrastructures
and facilities underpins the success of the implementation of the Master
Plan. To improve DENR’s capability, the Department shall be transformed
into an extension and development organization in place of its present
regulatory function. Human resources must, therefore, be aligned with this
new developmental role, especially the field officers. Personnel mobility
and communications will be facilitated with the acquisition of more hardware.
Though the regulatory function of the department will be reduced, there
will still be a need to monitor and keep to a minimum the illegal activities
in the forest.
The
above objectives will be pursued under three subprograms: Organizational
Strengthening, Human Resources Development, and Upgrading of Infrastructures
and Facilities.
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Research
and Development
This
program aims to upgrade the number and quality of the manpower doing research
in forestry especially those in the regions; acquire more and better research
equipment and facilities; and hike the research funds. The specific sub-programs
are: Manpower Development, Improvement of Facilities and Equipment, and
Research Programs.
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Education,
Training and Extension
Forestry
education in the Philippines dates as far back as 1910. In the 1950s and
1960s, however, forestry schools proliferated. The quality of graduates
has suffered a lot.
Forestry
education in the country has to be rationalized. Measures shall be taken
to cut the number of forestry professional schools. For training, short
term courses shall be offered in regional and provincial training centers.
Upgrading the knowledge and skills of the field technicians through training
is a must. The programs in this package are Strengthening Forestry Education,
Strengthening Manpower Training and Strengthening Extension and Communication.
The last program includes a public information component to create awareness
and understanding of the Master Plan Program.
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Monitoring
and Evaluation
As
the Master Plan is being implemented, there will be a need to monitor and
evaluate the different programs, many being carried out at the same time
over various locations. It shall be essential to measure the progress,
effects and impacts of the program -- on the clienteles or intended beneficiaries,
and with respect to the resources. Feedback to central planners shall be
necessary to guide program implementation. The NGOs are also being eyed
to assist in the two tasks.
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