Issues of Forest Policy in the Philippines

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Executive Summary

The utilization of supposedly forestall areas for agricultural production purposes and industrialization inevitably results in the loss of important natural resources that could support both human and other animal life. The shrinking forestall areas all over the country manifest large-scale deforestation. Human activities led to this problem and so as caretakers of this planet, it is just right to take action to solve the problems we have inflected to the environment that is also affecting us. The Philippines is losing its forest cover fast, making it 4th in the world’s top 10 most threatened forest hotspots. If the deforestation rate of 157,400 hectares per year continues, the country’s remaining forest cover will be wiped out in less than 40 years. Climate change can be attributed to deforestation and other human-initiated environmental problems. There is only one way to solve deforestation and that is to give back to nature what we have taken. Hence, Reforestation is the absolute solution to deforestation.

Importance of the problem

Disforestation in Brgy. Sumpong is becoming a bigger issue in the environment, specifically in the forestall reservation area in Brgy. This problem if not addressed will cause another environmental issue that may impact not only the locale but might as well other areas. Though there are advantages when the forest is utilized there will always be equivalent disadvantages. When forestalled areas are to be used for economic purposes it will generate income for both the public and private sectors. It will boost the local economy through the attraction of investment which will generate employment. However, the disadvantage would be bigger compared to the benefits it will offer if it will be utilized. Loss of biodiversity for instance will emerge. It is everybody’s knowledge that forest areas are home to different flora and fauna and they serve as habitats for different species of animals. Moreover, forest areas are the home of indigenous people whose lives highly depend on the resources in the forest. In addition forest areas in Malaybalay such as that of Brgy. Sumpong help maintains the humidity in the City. In the past 10 years temperature in the City roused to a significant level. This change in the city’s temperature can be directly attributed to deforestation. This implies that deforestation in the locale has contributed to another environmental problem. Hence, the problem needs to be addressed urgently. If the problem will be neglected it can guarantee further damage to the environment in various ways. The problems that will emerge from not addressing deforestation issues will certainly affect no one but the residents and the people of Malaybalay. The above-mentioned environmental issues that may arise will lead to a large-scale environmental problem that will affect not only the locale but as well as other communities nationally or globally. It is our responsibility to give back to nature what we have taken. Thus, deforestation in Brgy. Sumpong needs urgent actions to avert further environmental problems that may emerge from this issue.

Policy Recommendation

Strengthen the implementation of total log ban P.D 705.

Information campaign for the indigenous people.
Conduct periodic monitoring activities.
Memorandum between
The creation of Bantay Kalikasan

Summary and call to action

The Philippines is among the countries that are losing their forest cover fast, making 4th in the world’s top 10 most threatened forest hotspots. If the deforestation rate of 157,400 hectares per year continues, the country’s remaining forest cover will be wiped out in less than 40 years. The area lost to deforestation every year is twice the land area of Metro Manila. If we will not take action today then the next generation of Filipinos will suffer from the problems we have neglected to address in our time.

Protecting the Forest in Brgy. Sumpong Malaybalay City:

A Policy Brief

Introduction

The Philippines in the global community is proverbial a country with rich natural resources. This directly pertains to the availability of various environment-provided resources such as forests and the life and biodiversity within. However, as the country aims to achieve economic development for the purpose of providing its people sustainable life by converting forestalled areas into industrial zones it seems to neglect to consider the collateral damage it may inflict on its natural resources. The conversion of forest areas into an economic zone and the utilization of these resources are being justified with the aim to provide and achieve a better quality of life often called a “sustainable life”. As a result, problems like the loss of biodiversity, loss of habitat, water pollution, soil erosion, air pollution, and the like arise. All these problems can be attributed to a main problem known as “Deforestation”. This word is often heard yet most of the time neglected if not forgotten by the authorities and by the public. This problem is the consequence of the country’s aim to become a developed economy along with the other neighboring countries. To attain sustainable development and provide sustainable livelihood to the public oftentimes lead to a bigger problem. The utilization of supposedly forestall areas for agricultural production purposes and industrialization inevitably results in the loss of important natural resources that could support both human and other animal life. The shrinking forestall areas all over the country manifest large-scale deforestation. Numerous studies have been conducted and their findings reveal that the Philippines’ forest cover has declined from 17.8 million hectares or about 60% of the land area in 1934 to about 7.17 million hectares or 24% in 2011(PFS, 2011). From a position as one of the top ten deforestation countries contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions of 17-20 percent from global forest loss in 2000 (FAO, 2006), the country has since recovered with a modest forest cover increase and is now in the list of countries with positive forest growth (FAO, 2010). This problem has become perennial along with the aim of the government to achieve economic development as justification for the utilization of its natural resources. Moreover, deforestation is also a problem even in the global community. Human activities led to this problem and so as caretakers of this planet, it is just right to take action to solve the problems we have inflected to the environment that is also affecting us. Climate change can be attributed to deforestation and other human-initiated environmental problems. There is only one way to solve deforestation and that is to give back to nature what we have taken. Hence, Reforestation is the absolute solution to deforestation.

According to Perlin (1991), in his study, The Social Dynamics of Deforestation in the Philippines stated that if forests could write a history of the world, they would probably not have a good word to say about humans. With the exception of indigenous forest peoples living inside large contiguous forest tracts, people have always had the tendency to conquer and dominate the unknown, dangerous world surrounding their settlements. Forest removal was invariably associated with a process that the history books generally refer to as ‘civilization’. Deforestation in the Philippines in the nineteenth century and control of forest areas was a key factor in geopolitical shifts and indispensable resource in the acquisition of wealth, culture, and military power. The need to supply fuel for shipbuilding, the smelting of copper and silver ore and Rome’s 900 hot baths exacted a heavy toll on European and North African forests. In turn, forest depletion often led to the cultural and military decline.

This paper aims to provide data results from the different studies conducted by different entities concerning deforestation in the Philippines and to provide possible solutions that could help in solving the problem. This paper also intends to highlight the different results of the various study conducted by the different entities concerned as well as to draw recommendations that could help solve the issue.

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