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Fourth of seven parts
The law should provide a
management scheme for the remaining open and denuded forests for the
purpose of restoration. The law should identify a management scheme
for the remaining open and denuded forests for the purpose of
restoration. This is to ensure the expansion of protection for
forestlands in order to achieve the ideal forest cover of 54 percent
of the total land area of the Philippines. Restoration of forests by
rainforestation, which refers to the use of native trees, is a
primary objective of the bill given the poor state of our forests
and biodiversity. Further degradation or destruction of our forests
will lessen our capacity to adapt and mitigate the effects of global
warming. Decreasing forest cover compromises our ability to optimize
ecological benefits derived from natural forests.
Studies have shown that forest
restoration is more likely to improve the long-term sustainability
of land use because it improves biodiversity and ecosystem
functioning. Forest restoration also provides a wider range of
ecological services such as watershed management, carbon
sequestration, and economic gains to rural communities that could
benefit from sustainable harvesting of non-timber forest products.
The law should provide for
guidelines on buffer-zone management. The law should provide for
guidelines on buffer-zone management for natural forests,
watersheds, critical habitats and other protected areas. It is
necessary to determine the effective size of buffer zones to prevent
encroachment and reduce pressure on the areas mentioned above.
Only indigenous species should be
used for reforestation. Strictly speaking, “reforestation”
should back the original forest with the planting of species native
to a particular forest. The use of native trees in reforestation
(i.e. rainforestation) should be promoted because native trees have
a greater chance of survival. Aside from reviving the life support
system of a forest, they also ensure the flourishing of native
plants and trees and truly improve biodiversity.
In the past and up to the
present, Philippine forests have been “reforested” with
fast-growing, exotic trees, not to restore the lost forest but to
continue supplying lumber. This invasive type of reforestation
resulted only in tree plantations and loss of native trees. Diseases
and pets invade the exotic tree plantations and can result in the
wipeout of an entire “reforested” area. Using exotic trees could
also result in nutrient imbalances in soil and plants.
In Kalinga province, for example,
farmers noticed that crops planted near Gmelina trees were dying.
They later found that the Gmelina trees have allellopathic
properties that caused the soil to be acidic. In some areas, creeks
and rivers dried up as exotic trees consumed rather than stored
water.
In view thereof, it is suggested
that the definition of “reforestation” be limited and changed as
follows:
“Reforestation - refers to all
land use activities directed towards restoration, establishment and
sustained management of original forest using native species of
diversified vegetation on denuded, degraded and/or marginal lands,
including but not limited to the planting and tending of timber,
orchard and multi-use trees. Perennial leguminous vines (i.e. cover
crops), grass, shrubs, vegetative hedgerows grown on contours may
likewise be considered initial stages of reforestation.”
It should be emphasized that
reforestation refers to ecological restoration and does not apply to
timber plantation establishments. Reforestation should be
differentiated from plantation forestry, which is the planting of
one or two species for the sole purpose of production and
harvesting.
Fast-growing indigenous species
should be increasingly used in tree plantations. In view of the
compelling reasons for using indigenous species, priority should be
given to the use of fast-growing indigenous species in tree
plantations. This way, the benefits from tree plantations will not
be limited to the harvesting of timber. The use of indigenous
species in tree plantations will promote the growth of other native
plant species. Ecological restoration can then happen more
extensively as areas for tree plantations will also be restored.
(To be continued next week)
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