DENR inks MOU on sustainable forestry

MANILA, Philippines - Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje announced yesterday a partnership between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea to promote sustainable forestry in the country.

The partnership was sealed in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the DENR’s undersecretary for field operations Demetrio Ignacio Jr. and Korea’s Forestry Service minister Lee Don Koo. 

The signing was held on the sidelines of the recently-concluded Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Forestry in Seoul, Korea last Aug. 29, 2012.

“This agreement will not only strengthen our forest development and protection but will also create jobs and income, provide livelihood opportunities, and encourage foreign investments and exports of forest products to Korea,” Paje said.

Paje said the MOU provides for cooperation in the areas of sustainable forestry, forest protection, plantation development, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

He added that the agreement would be implemented through exchange of experts and new technologies between the two countries, and capability building. 

“But the more important objective of the agreement is to foster the entry of Korean private investments in forest plantations,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, DENR undersecretary Ignacio, head of the Philippine delegation, said that the recent ASEAN-ROK Ministers Meeting held in Seoul, Korea resulted in commitments by participating countries to promote sustainable forestry, enhance engagement of forest stakeholders, deepen and expand collaboration, consultation and cooperation, promote capacity-building and livelihood, and pursue the establishment of an Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCo).

The meeting was attended by ministers and senior officials of ASEAN member countries, namely, Korea, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Other members of the Philippine delegation were Forest Management Bureau Director Ricardo Calderon and Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau Director Marcial Amaro.