Appendix IV - Reforestation PDF Print
Tuesday, 29 November 2005

The approaches of reforestation and plantation are forever mixed in the Philippines given the same species are used, and local people seldom understand their participation. Rationalization of reforesting in watersheds needs to focus on diverse tree species and other plant associations that are viewed as permanent and valued more for their non-wood productivity.

Rationalization of plantations means having the right tree species within an appropriate scale of implementation for communities along with a more serious review of assisted natural regeneration in areas allocated for protection. The industrialization of plantations has to focus not on the control of land but on the networking of production, efficiency of processing and downstream competitive advantage. Given the glass is less than quarter full after more than 20 years of reforestation, it is not worth major financial investment without greatly improved action to work with people in the area.

Three further factors need to influence plantation and reforestation efforts that will give greater expression to human security:

  1. appropriate empowerment of nearby situated communities;
  2. acknowledgement of the need to economically and socially incorporate people in watershed areas identified as critical (and so placed under the protected areas system); and
  3. implementation of serious efforts to establish peace and order.
Last Updated ( Friday, 23 February 2007 )