Training program on forest mgm’t launched

The third country training program on community-based forest management which aims to address the twin problems of environmental degradation and poverty of forest-dependent communities in the ASEAN region was launched recently.

The program is being implemented under the auspices of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). It started last year and is to end next year.

Aimed at providing/honing the knowledge and skills of participants in forest management, the program convenes representatives from Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos-PDR and Vietnam to gain insights and exposures on the country’s national strategy for the sustainable development of forest land and resource.

The country, being a pioneer in grassroots movements, provides an ideal setting to showcase the strides in participatory approach in forest management. Records from the Forest Management Bureau show that the country has 5,503 community-based forest management (CBFM) sites covering 5,969,521.64 hectares and 690,687 households.

The current project is the second leg of the three batches. It will end on Feb. 15, 2005.

The recent launching was attended by JICA deputy resident representative Hirohiko Takata, Editha Abergas of NEDA, Ambassador Rey Carandang and officials from foreign embassies, namely first secretaries Theam Sothy of Cambodia and Phan Thi Mien of Vietnam. Also present were Myanmar counsellor Daw Khin Sander, human resource development service director Adelrisa G. Siapno of the DENR and FMB assistant director Neria Andin.