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Sixth of seven parts
Multi-sectoral participation is
the key strategy in forest management. The participation of all
direct and indirect local stakeholders in sustainable forestland
conservation, management, and development shall be required.
Equitable sharing of the benefits derived from forestlands shall be
ensured at all times. A community-based forest management strategy
should endeavor to allow “forest resident or forest dependent
families, local communities, and indigenous peoples to undertake the
management and development of appropriate forestland resources on a
sustainable basis...” However, the CBFM Strategy should not or in
any way adopt Executive Order No. 263, series of 1995, because of
the gross abuse on timber harvesting from natural forest that
transpires under this instrument. The group is open to the
formulation of new forest tenure instruments for local stakeholders
other than the current policy.
Since all natural forests are
considered protection forests, timber harvesting within areas
covered by the proposed instrument shall not be allowed. However,
non-timber forest products may be harvested. Further, partnerships
between the private sector and forest-based communities shall be
promoted to support sustainable community forest management
activities like “Adopt-a-Mountain” models.
Forestry research, education, and
training should be repurposed for the conservation of forests. The
DENR, specifically the Environment Research and Development Board (ERDB)
should be strengthened and provided funds for research and
development of methods for sustainable forest management from the
Sustainable Forest Development Fund (SFDF) and other sources. This
is in accordance with Article 14, Section 10 of the Philippine
Constitution, which states:
Section 10. Science and
technology are essential for national development and progress. The
State shall give priority to research and development, invention,
innovation, and their utilization; and to science and technology
education, training, and services. It shall support indigenous,
appropriate, and self-reliant scientific and technological
capabilities, and their application to the country’s productive
systems and national life.
In addition, funds should also be
allocated for the Department of Education and the CHED for research
and development on SFM. The R&D agenda shall be developed in
collaboration with a multi-sectoral body. To ensure that there is
greater awareness about environmental issues and the need to
conserve forests, it is suggested that the SFM bill include a
provision requiring the Department of Education and the Commission
on Higher Education to include mandatory ecology and environment
courses in the general education curricula.
This can be funded with 10
percent of the funds from revenues generated from SFDF, which shall
be allocated to the development of ecology and environment courses
in the general education curricula.
In the past, the teaching of
forestry courses was mainly focused on forest engineering, timber
extraction and utilization. With the paradigm shift from extraction
to restoration, there is a need to change the forestry curriculum by
strengthening it in the following areas:
1. Sustainable Forest Management
2. Natural Resource Management
3. Biodiversity Conservation
4. Wildlife Management
5. Entrepreneurship on Non-timber
Forest Resources
6. Environmental Laws
7. Forest Restoration or Rainforestation
Technology
This will ensure high quality
human resources trained in sustainable forest management to meet the
needs of the forestry sector and the country as a whole.
It is also suggested that the
Board of Forestry Examiners be directed to assign higher weights on
non-timber extraction subjects. Currently, academic institutions are
oriented towards resource extraction from forests. Giving a higher
weight to conservation subjects will compel these institutions to
emphasize these subjects in the curriculum to ensure that their
graduates pass the exam. The licensure exam should also require
minimum units on forest restoration related subjects.
The penal provisions of the SFM
Law should be strengthened and accessories and accomplices should be
made criminally liable.
To deter persons from violating
the law, it is suggested that the penalties be increased. Basing the
fines on the value of the damage incurred may pose problems in the
determination thereof. Thus, it may be better to impose a specific
monetary amount.
There is also a need to include
accessories and accomplices among the violators. The bill can be
refined to include them among the persons criminally liable by
enumerating specific acts patterned after provisions found in the
Revised Penal Code and other penal laws.
A Sustainable Forest Management
Council should be created.
To strengthen private sector
participation in forest management, it is suggested that the bill
provide for the creation of a Sustainable Forest Management Council.
This council, which shall be
multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder, and multi-disciplinary, shall
review and endorse all modes of forest management agreements/
projects in production forests.
The membership thereof and the
duties of the council should be indicated in the law.
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