Photo by flickr/Stitch

Resources

Key documents

• Full case study (PDF, 277kb)
• Case study summary (PDF, 118kb)
• ODI Forestry Briefing 6 - A Review of the Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committees in the Philippines, February 2005

Also on this site

• Regional Activities - Asia
• IFM Bibliography - The Philippines

The Context:

• At start of 20th Century, 50% of total land area of 30 M hectare (ha) under forest cover.
• Rapid deforestation in recent history due to concession logging, illegal logging, land use conversion, slash and burn or "kaingin" farming.
• Current forest cover on the public domain of State forest lands estimated at 7.1 M ha, with only 0.8 M ha being old growth.
• Remaining forest cover under pressure from local communities' livelihood demands and demands from the domestic wood processing industry.
• Only 5 operators with timber license agreements still active, with agreements set to expire in 2011 .
• Shift to Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) Agreements, Industrial Forest Management Agreements (including socialised), and Protected Area Community Based Resources Management Agreements.

 Government Action, Use of MFPC:

• Various attempts at using multisectoral forest protection initiatives, most visible of which were the MFPCs.
• MFPC initiative supported through World Bank Environment and Natural Resources Sector Adjustment Loan (ENR-SECAL) Project, originally set up in 1992.
• Over 300 MFPCs established, Manual of Procedures produced, National Federation of MFPCs created.

Effectiveness of MFPC:

• Varying degrees of success while World Bank project funds were available.
• Once Project ended and funding dried up, most of the MFPCs ceased to operate, which brings into question the sustainability of such an independent monitoring or verification model.
• Some indications that MFPCs were effective in dealing with large scale illegal logging activities perpetrated by powerful (monetarily/politically) individuals.
• Somewhat difficult to assess due to reduction in number of commercial timber license agreements during the ENR-SECAL Project that was the result of other factors.
• Impact on small scale illegal loggers reportedly greater, though there are concerns that this has a negative impact on poor forest dependent communities/individuals. For example, MFPC actions have led to cancellation of Resource Utilization Permits for CBFM participants, with adverse socio-economic impacts on those participants.

Other Monitoring/Verification Mechanisms or Entities in the Philippines

• Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Field Offices, particularly the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) which contains the Timber Management Officer (TMO). Monitoring teams established through the field offices used to track shipments (CoC). DENR handles issuing of agreements and permits, as well as monitoring and enforcement activities.
• Local Government Units (LGU), Police, Armed Forces, Customs Agencies (for import/export), Coast Guard.
• Private citizen informers that can be granted awards for reporting illegal activity.
• NGOs and the media (informal).

 Current Status and Initiatives:

• DENR wants to reactivate and strengthen MFPCs in a new format, based on local situations, not as rigid as previous system. Done in partnership with LGUs. DENR understands that there needs to be adequate support and incentives for such groups to operate effectively (sustainable funding mechanism).
• MFPCs incorporate development or sustainable livelihood activities in their regulatory function.
• Expand use of CBFM, including strengthening tenure security over resources being utilized.
• Actively involve LGUs in forest law enforcement and natural resources management.
• DENR increasing collaboration with customs bureau and Coast Guard, but hoping to institutionalize these relationships.
• Implement rewards system for informers.
• DENR partnering with environmental law groups to provide legal assistance.
• Increased transparency through information database.