DENR hosts int’l training on forest management

"The key to sustainable forest management is to ensure active participation of communities themselves, communities who live in and around the forests, communities who are affected by what happened in the forest."

This was the message of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Elisea G. Gozun who delivered the keynote address during the opening of the Philippines-Japan Third Country Training Program (TCTP) on Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) at the Bayview Park Hotel in Manila last week.

Gozun said there is no country in the world that does not link with people in development efforts, particularly in reducing proverty and with this recognition, the DENR coined the phrase "people first and sustainable development will follow."

Aside from Gozun, the program was attended by JICA-Philippine resident Osamu Nakagaki and his assistant resident representative Kiyoto Kobayashi, Chau Bui from the embassy of Vietnam, Environment and Natural Resources undersecretary Rolando L. Metin and assistant secretary Rafael E. Camat Jr. and National Economic and Development Authority chief executive officer Edith Abergas.

Metin noted that one of the priority programs of the present administration is poverty reduction and most upland communities need all the assistance they can get so that forestry programs will not turn into doleouts.

Nakagaki pledged the usual support of the Japanese government, saying "together, we commit fo further strengthen the development of forest management among ASEAN countries by providing access to knowledge and new technologies."

The TCTP on CBFM is a 30-day training program which started on Jan. 19 and will end on Feb. 16. Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos-PDR, Vietnam and the Philippines are represented by five participants each who are involved in participatory forest management approach in their respective countries.

Its general objective is to provide them with an opportunity to hone their knowledge and skills in forest development and management through participation of upland communities. It was intended to provide a venue for the sharing of technology and experiences on sustainable forest management among Southeast Asian Countries.