Concept and Principles
- Emphasize social equity, sustainability, and community participation in forest management.
- Encourage responsible resource use by empowered local communities.
- DENR, LGUs, and agencies to collaborate with NGOs and private entities.
- DENR to provide security of tenure and technical assistance.
Definitions
- CENRO: Community Environment and Natural Resources Office.
- Community Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA): 25-year renewable agreement between government and community.
- Community: Group occupying territory with shared resources.
- Forests: Lands with >0.5 hectare and >10% tree crown cover.
- National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS): Protected area system for ecological preservation.
- People's Organization (PO): Community group addressing concerns and sharing benefits.
- Sustainable Forest Management: Managing forest lands to ensure continuous flow of products/services without harm.
Scope and Coverage
- CBFMS applies to all forest lands, except those with prior vested rights.
- Integrates various forestry programs.
- Indigenous Peoples may opt to participate if claims are recognized.
Qualifications of Participants
- POs must be composed of Filipino citizens.
- Members should be actual tillers, traditional users, or residents dependent on forest resources.
Incentives to POs
- Rights to occupy, develop, manage, and utilize forest lands.
- Exemption from land rental payments.
- Prior consultation and consent on third-party resource use contracts.
- Preferential access to DENR assistance.
- Ability to contract with private/government entities for development.
Responsibilities of POs
- Lead in boundary delineation respecting customs.
- Designate and regulate sustainable resource use.
- Prepare and implement management frameworks and work plans.
- Develop equitable benefit-sharing and enforce policies.
- Protect and conserve forest resources.
- Address conflicts using customary or prescribed mechanisms.
- Maintain transparency and accountability.
- Pay required forest charges and taxes.
Stages of Implementation
- Preparatory Stage: Information dissemination, institutional linkage, site identification.
- PO Formation: Validation, assistance in organization formation, obtaining tenurial instruments.
- Planning Stage: Prepare Community Resource Management Framework (CRMF) and 5-year work plan.
- Implementation Stage: Execute plans, resource management, protection, and economic activities.
Institutional Linkages and IEC Campaigns
- DENR to promote partnerships among agencies and organizations.
- Continuous orientation for local officials and stakeholders to support CBFM.
Identification and Delineation of CBFM Sites
- DENR field offices maintain control maps harmonized with LGU land use plans.
- Preliminary delineations based on watershed boundaries.
- Public access to maps.
Site Selection Criteria
- Exclude areas with existing prior rights (unless waived), protected areas per NIPAS, lands under other agencies, and certified ancestral domains (except by option).
- Presence of forest-dependent communities.
- Areas adjoining existing CBFM projects.
Conflict Resolution
- Adverse claimants to file complaints within 30 days.
- Authorities have 30 days to resolve.
Validation and Formation of POs
- Multi-sectoral group validates qualifications.
- Assistance for PO formation and registration.
Tenurial Instruments
- CBFMA: 25-year renewable agreement granting tenure and incentives.
- Certificate of Stewardship (CS): Individual occupancy rights within CBFMA areas.
Processing and Approval of CBFMA
- Progressive approval authorities based on area size: CENRO, PENRO, RED, Secretary of DENR.
- Required documentation includes registration, membership list, PO resolution, and NCIP certification if IPs are involved.
Terms and Conditions
- Binding nature of agreements.
- Provision for termination or modification by mutual consent.
- Compensation for terminated agreements without fault.
- Transferability of CS to heirs; CBFMA non-transferable.
- POs may enter contracts consistent with CRMF.
Planning Stage Details
- CRMF outlines vision, strategies, and five-year work plan.
- Includes livelihood, land use, market information, and monitoring criteria.
- Emphasizes financing and networking.
- Affirmation and environmental compliance linking.
Implementation Stage
- Development activities include plantations, silvicultural techniques, agroforestry.
- PO is primarily responsible for forest protection and conservation.
- Deputization of qualified PO members for enforcement.
- Harvesting and transport adhere to existing rules.
Operation and Coordination
- Multi-sectoral monitoring and evaluation including DENR, LGU, NGOs.
- Documentation and reporting of POs' activities.
- CBFM Steering Committee provides policy guidance and coordination.
- Forest Management Bureau (FMB) serves as National Coordinating Office.
- Regional, provincial, and community offices have defined supervisory and implementation roles.
Financing
- Costs integrated into DENR regular work and financial plans.
- Support from DENR, LGUs, and other agencies for activities under CRMF.
Penal Provisions
- Monitoring compliance by CENRO and LGU.
- Nullification of CBFMA for violations after notice period.
- Grounds for nullification include fraud, member request, displacement, legal violations.
- Appeals process available.
Final Provisions
- Existing work plans remain valid through their duration.
- Repeal of inconsistent prior issuances.
- Effectivity 30 days after publication.