Integrating Forest Conservation with Local Governance
Haribon Foundation and BirdLife International have urged local government units to preserve forests during a three-day conference at the Subic Bay freeport zone.
“Ecotourism isn’t the only reason why we pursue the preservation of our natural resources and wildlife. To us at SBMA, environmental protection is a task we take seriously…we value the kind of development that is in harmony with the environment,” Alfredo C. Antonio, SBMA Administrator said in his speech welcoming 250 delegates.
Dubbed as “Integrating Forest Conservation with Local Governance,” the conference which started on November 9 and until the 12th at the Legenda Suites is also a project of the DENR and DILG.
Among the objectives of the conference are to learn about and engage in discussions about the state of the Philippines’ forests, as well as policies affecting forest management; identify emerging trends, directions and options in forest management in decentralized systems and approaches; and determine opportunities and challenges in integrating forest conservation with local governance, along with other mechanisms for forest management, especially in Important Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) in the country.
To date there are 117 IBAs and key conservation sites in the country that await immediate attention from different sectors to ensure proper conservation and management.
Antonio added that Subic Bay is “a most fitting venue for your conference on integrating forest conservation with local governance. Noted for its high biodiversity, Subic Bay is one of the ten priority sites of the National Integrated Protected Areas System.”
According to Antonio the primary results of the Subic Bay biodiversity survey show that it serves as habitat for some 745 plant species, as well as ecologically and economically important tree species such as white lauan, apitong and guijo. A rattan palm species previously found in Mt. Arayat was also discovered.
Environment Secretary Mike Defensor said “local governance and community participation play key roles in improving the state of our country’s forests. Our local governments are now combining forest protection with livelihood opportunities. With these actions we can only expect efficient mechanisms for managing this natural resource as well as sustained partnerships with local stakeholders.“
The DENR is imposing a provision of the local government code that would transfer certain forest management functions from the DENR to the LGUs. The LGC is an attempt to decentralize forest management and ensure the participation of LGUs and other local stakeholders in addressing environmental degradation and natural resource depletion in the country.
The National Conference on Integrating Forest Conservation with Local Governance held last November in the Subic Bay Metropolitan Area drew more than 250 delegates--governors, mayors, councilors, DENR officials, as well as national policy-makers and lawmakers.
Haribon wishes to thank its partners in the DENR, DILG, SBMA, and other organizations and institutions that helped make the conference a success.
The Conference highlighted the need for local government units to assume a greater role in forest conservation. Local government officials also got to exchange lessons learned from their experiences in managing forests.
The National Conference on Integrating Forest Conservation with Local Governance held last November in the Subic Bay Metropolitan Area drew more than 250 delegates--governors, mayors, councilors, DENR officials, as well as national policy-makers and lawmakers.
“Ecotourism isn’t the only reason why we pursue the preservation of our natural resources and wildlife. To us at SBMA, environmental protection is a task we take seriously…we value the kind of development that is in harmony with the environment,” Alfredo C. Antonio, SBMA Administrator said in his speech welcoming 250 delegates.
Dubbed as “Integrating Forest Conservation with Local Governance,” the conference which started on November 9 and until the 12th at the Legenda Suites is also a project of the DENR and DILG.
Among the objectives of the conference are to learn about and engage in discussions about the state of the Philippines’ forests, as well as policies affecting forest management; identify emerging trends, directions and options in forest management in decentralized systems and approaches; and determine opportunities and challenges in integrating forest conservation with local governance, along with other mechanisms for forest management, especially in Important Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) in the country.
To date there are 117 IBAs and key conservation sites in the country that await immediate attention from different sectors to ensure proper conservation and management.
Antonio added that Subic Bay is “a most fitting venue for your conference on integrating forest conservation with local governance. Noted for its high biodiversity, Subic Bay is one of the ten priority sites of the National Integrated Protected Areas System.”
According to Antonio the primary results of the Subic Bay biodiversity survey show that it serves as habitat for some 745 plant species, as well as ecologically and economically important tree species such as white lauan, apitong and guijo. A rattan palm species previously found in Mt. Arayat was also discovered.
Environment Secretary Mike Defensor said “local governance and community participation play key roles in improving the state of our country’s forests. Our local governments are now combining forest protection with livelihood opportunities. With these actions we can only expect efficient mechanisms for managing this natural resource as well as sustained partnerships with local stakeholders.“
The DENR is imposing a provision of the local government code that would transfer certain forest management functions from the DENR to the LGUs. The LGC is an attempt to decentralize forest management and ensure the participation of LGUs and other local stakeholders in addressing environmental degradation and natural resource depletion in the country.
The National Conference on Integrating Forest Conservation with Local Governance held last November in the Subic Bay Metropolitan Area drew more than 250 delegates--governors, mayors, councilors, DENR officials, as well as national policy-makers and lawmakers.
Haribon wishes to thank its partners in the DENR, DILG, SBMA, and other organizations and institutions that helped make the conference a success.
The Conference highlighted the need for local government units to assume a greater role in forest conservation. Local government officials also got to exchange lessons learned from their experiences in managing forests.
The National Conference on Integrating Forest Conservation with Local Governance held last November in the Subic Bay Metropolitan Area drew more than 250 delegates--governors, mayors, councilors, DENR officials, as well as national policy-makers and lawmakers.
Haribon wishes to thank its partners in the DENR, DILG, SBMA, and other organizations and institutions that helped make the conference a success.
The Conference highlighted the need for local government units to assume a greater role in forest conservation. Local government officials also got to exchange lessons learned from their experiences in managing forests.
Among the recommendations generated by the conferenceare:
Mandatory hiring of Environment and Natural Resources officer in all LGUs;
Enactment or codification of Local Environmental Code in all LGUs;
Adoption of co-management agreements or strategies (i.e. involvement and participation of all concerned sectors) in local forest management;
Strengthening of education and capacity-building among the LGUs, particularly of the Local Chief Executives, in law enforcement and forest management;
Adoption of multi-sectoral community-based approaches in all phases of forest conservation;
Engagement of the youth sector in forest conservation:
Institutionalization of incentive system for stakeholders' participation in forest conservation and management;
Amendment of some provisions in the 1991 Local Government Code by granting full devolution of powers and authority in forest conservation and management to the LGU; Mandating DENR to share power with the LGU;
DENR to exercise prudence in issuing Mineral Permit Sharing Agreement (MPSA) and other tenurial instruments; Important
Biodiversity Areas must he spared from mining;
Integration of ecotourism program in the LGU development plan;
Possible adoption of Rainforestation (planting native/ indigenous tree species) to support farmers and bring back biodiversity;
Establishment of guidelines that can help integrate plans and programs in the LGUs;
Capacity-building to develop capital markets and proper valuation of forest resources;
Clarification by the government of its national and local environmental policy directions and roles;
Replication and documentation of best practices in local forest management and governance; and
Provision of incentives to implement forest management.
At the end of the conference, DENR and DILG committed to seriously follow through with the recommendations from the conference for proper action. DILG, in particular, promised to discuss some of the issues on the Local Government Code with Senator Aquilino Pimentel. DENR, on the other hand, requested that all cases of corrupt practices by its staff and/or officials be reported to Secretary Mike Defensor. The civil society committed to raise this discourse on forest conservation in local governance to a higher level, and to develop a more creative and continuing campaign for real, sustainable forest management
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
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