Definition of Terms
- Area Developed: Portion of land with implemented activities per plans.
- Certificate of Stewardship (CS): Government-issued document granting stewardship rights to individuals.
- Certificate of Community Forest Stewardship (CCFS): Issued to qualified communities or associations.
- Integrated Social Forestry (ISF): National program boosting land productivity, ecological stability, and socio-economic upliftment.
- Next-of-Kin: Spouse, children, or closest relatives eligible for stewardship succession.
- Program Participant: Holder of Stewardship Agreement actively involved in ISF.
- Stewardship Agreement: Contract granting peaceful possession and management of designated land.
Program Management
- ISF governed by an inter-agency Executive Committee chaired by DENR Secretary, involving key government departments.
- National Coordinating Office formulates policies, coordinates implementation, monitors projects, and liaises with agencies.
- Social Forestry Division (FMB) supports policy development, project execution, and monitoring.
- Program Assistance Teams provide technical support and field monitoring.
- Regional, provincial, community offices (RED, PENRO, CENRO) oversee regional and local program execution.
- Community Development Assistants (CDAs) manage field implementation under supervision.
- Human Resources Development ensures periodic training of personnel and participants.
General Considerations for Project Design
- Projects prioritize economic self-sufficiency and ecological stability.
- Activities must respond to immediate participant concerns.
- Flexible project design allowing adjustments.
- Strengthening and developing stewardship associations.
- Incorporation of suitable indigenous practices.
Program Components
- Information drives to educate and recruit participants.
- Identification and approval of project areas based on forest occupancy.
- Participant listing with demographic profiling.
- Perimeter and parcellary surveys with limits on individual allocations (max 5 hectares).
- Issuance of Certificates of Stewardship (CS) to qualified individuals; issued jointly to spouses.
- Issuance of Certificates of Community Forest Stewardship (CCFS) for associations including indigenous communities with specific application requirements and approval thresholds (based on area size).
- Preparation and approval of stewardship development plans involving participants and officials.
- Planting stock production planning.
- Stewardship development program promoting sustainable agro-forestry practices.
- Annual performance evaluations of stewardship holders.
- Community organizing fostering associations and livelihood projects.
- Periodic training courses tailored to participant needs.
- Multi-agency program assistance including infrastructure, credit facilitation, and provision of planting materials.
Eligible Project Areas
- Open and denuded public forest lands with less than 10% stocking suitable for ISF.
- Areas from former reforestation and forest occupancy projects.
- Existing Temporarily Land Assigned (TLA), Private Land Afforestation (PLA), and similar areas developed as of Dec 31, 1981.
- Neglected or abandoned communal forest or pasture leases.
Prohibited Areas for ISF
- Areas prone to soil erosion, sedimentation, reduced water yield, or resource impairment harmful to public interest.
- Areas under existing DENR reforestation, community forestry, forestland management agreements.
- Virgin forests, biodiversity conservation zones, slopes over 50%, and elevations above 1000 meters.
Stewardship Qualifications and Disqualifications
- Eligible: Filipino citizens of legal age, actual tillers residing in or near project areas.
- Disqualified: Existing Stewardship Agreement holders or their spouses; prior cancelled stewards except under specified conditions.
Incentives for Program Participants
- No fees for land use under stewardship agreements.
- Income from land accrues fully to participants.
- Exemption from forest charges unless otherwise legally provided.
- Access to technical, legal, financial, marketing, credit assistance.
- Eligibility for assistance from other government and private agencies.
- Right of preemption on renewal or compensation in government decision not to allocate.
Responsibilities of Program Participants
- Participate in boundary delineation and surveys.
- Develop economically viable and environmentally sound farms.
- Allocate at least 20% of land to tree farming.
- Protect and conserve forest growth, fight fires, preserve boundary markers.
- Protect riparian vegetation within prescribed buffer zones.
- Restrict logging without authorization.
- Prohibit unauthorized transfer or assignment of land rights.
Transfer of Stewardship Rights
- Allowed with Secretary's approval upon death, incapacity, relocation, or change of vocation.
- Heirs or nominated successors must meet stewardship qualifications and community approval.
- Transferred stewardship applies for remaining agreement term.
Cancellation and Compensation
- Causes: noncompliance, fraud, serious violations of law, or public interest.
- Cancellation for compliance or violations results in forfeiture of permanent improvements.
- Cancellation for public interest mandates fair compensation based on market value.
- Temporary improvements removable within reasonable time.
- Resettlement to alternative sites when feasible.
- No nomination rights after cancellation; agreements may be mutually terminated.
Institutional Linkages
- National Coordinating Office to establish linkages with support agencies.
- Regional, provincial, community forestry offices tasked with sustainable inter-agency cooperation.
- Engagement of NGOs selected from DENR directories to assist in organizing, information dissemination, and project monitoring.
Technical Assistance and Services
- Provided in community organizing, agro-forestry, marketing, conservation, and livelihood projects.
- REDs ensure adequate CDA presence and support in project areas.
Monitoring and Evaluation
- Regular monitoring by Social Forestry Teams and Community Development Officers.
- Evaluation includes documentation and reporting of issues, opportunities, and recommendations.
- Semi-annual reports submitted to National Coordinating Office.
Integrated Social Forestry Funds
- ISF funds exclusively used for program activities.
- Management of funds by RED, PENRO, and CENRO to ensure proper programming.
Additional Guidelines
- The Undersecretary for Field Operations authorized to issue implementing instructions and circulars.
Repealing Clause
- Supersedes DENR Administrative Order No. 97 (1988) and inconsistent forestry rules.
Effectivity
- The Order takes immediate effect upon promulgation.