The first Philippine Master Plan for Forestry Development was formulated in 1990 to revitalize the continuously declining forestry sector in the country. This plan was revised in 2003 after a UNDP fact-finding mission on preliminary review noted that although there were successes in the Master Plan implementation in selected areas, several major programs did not progress. Ten years after its implementation, the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) decided to update the 2003 Revised Master Plan for Forestry Development (RMPFD), this time taking into consideration the potential impacts of climate change to the forestry sector (pag. XIV). The 2003 RMPFD focuses on sustainable forest management, poverty alleviation and food security in upland communities in the Philippines. Incorporating issues of climate change in the forestry master plan, the plan among others, it is concerned with the following: Reducing net emission of GHG from natural forests; Increasing carbon stocks and sequestration; Aligning land uses to minimize externalities; Promoting ecosystem stability; Improving productivity and ecosystem services; Promoting livelihood and food security, etc. (pag. 7). The Philippine Master Plan for Climate Resilient Forestry Development proposes programmes and strategies to perform the following activities: a) strengthen resilience of forest ecosystems and communities to climate change; b) effectively respond to demands for forest ecosystems goods and services; and c) promote responsive governance. The programme on strengthening resilience of forest ecosystems and communities include the following: 1. Ecosystem-based vulnerability assessment; 2. Climate change adaptation planning; 3. Management of protection forests and protected areas; 4. Protection of existing forests; 5. Rehabilitation and conservation of mangroves; 6. Livelihood support to CBFMA and CADT holders; 7. Formulation of integrated watershed management and forest land use plans; and 8. Implementation of REDD+ for climate change adaptation and mitigation (pag. XIV). The policy review indicates some of the priority agenda that should be considered in developing a climate resilient forestry development in the Philippines, namely: 1. The role of forestry in reducing poverty and enhancing food security; 2. Promoting gender equality and empowering women in the forestry sector; 3. The need to reverse loss of forest cover through sustainable forest management (SFM); 4. Enhancing forest-based economic, social and environmental benefits, including the improvement in livelihoods of forest dependent communities; etc. (pag. 5). Programmes to respond to demands for forest ecosystems goods and services include the following: 1. Delineation and demarcation of forest management zones; 2. Commercial forest plantation development for round wood production; 3. Fuel wood plantation development; 4. Management of grazing lands; 5. Watershed management and rehabilitation; and 6. Urban forestry. Responsive governance programmes include: 1. Inventory of forest occupants; 2. Issuance of tenure/ management instruments to close open access forestlands; 3. Enhancement of forestry policies; 4. Institutionalizing collaborative management; 5. Mainstreaming climate change into the DENR’s policy and institutional processes; and 6. Capability enhancement (pag. XV). Other support strategies, such as the following, are also necessary to enhance implementation of the above programmes: 1. Information, education and communication campaign; 2. Improved data base management system; 3. Sustainable financing; 4. Results-based monitoring and evaluation; 5. Forest certification system; and 6. Forestry research support (pag. XV). Updating 2003 RMPFD up to 2028 would involve: adding recent forestry baseline information on climate change, disaster risks, and initiatives of government, NGOs and private sector to address climate change issues; addressing priority gaps, concerns and constraints in implementing various forestry programmes; integrating new policy mandates related to climate change (CC) adaptation and mitigation, disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), and poverty reduction strategies; incorporating climate change projections and vulnerability assessment of forestry; and enhancing the strategic programs, policies and other responses taking into consideration potential vulnerabilities to climate changes (pag. 3).
Philippines · 2016-01-01