The Community-Based Forest Management Program is a major policy of the Philippine government. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources created the program in 1995. The program gives forestland to organized groups of local people. These groups help protect, manage, and use the land. The government created this program to protect forests and reduce poverty. The program allows people to benefit from forest resources while helping restore and conserve the environment.
Background of the Community-Based Forest Management Program
Many people in the Philippines live near forests. Some people also live inside forestlands. Many of them are poor. They often use the land without legal rights. In the past, this caused conflict and forest destruction. Illegal logging, shifting farming, and land grabbing became common. At the same time, the government had limited staff and funds. It could not protect all forests by itself. Because of these problems, the government created a new policy. It wanted local people to help manage the forests.
Purpose of the Program
The program has two main purposes. The first purpose is to protect and restore the country’s forests. The second purpose is to improve the lives of poor families living in or near forest areas. The program aims to connect people with forest protection. It gives them a role in planning, decision-making, and land management. The program also helps the government use its resources more effectively. When local people help manage the forests, the government can focus on support and guidance.
Legal Basis
The legal basis of the program is Executive Order No. 263. The President of the Philippines signed this order in 1995. This order declared community-based forest management as the national strategy for sustainable forest use. The order also gave the Department of Environment and Natural Resources the task of implementing the program. The program follows other laws such as the Revised Forestry Code and the Local Government Code.
People’s Organizations and the Community-Based Forest Management Program
The main partners of the government in this program are People’s Organizations. These are formal groups made up of local residents. Most members of these groups are farmers, fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, or rural workers. Each group signs an agreement with the government.
This agreement is called a Community-Based Forest Management Agreement. It gives the group the right to use a piece of forestland for twenty-five years. The agreement may be renewed for another twenty-five years. Each group must follow a management plan approved by the government.
These People’s Organizations are legally recognized community-based entities composed of individuals who depend on forest resources for their livelihood. They may include indigenous peoples, upland farmers, fisherfolk, and other rural residents. They receive CBFMAs granting them the right to use, develop, and manage specified forestland areas for 25 years, renewable for another 25 years.
The DENR Administrative Order No. 96-29 (Rules and Regulations for the Implementation of Executive Order No. 263) further defines the structure, rights, and responsibilities of People’s Organizations, including requirements for legal registration, democratic decision-making, preparation of forest management plans, and participation in training and monitoring activities.
Land Use and Management Plans
Each People’s Organization must prepare an environmental management plan for their integrated reforestation and agroforestry development efforts . This plan includes maps, lists of activities, and schedules. The plan must show how the group will protect, develop, and use the land. It includes tree planting, crop production, forest protection, and income-generating projects. The plan must follow national laws and environmental rules. The group sends the plan to the government for approval. Once approved, the group begins its work. The government gives technical support, training, and monitoring.
Agroforestry, Integrated Reforestation, and Livelihood Activities
Many groups under the program use agroforestry systems. Agroforestry means combining trees with crops and sometimes livestock. This helps people earn income and protect the land. Groups can plant fruit trees, timber trees, vegetables, or herbs. Some groups also raise animals. Others collect non-timber products such as honey, bamboo, or rattan. These activities give families food and income. The system improves soil, controls erosion, and stores water.
Environmental Benefits of the Community-Based Forest Management Program
The Community-Based Forest Management Program helps protect and restore forest ecosystems. Groups plant trees on denuded lands. They protect natural forests from fire, illegal logging, and encroachment. These efforts help reduce erosion and floods. They improve biodiversity. Forests under the program become more productive and healthy. They also store carbon. This helps reduce climate change. The program also helps protect water sources. Forests collect rainwater and refill groundwater. This improves water supply for nearby communities.
Social and Economic Benefits
The forest management program improves the lives of people living near forests. The forest management program gives them legal access to land. It provides training and skills. This in turn creates jobs and supports small enterprises. Many groups use profits to support schools, health care, or local roads. The program also builds trust between the government and local people. It helps reduce conflict. It encourages participation, transparency, and shared responsibility.
Role of Local Government and Partners in the Community-Based Forest Management Program
The program works better when different groups help. Local governments support People’s Organizations through planning and services. Non-government groups and academic institutions also assist. They give training, research, and funds. Some businesses help through partnerships. Together, these actors strengthen the work of the People’s Organizations. They help improve systems, increase market access, and solve problems.
The Community-Based Forest Management Program can grow stronger when OPISAC builds, supports, and coordinates the local implementation of reforestation and sustainable development. OPISAC creates and organizes locally owned People’s Organizations. These groups receive land-use support, training, and equipment. OPISAC turns them over to the communities without debt. The groups retain full control of their operations. OPISAC does not direct their decision-making. It provides continued support to improve local success.
The organizational structure of OPISAC includes Permaculture Centers, Rural Development Centers, and a National Headquarters. These centers do not control the local People’s Organizations. Instead, they provide coordination and support.
The Permaculture Centers give training in agroforestry, food forest systems, and ecological land use. They demonstrate best practices and help standardize sustainable models across sites.
The Rural Development Centers give logistical support. They help manage tools, transport, seeds, and coordination.
The National Headquarters collects data, monitors progress, and aligns local outcomes with national and international goals in terms of forest management.
This organizational structure improves the impact of the Community-Based Forest Management Program by closing the gap between national policy and local implementation. OPISAC strengthens the ability of communities to meet long-term environmental and humanitarian goals. It connects small local groups to wider development networks. It supports education, job creation, food production, and reforestation in a system that remains locally managed and community-owned.
Through this model, OPISAC increases the long-term sustainability of forest management. It also helps the Philippines meet national environmental targets and international sustainable development goals.
Challenges in Implementation
The program still faces many challenges. Some groups lack experience or training. Others do not have enough funds or tools. Some areas suffer from poor roads or no markets. Some forests have land conflicts. In some places, illegal logging continues. The government also lacks enough staff or resources. Sometimes, support comes late. These problems slow down progress and reduce success.
The greatest challenge for OPISAC is finding enough qualified and capable people. OPISAC has already received three approved grants. These grants support the development and design of the program. The plans are complete. The systems are in place. The goals are clear.
However, OPISAC needs people who can move the program forward. Perhaps most important of all, these people must be willing to volunteer long enough to progress to the stage where full-time employment is possible. These people must understand both the technical work and the community needs. They must know how to carry out reforestation, training, and food systems. OPISAC personnel must also know how to work with local governments and communities. Without the right people, OPISAC cannot fully begin the work on the ground.
This gap slows progress. The design is ready. The support is in place. But the program cannot move forward without skilled and committed people. Finding these people remains the most difficult task for OPISAC at this stage.
Importance for National Sustainable Development Goals
The Community-Based Forest Management Program supports national sustainable development goals. The focus and actions help to reduce poverty, protect forests, and improve rural development. These efforts also help meet the Sustainable Development Goals as set up by the UN. The program also helps the country follow its laws on climate change, biodiversity, and land use. The program creates a model for shared management and sustainable land use.
The Community-Based Forest Management Program is a key policy in the Philippines. It connects forest protection with poverty reduction. This program gives local people a legal role in managing forestlands. It provides training, income, and hope. A properly run program of forest management supports a balanced and fair use of resources. When communities and the government work together, they can protect the environment and improve lives. With stronger support, the program can become a lasting solution for sustainable development goals and objectives.