P51 M in forest products, wildlife seized in a year

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu has reported his office’s improved apprehension and filing of cases against illegal loggers and wildlife law violators in the past 12 months.

In his report delivered last week during the meeting of the Cabinet Cluster on Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation and Disaster Risk Reduction (CCAM-DRR), Cimatu said that in the past 12 months, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)’s enhanced efforts in environmental law enforcement have resulted in the confiscation of almost 1.5 million board feet of forest products and 784 live animals with an estimated market value of P51 million.

Cimatu said the DENR’s close coordination with other government agencies for stricter enforcement of environmental laws has also resulted in the conviction of 16 wildlife law violators.

Cimatu said his office has also issued a total of 89 cease and desist orders against illegal mining operations and filed 51 cases against illegal miners in local courts.

Cimatu said more illegal structures covering 668 hectares will be removed soon in a bid to comply with the lake’s carrying capacity for fish pens and cages.

It was in late 2016 that then environment secretary Gina Lopez ordered a moratorium on the issuance of permits to fish pen operators in Laguna de Bay.

The moratorium was in line with President Duterte’s directive to dismantle vast tracts of corporate and private fish pens and fish cages to give priority to small-time fisherfolk as well as to give the Laguna lake time to recuperate from massive commercial operations.

Based on the DENR’s conservative estimate, 13,000 hectares of the 90,000-hectare Laguna de Bay are being occupied by fish pen operators, including illegal ones.

Laguna Bay’s current carrying capacity allows up to only 9,000 hectares for aquaculture.

Meanwhile, in the same report, Cimatu also cited the DENR’s accomplishments in terms of clearing the illegal structures built on areas classified as forestland and wetland especially in Boracay.

“The clearing operations will pave the way for the rehabilitation and restoration of these ecosystems’ natural functions, especially for clean water supply, flood control and wildlife habitat,” Cimatu said.

Furthermore, Cimatu said charges are being readied against establishments earlier identified with illegal connections to the drainage systems or have no sewerage treatment plants, which is the primary reason for the pollution of Boracay beach.

Cimatu also reported that the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has com- pleted the subsidence hazard mapping of 40 sinkholes identified throughout Boracay, while undertaking geohazard assessments of the coastline caused by extreme weather conditions and sea level rise.

Cimatu said the Enhanced National Greening Program (E-NGP), the government’s flagship reforestation initiative that doubles as an anti-poverty measure, has also gained momentum in the past 12 months.

Cimatu reported that from July 2017 to June 2018, the DENR and its partners were able to plant trees on more than 184,500 hectares, bringing to 1.87 million hectares the total number of areas covered by the E-NGP.

Cimatu said the E-NGP has also seen the establishment of more than 5,000 hectares of mangrove and beach forest plantations, of which almost 3,700 hectares were in areas affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

As additional measure in protecting coastal and marine resources, Cimatu said the DENR has assessed and mapped more than 80,000 hectares of coastal habitats across the country for potential sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Cimatu, meanwhile, lauded Duterte’s issuance of Presidential Proclamation 489, declaring 352,000 hectares within the Philippine Rise as a marine resource reserve, and Congress’ enactment of Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act.