Central Luzon forest protection mapped out

BY JOJO DUE

http://www.malaya.com.ph/oct01/envi4.htm

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO —Environment officials and forest protection officers convened a top-level meeting here recently to map out plans for the protection of Central Luzon’s remaining forests.

The forest protection plan seeks control of illegal logging activities in at least 17 identified illegal logging "hotspots" in Central Luzon as experts predict the forests will vanish by 2050 unless government institutes forest protection and rehabilitation efforts.

"The plan was patterned after the draft Omnibus Forestry guidelines laid down by the DENR that has identified upland agro-forestry development and forest boundary delineation as critical in the protection and rehabilitation of the region’s forests," Regido de Leon, DENR Central Luzon Executive Director explained.

De Leon said the plan will address forest management and protection issues that will ensure short- and long-term economic and environmental benefits of sustainable forestry activities in the region.

The illegal logging hotspots, where sporadic timber poaching activities continue, are located in Sta. Cruz, Castillejos and Iba in Zambales; San Jose, Mayantoc and San Clemente in Tarlac; Carranglan, Bongabon and Laur in Nueva Ecija; Sumacbao River and San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan; Bagac, Morong and Mariveles in Bataan; Dipaculao and Dingalan in Aurora Province; and Mt. Arayat in Pampanga.

Ricardo Calderon, DENR technical director for forestry, said the plan completed during the 1st Forestry Sector Forum in Lubao, has sought to squarely settle the issues of kaingin or slash-and-burn farming, squatting, illegal logging, forest fires, and pest and disease control in forests.

"This is the first time that a comprehensive forest protection plan has been mapped out by no less than those directly involved in forest protection, law enforcement and the DENR’s surveillance and intelligence operations," Calderon said, adding the plan strengthens inter-agency linkages with the military and the police, including the Coast Guard.

He said intelligence operations would require highly specialized skills in the recognition and containment of destructive agents in illegal logging "hotspots", including the surveillance, detection, and arrests of illegal loggers.

DENR records show that only 433,276 hectares out of the 963,120 hectares of forestlands in Central Luzon, or about 45 percent, have adequate forest cover.