No simplistic approach to forest management — Diaz

"The problem of forest denudation has different causes requiring different remedies and actions – we cannot oversimplify the problem and propose band-aid solutions which is tantamount to prescribing one medicine for every kind of disease," said Undersecretary Renato V. Diaz, Presidential Assistant for Central Luzon, who recently surveyed communities severely affected by the unusual heavy rainfalls and flooding brought about by typhoons Winnie and Yoyong.

"The President wisely declared a moratorium on logging so that Congress can study the matter more carefully," added Diaz. "It seems the logical solution is for the legislation to allow for various alternatives and set criteria for those who qualify. Communities who are guilty and have abused (our forests) should lose control of their stewardship of this valuable resource. However, those who have exercised prudence and practice the proper conservation techniques should be set as role models and be allowed to benefit for their efforts. We should impose a system of selective planting and cutting of forests, but on the other hand resort to a riot act or an iron hand in communities where abuses and greed have resulted in the wanton destruction of our natural resources."

Diaz, who served in Congress for two terms from 1992 to 1998, and also currently chairs the Central Luzon anti-poverty commission, Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (KALAHI) – which undertakes multi-sectoral and integrated programs to optimize the region’s economic potential, said the greater problem is the lack of alternative livelihood that must be made available for people affected by the logging ban. "Because logging ban is not just about commercial logging," he said. "We must make every effort to ban slash and burn activities and the cutting and uprooting of trees – which loosen the soil – for firewood and furniture."

"So we must explore all alternatives and package the right mix of solutions for certain communities. The forest is a source of income, not only for those who are indirectly arvesting but for those who use it – for furniture, wood carving or construction. An estimated one million jobs will be lost if total log ban is imposed. At this economic doom with a measure that will be disastrous to our economic system – already under severe stress from oil prices and other challenges?"

There must be a formula, he said, where in areas like Dingalan, Real, Infanta, banning must be imposed for a cycle, maybe 25 to 30 years, for the forest to be replenished; but those who take care of the forest must be allowed to continue to do so. "Why make Juan suffer for the greed of Pedro?," he asked. "Or in a roomful of children, if a few misbehave, is it proper to scold everyone? And we know that in this case, some parties are guilty of either commission or omission. So there must be exceptions (to the log ban)."

Diaz admitted that no system is fool-proof as proven, so he stressed the need for a system of audit performed by third parties, possibly composed of the media and non-government organizations (NGOs), and even making use of satellites to monitor forest densities.

"History has shown that while laws help, solutions cannot happen simply by passing legislation. Enforcement is the bigger problem," he said. He stressed that, just like guns, chainsaws must be registered. "There must be a law against possession of unregistered chainsaws and the government should provide a bounty for those who surrender (unlicensed ones). The private sector can then replace these with fishing boats or provide them the ability to go into cash crops – because the forest can be used to develop herbs for medicine, flowers for essences and fruitsand nuts. Communities should also be encoraged to look for alternative sources of charcoal for cooking like rice hulls or coco shell."

"We must provide parachutes or safety nets to solve this problem," he said. "I, too, am a conservationist. But we must not kill each other. For example, in Dingalan, instead of logging people can fish. But we must develop its port. But what about other areas like Nakar, Kasiguran and those in the eastern seaboard – they don’t even have access roads. The sea is not conducive for travel or fishing several months a year. People will have to survive; they cannot just disappear. There are no cutting licenses in Quezon but why do they have logging there? They either violate the law or we give them alternatives."

Among the affected small wood-dependent sectors, he cited as examples the woodcarvers in Cordillera, furniture makers in Central Luzon, Pampanga and Cagayan Valley, those who make doors and sashes, the truck drivers ferrying these products. "These are small and medium scale industries and can’t afford to import (wood)," he said.

"The key is forest management, not total log ban," Diaz reiterated. "With too much forest cover – because forests are left alone by themselves, forests fires are likely to happen and it will be hard for them to recover. Just like a hedge – left untrimmed, it eventually dies. Is there any country in the world that bans forest management? The US, countries in Europe have their own wood industries."

Noting the occurrence of heavier rains in increasing frequencies in the future, Diaz stressed the need to also ban people from living in high risk areas so that loss of lives can be prevented. "It is dangerous for people to live along river banks. Communities should be organized so that the innocent will not suffer. We must make use of these lessons when it comes to safety."