Executive Order No. 318 on Sustainable Forest Management

SFM aligns with the Global Plan from the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Recognizes the need to update management approaches since the 1975 Revised Forestry Code.
Seeks to harmonize policy reforms and adapt to socio-economic and environmental changes.

Logging is banned in old growth forests, proclaimed watersheds, and National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) sites.
This prohibition aims to preserve native biodiversity and ecological integrity.

Government policy to manage forests sustainably within watersheds, applying holistic, scientific, technology and rights-based approaches.
Principles of multi-use, decentralization, devolution, and local government participation are emphasized.
Sustainable forestry practices promoted in both public and private sectors.

State forestlands must be identified, classified, and demarcated on the ground.
Forestlands are permanent estate unless otherwise legislated by Congress.
Management schemes must designate forestlands for protection or production.
Conversion to non-forestry uses requires Congressional approval and agency recommendation.

Forest development aims at widest public benefit and preservation for present and future generations.
Priority given to rehabilitating degraded and fragile forestlands and slope stabilization to prevent ecological disasters.
Encourages urban tree parks, regreening, and roadside planting to address air quality and climate concerns.

CBFM is the primary strategy for forest conservation and development.
Encourages collaboration among government agencies, local governments, communities, CSOs, and the private sector.
Recognizes and respects indigenous peoples' rights, cultures, and traditions in forest management.

Government support for stable and favorable policies encouraging forest-based industries.
Measures to ensure sustainable raw material supply and value-added processing domestically.
Encouragement of private forest development including deregulation and capacity enhancement.
Promotion of high-value and non-timber forest crops in public and private lands.
Incentives provided for co-management partnerships among government, LGUs, CSOs, and private entities.

Implementation of fair valuation and pricing systems for forest products and ecosystem services.
Development of plow-back financing mechanisms for ecological services such as water supply and eco-tourism.
Institutionalization of environment and natural resources accounting (ENRA) centered on watershed units.
Support for innovative financing such as bonds, securitization, and collaborative investments.
Prioritization of investments supporting forests covering large populations and reducing poverty.

Adoption of good governance principles, including transparency, accountability, and participatory decision-making.
Streamlining, decentralization, devolution, and deregulation in forestry governance.
Promotion of partnerships among DENR, government agencies, LGUs, professional and community organizations.
Modernization and upgrading of forestry administrative systems, research, and academic support.
Strengthening human resource development, extension services, and forest land use planning integration at the local level.
Enhancement of networks with local and international stakeholders for SFM promotion.

The DENR is tasked to develop implementing rules, guidelines, procedures, and priority actions within 180 days.
Coordination required with national, local, civil society, industry, and academic stakeholders.