DENR seeks more forestry investments

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is hoping to attract more investments in the forestry sector and is prepared to review and revise some of its outdated policies to facilitate and encourage more domestic and foreign investments.

At the opening yesterday of the two-day National Forum to Strengthen Policies and Opportunities for Forest Investments in the Philippines at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in Makati, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jose L. Atienza said the DENR would continue to favor “responsible and sustainable” development of forestry resour-ces.

For instance, Atienza said the DENR is standing firm on its order banning logging in natural forests but is open to the harvesting of planted trees. He said the DENR, wants to attract more investments in forest plantations, on condition that such investments should not be limited to big investors but should likewise be made available to small and medium investors.

According to Director Marlo D. Mendoza of the Forest Management Bureau (FMB), there are about 500,000 hectares available for industrial forest plantations.

Atienza acknowledged the need to increase the country’s wood resources as he noted  that the Philippines imports $1 billion worth of wood products to feed its own furniture industry.

Atienza also stressed the need to restore the Philippines’ forest cover which has shrunk from 15 million hectares to four million hectares.

By attracting more investments in the forestry sector, the DENR hopes to increase the country’s forest cover initially to 7.3 million hectares.

The DENR is implementing an upland reforestation program covering up to 60,000 hectares at a cost of P1.5 billion and utilizing 50,000 families.

About 60 percent of the program, Atienza said, has been implemented.