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The politics of community forestry in the Philippines

Author
Danguilan Vitug M.
Journal/Series
The Journal of Environment & Development | Vol. 6(3); 334 - 340; 7 p.
Date
1997
Source
IUCN (ID: ANA-061309)
Publisher | Place of publication
University of California | San Diego, CA, USA
Language
English
Country/Territory
Philippines
Subject
Forestry
Keyword
Forest management/forest conservation Community management
Abstract

Policy reforms aimed at preserving the Philippines' remaining forests, including the flagship community forestry program, have created a gap in the supply requirements of the local wood industry. Trade liberalisation, however, is expected to fill the gap with the importation of lumber until forest plantations, both corporate and community based, are capable of yielding the needed volume. This article focuses on political intervention and how it can impede the process of communities taking over former logging concessions and other forestry reform policies. Community forestry represents a shift in policy from the system of timber license agreements given to the elite in the past and was most pronounced during the authoritarian years of government. Democracy, coupled with an effective non- governmental organisation movement and a vigilant civil society, enabled the change. However, pressures from politicians can derail this flagship program of government as a case study of the largest community-based forest in the Philippines shows.