Law Summary
National Strategy and Policy Declaration
- Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) is declared the national strategy for sustainable forestry and social justice.
- The strategy supports empowerment and participation of local communities as primary stakeholders in forestland resource protection and management.
- CBFM aligns with the Philippines 2000 agenda, the Social Reform Agenda, and the 25-year Master Plan for Forestry Development targeting at least 4 million hectares of forestlands.
Role and Coordination of Government Agencies
- The DENR, through its Community and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices, shall coordinate with local government units (LGUs) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to consider local communities' needs.
- A CBFM Steering Committee is established, headed by the DENR, including members from multiple government departments and agencies tasked with policy formulation and implementation oversight.
- The Committee may include representatives from private sector and NGOs.
Community Access and Participation
- Organized communities may be granted long-term tenurial access to forestland resources.
- Access is contingent upon employing environmentally-friendly, ecologically sustainable, and labor-intensive harvesting methods approved by the DENR and detailed in site-specific management plans.
- Indigenous peoples are explicitly recognized and allowed to participate in CBFM activities in respect of their ancestral domain rights.
Financial and Institutional Support
- The DENR shall allocate adequate budgetary support for CBFM targets, seeking supplementary funds from local and international sources.
- A Community-Based Forest Management Special Account (CBFMSA) will be established for funding and providing incentives to communities and government personnel.
- The DENR may solicit grants and donations for the CBFMSA, with additional funding mechanisms to be determined by the Steering Committee.
Capacity Building and Training
- DENR will collaborate with universities and organizations to develop community forestry training programs targeting people’s organizations, NGOs, LGUs, and government personnel.
- Financing mechanisms for communities and organizations will be developed in consultation with government financial institutions to support enterprise development, agroforestry, tree plantations, and alternative livelihoods.
Implementation and Regulation
- The DENR Secretary is empowered to issue rules, regulations, procedures, and guidelines necessary for implementing the order.
- The DENR Secretary shall submit a National Comprehensive Community Forestry Action Plan within six months, containing short, medium, and long-term plans, subject to Steering Committee approval.
- Previous inconsistent executive and administrative issuances are repealed or amended accordingly to align with this Order.
Key Legal Concepts and Principles
- Emphasizes sustainable development, ecological balance, and social justice.
- Recognizes community participation and indigenous peoples’ rights as central to forest management.
- Promotes government coordination and collaboration with civil society and private sector.
- Provides financial mechanisms to support community empowerment and sustainable forest management.
- Establishes institutional and procedural frameworks for effective implementation and monitoring.