DENR commends 15 organizations for forestry best practices
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has paid tribute to 15 people’s organizations (POs) that have employed the best practices in the area of livelihood and enterprise development while posting a significant increase in the forest cover within their respective areas.
These 15 organizations have successfully implemented the government’s Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) program.
The 15 POs from upland and coastal communities across the country were given recognition during the 3rd CBFM Practitioners’ Congress held at the Manila Hotel last Dec. 11.
These are Society’s Awareness on Livelihood and Environmental Needs for Growth Inc. from Mankayan, Benguet; Caunayan Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte; Federation of Vista Hill, Kalongkong and Kakilingan Upland Farmers Inc., Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; Calaanan-Digmala Upland Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija; Kapitbisig Farmers Association Inc., Atimonan, Quezon; Macatumbalen Community-Based Forest and Coastal Management Association, San Vicente, Palawan; Mount Cadig Development Association Inc., Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte; Katilingban sang Pumuluyo nga naga-Atipan sang Watershed sang Maasin, Iloilo; Lepantuhanong Hugpong sa Kalamboan, Algeria, Cebu; Naungan San Juan Mangrove Planters Association, Ormoc City, Leyte; Kahugpungan sa Gagmayng Mangingisda sa Bolong Batu, Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay; Imbayao Community-Based Forest Management Farmers Association, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon; CFPCalapagan Marayag Farmers Association, Lupon, Davao Oriental; Limatong Dalumankom Bual Farmers Association, Pigcawayan, Cotabato; and San Isidro Upland Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Santiago Agusan del Norte.
Forest Management Bureau director Nonito Tamayo said the congress is part of the FMB’s efforts to further improve the implementation of the CBFM as participants will once again consult each other to update the program guidelines. FMB is an attached agency of the DENR.
“The lessons and experiences by the 15 POs will also be used to fine-tune the CBFM framework to be implemented in the next 25 years,” he added.
The FMB has been organizing the congress every three years since 2012, primarily to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the implementation of the program on a nationwide scale.
It also seeks to address the peculiarities of each CBFM project at the community level, focusing on the underlying issues that enhance or constrain community participation.
This year’s theme, “CBFM: Para sa Kalikasan at Kabuhayan,” puts emphasis on the program’s socioeconomic and environmental objectives, as well as the DENR’s current advocacy campaign slogan “Tayo ang Kalikasan.”