Executive Order No. 23 Declaring a Moratorium on the Cutting and Harvesting of Timber in the Natural and Residual Forests and Creating the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force.

This Executive Order establishes a Moratorium on the Cutting and Harvesting of Timber in the Natural and Residual Forests and creates the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force. This moratorium aims to implement this policy, the following are hereby instituted: The DENR is prohibited from issuing logging contracts/agreements in all natural and residual forests, such as Integrated Forest Management Agreements (IFMA), Socialized Integrated Forest Management Agreements (SIFMA), Community-Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA) and other agreements/contracts with logging components in natural and residual forests; The DENR is likewise prohibited from issuing/renewing tree cutting permits in all forests nationwide, except for preparation for tree plantations; silvicultural treatment and similar activities. Tree cutting associated with cultural practices pursuant to the indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA Law) may be allowed only complying with existing guidelines of the DENR; The DENR shall strictly implement a forest certification system in accordance with the United Nations standard/guidelines to ascertain the sustainability of legal sources and chain of custody of timber and wood products, nationwide; etc. Section 3 specifies that to enforce this moratorium and lead the anti-illegal logging campaign, an Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force is created. The Task Force shall be composed of the DENR Secretary or his/her duly authorized representatives, as members.

الفلبين · 2011-02-01