DENR may issue permits for new industrial tree plantations

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) may issue new industrial tree plantation permits to encourage new investments and the planting of new trees.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje said existing holders of Integrated Forest Management Agreements (IFMAs), Socialized Integrated Forest Management Agreements (SIFMAs), Community-based Forest Management Agreements (CBFMAs) will still be allowed to harvest trees from their plantations except those that are part of the natural and residual forests.

The DENR estimates that some 108,000 cubic meters of natural and residual forests would be protected by the total log ban under Executive Order 23.

Paje said one area that would benefit from EO 23 is the Sierra Madre which will now be totally covered by the log ban. Under the previous ban, only the northern Sierra Madre was protected, he added.

Paje said the DENR would review and evaluate all existing IFMAs, SIFMAs and CBFMAs and other forestry agreements/contacts and immediately terminate or cancel the agreements of those who have been found to have committed violations.

The new industrial tree plantations would likely come from some eight million classified open, denuded and degraded forest lands and more specifically an initial 1.7 million hectares of community-based forest lands.

The DENR is prioritizing the 1.7 million community-based forest lands to provide employments and income for upland familities.