GMA takes on illegal loggers

On Earth Day President Arroyo vowed to fight illegal logging and promote sustainable exploitation of the country’s natural resources. Why does this sound like a tired refrain? Every administration makes noises about saving the country’s forests. Yet the country’s forest cover continues to disappear at an alarming rate, lost to slash-and-burn farming or kaingin, badly planned development and yes, illegal logging.

When Ormoc City was devastated by a freak flood a decade ago, leaving over 3,000 people dead, it didn’t take long to deduce that it was caused by the denudation of the city’s watershed. As the nation was dramatically reminded of the depletion of its forests, the tragedy intensified calls to give trees a respite, especially the slow-growing and expensive hardwoods so priced by loggers.

To this day national leaders are still debating whether the nation should stick to a selective logging ban or go for a total prohibition. Not that it matters to the illegal loggers, who have managed to operate despite the government ban and political rhetoric about saving the trees. With prices of quality wood going up because of tight supply, loggers have thrived with the help of politicians, soldiers and cops. Good wood has become so scarce even old railroad ties are being stolen and sold as garden accessories in expensive homes. This administration may be surprised to discover who some of the illegal loggers are – if it doesn’t know them already. Can President Arroyo go after allies who are coddling illegal loggers, or who are directly involved in illegal logging?

Over the years there have been aggressive reforestation efforts in many parts of the country. Some politicians are espousing the "re-greening" of Metro Manila and other urban areas. Fast-growing seedlings are being planted to reverse acute denudation. Hardwood seedlings are being nurtured in some urban areas. Yet the pace can still use a major boost. The results won’t be visible until after many years, but the administration must draw up a program to provide this boost. It must also make good its vow to go after illegal loggers.