JICA, DENR launch community based forest mgm’t program

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and DENR through its Human Resource Development Service, will jointly implement the Third-Country Training Program (TCTP) to promote Community-Based Forest Management Program (CBFM). Twenty-five representatives from four countries namely: Cambodia, Myanmar, Lao-PDR, and Vietnam (CMLV), and the Philippines are the participants. The program will initially run from Jan. 19 to Feb. 18, 2004. This is a significant undertaking for DENR since it is the first time it will be conducting a TCTP.

CBFM is the country’s national strategy for the sustainable development of its forestland and its resources. It allows participants of communities and organizations in the reforestation of the uplands while benefiting from its resources through proper management. Institutionalized in 1995, its forerunner programs includes: "Kaingin" or Forest Occupancy Management (FOM), Family Approach Reforestation, Communal Tree Farm and Integrated Social Forestry. The evolution is an indication of the country’s dynamism in responding to the current and emerging demands of the upland people for their well being while ensuring that the green environment is enhanced and effectively managed.

The TCTP will provide an avenue for the CMLV participants to understand our CBFM implementation experience for possible adoption or integration of applicable learning in their existing participatory approach in forest development. It can also acquire from their experiences lessons that will further enhance our CBFM implementation.

Meanwhile, sustainable forest development supported by JICA is in the pipeline. The CBFM Enhancement Project aims to facilitate and intensify the empowerment of people’s organizations (POs) and other stakeholders in the effective implementation of CBFM.