DENR issues new order to boost CBFM

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued Administrative Order 23 on Aug. 25 to hasten the implementation of the community-based forest management (CBFM) program.

CBFM is a forest development strategy geared towards improving the well-being of forest dependent communities, while ensuring the sustainable management, rehabilitation and protection of the forestlands and the resources therein through active participation of stakeholders. The principal participants in the program are local communities as represented by their people’s organizations (POs).

As interest towards participation demands "drivers" or motivators aside from the communities’ concern for the environment, a package of incentives and privileges under AO 29 has been provided to POs, as follows:

1. To occupy, develop, protect, manage and utilize the forest lands and its resources within a designated CBFM area and claim ownership of introduced improvements;

2. When appropriate, allocate to members and regulate rights to use and sustainably manage forest lands resources within the CBFM area;

3. To be exempted from paying land rental for use of the CBFM areas;

4. To be properly informed of and be consulted on all government projects to be implemented in the area.

5. Be given preferential access by the DENR to all available assistance in the development and implementation of the CBFM Framework and five-year Work Plan of the POs; and

6. To enter into agreements or contracts with private or government entities for the development of the whole or portions of the CBFM area, and/or economic activities therein.

The order ensures their active participation in all stages of CBFM program implementation, specifically during the preparatory, PO formation and diagnostic, planning, and the implementation stages.

Currently, the DENR is working in approximately 4,900 CBFM sites with 406, 165 families. With the issuance of AO 29, it is expected that more CBFM sites will be developed and active participation will be ensured. The five-year technical cooperation with the government of Japan through the DENR-JICA project for the enhancement of CBFM in the Philippines will also boost CBFM implementation.