Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 318)
The main policy is to pursue sustainable management of forests and forestlands in watersheds, managing them in a holistic, scientific, rights-based, technology-based, and community-based manner, while promoting sound, effective, efficient, globally competitive, and equitable forestry practices in both public and private domains.
State forestlands shall be identified, classified, and delineated on the ground as the permanent forest estate unless otherwise stipulated by Congress. They shall be categorized for production or protection purposes and managed under a formal scheme. Conversion to non-forestry uses requires an act of Congress and agency recommendations.
Watersheds are deemed as ecosystem management units and shall be managed holistically since they involve interrelated ecosystems such as uplands and coastal areas, making them appropriate units for sustainable forest management.
CBFM is the primary strategy for forest conservation and development, involving collaboration among government, LGUs, local communities, civil society, and the private sector, recognizing indigenous peoples' rights and local cultural values.
No, commercial exploitation or logging in old-growth forests, proclaimed watersheds, and areas under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) is prohibited to ensure the perpetual existence of native flora and fauna.
The Order promotes a holistic, sustainable, and integrated approach, prioritizing rehabilitation of degraded forestlands, slope stabilization, protection from ecological disasters, and establishment of tree parks and reforestation to mitigate urban air quality and global warming.
The government offers incentives and services to encourage the development of private forests, deregulation of privately developed forests and trees, promotes value-added processing in-country, and supports co-management arrangements involving government, LGUs, CSOs, and the private sector.
The Order proposes mechanisms for proper valuation and fair pricing of forest products and services, including water and biodiversity services, development of plow-back mechanisms for financing forest protection and rehabilitation, environment and natural resources accounting, and innovative financial systems such as bonds and collaborative investments.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has 180 days to formulate and promulgate implementing rules, regulations, procedures, and guidelines in coordination with other national and local agencies, LGUs, civil society, industry groups, and academe.
Principles such as transparency, accountability, participatory decision-making, streamlining, decentralization, devolution, and deregulation are emphasized. Partnerships among various stakeholders, upgrading forestry institutions, academic research, human resource development, and integration of forest land use plans into LGU comprehensive plans are also required.