DENR to issue less logging permits for natural forests

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Forest Management Bureau will slow down further on the granting of new logging permits for natural forests, in favor of encouraging more investments in forest plantations for harvesting.

This who was interviewed by reporters on was revealed yesterday by FMB Director Marlo D. Mendoza who was interviewed by reporters on the sidelines of the opening of the 13th Meeting of ASEAN Senior Officials on Forestry and its Related Meetings which is being held at the Manila Peninsula in Makati City.

Mendoza said the Philippines could save as much as $1 billion yearly from the importation of wood and wood products, if it is able to attract more investments in forest plantations.

Mendoza said DENR Secretary Ramon Paje told to the FMB, to discourage the use of natural forest in favor of forest plantations which are specifically planted for harvesting.

The DENR is currently in streamlining its processes, Mendoza said, adding that the DENR-FMB is working with local government units (LGUs) to facilitate the issuance of the necessary permits for forest plantations.

Mendoza said the DENR-FMB has identified up to 500,000 hectares of land suitable for forest plantations for harvesting. At present, he said, only a little over one-third of this area is being utilized for the cultivation of forest plantations for harvesting.

According to Mendoza, investments in more forest plantations would enable the country to produce more trees which could be harvested for the production of various pulp, paper and waste paper products.

Based on 2007 statistics of the DENR-FMB, Mendoza said the Philippines spends around $1 billion on the importation of wood and wood products as well as pulp, paper and waste paper.

Only around 22 percent of the importations, Mendoza said, are wood and wood products, with the bulk actually pulp, paper and waste paper products – most of which could be produced locally if only there were adequate forest plantations specifically for trees suited for such products.