Law Summary
Establishment of Committees and Teams
- Creation of four bodies by DENR Central Office under Special Order:
- Pre-Inventory Evaluation Committee (PIEC): Composed of representatives from key DENR offices, tasked to recommend which areas to inventory.
- Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (MEC): Includes supervisors from DENR and other units to monitor inventory progress and evaluate reports.
- Composite Forest Inventory Teams (CFITs): Foresters and experts responsible for carrying out field sampling.
- Inventory Secretariat (IS): Specialists supporting mapping and report analysis.
Delimitation of Non-Production Forests
- Non-production forests include:
- Proclaimed Civil Military and Watershed Reservations
- Wilderness Areas
- Areas with historical value
- Indigenous Stewardship Forests (ISF) with certificates
- Industrial Tree Plantation (ITP) and Tree Farm Lease areas
- Areas proclaimed for ecological, environmental, scientific purposes
- These are delineated on official concession maps (FCI).
Stratification of Second Growth Forests into Management Blocks
- Classification based on Years Elapsed After Logging (YEAL):
- Block I: 26 years and over
- Block II: 21-25 years
- Block III: 16-20 years
- Block IV: 11-15 years
- Block V: 6-10 years
- Block VI: 1-5 years
- REDs and holders of TLAs/TPSAs determine block boundaries and location of non-production forests, submitting maps to USEC for Field Operations.
Preliminary Soil Cover Mapping
- Uses forest resource condition maps from 1969 and 1985.
- Topographic maps at 1:50,000 scale used to identify slopes and elevations.
- Areas with slope <50% and elevation <1000 m are operable second growth forests.
- Land resources within production forests by block are measured and tabulated (residual forests, plantations, brushlands, openlands).
- Soil cover maps updated with new forest condition maps per DAO 69 and DAO 88 through data resubmission.
Pre-Inventory Evaluation Requirements
- All existing TLAs/TPSAs are pre-evaluated before conducting inventories.
- Forest resource inventory required only if there are at least 1,200 hectares of operable second growth forest in each management block.
- The 1,200-hectare minimum enables sustainable logging at 240 hectares per year over five years.
- TLAs/TPSAs lacking 1,200 hectares in Management Block 1 are prohibited from conducting logging after January 1, 1992.
- PIEC evaluates operable second growth forests and submits findings to relevant DENR officials.
Sampling Methodology for Forest Resources Inventory
- Strip sampling at 10% intensity applied in operable second growth forests by management blocks.
- Block I inventoried first; if non-contiguous, sub-blocks numbered accordingly.
- Baselines established along main rivers/streams for elevation representation.
- Sample strips of 20 meters wide spaced at 200 meters intervals.
- All trees with DBH/DAB ≥15 cm measured and tallied; DBH/DAB measured at stipulated heights depending on tree type.
- Merchantable height defined by DBH/DAB and tree characteristics.
- Tree quality assessed based on sound wood volume (>50% except 25% for premium species).
- Trees identified by official common names; unidentified trees documented for expert identification.
- Exclusion of steep slopes, high elevations, and stream bank protection zones from sampling.
- Seedlings and saplings sampled at designated plots along strips.
- Volume computed using Philippine regional equations.
- Subsequent blocks inventoried after evaluation of prior reports.
Reporting and Documentation
- CFITs submit inventory reports within 20 days of fieldwork completion.
- Reports must include statistical reliability analysis, be signed under oath, and notarized.
- Components of report:
- Summary (methods, area description, duration, expenses, recommendations)
- Stand and Stock Table (species, size classes, number, volume)
- Soil Cover Maps (preliminary and final with sampling locations and forest cover)
- Original tally sheets
- Panoramic photographs of areas
Evaluation of Inventory Reports and Logging Authorization
- MEC evaluates submitted reports for accuracy and compliance.
- Determines eligibility of TLAs/TPSAs to continue logging from January 1, 1992, onwards.
Effectivity
- The guidelines take effect immediately as of July 4, 1991.