Forestry thrust gets €3M

THE DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has signed an agreement with German Technical Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit, or GTZ) to improve forestry policies and implement Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) measures.

The agreement, which entails €3.2 million for these two thrusts until September 2012, was signed by Environment Secretary Ramon Jesus P. Paje and GTZ Country Director Jochem Lange yesterday.

GTZ will provide €2.7 million, while the balance consists of local counterpart in kind from both the national government and local governments concerned.

A statement said work to be done under the agreement consists of analyzing the causes of deforestation and forest degradation; revising forestry policies to address climate change concerns; reviewing incentives for protection and rehabilitation of forests; implementing REDD pilot measures, including establishment of forest boundaries, development of forest land use plans, forging co-management agreements, establishment of communal/individual land use rights, and funding of rehabilitation, reforestation and agro-forestry measures; establishing a REDD monitoring system; holding consultations on REDD with stakeholders; as well as exchanging knowledge and experience at the national, regional and international levels.

The projects to be undertaken under the agreement particularly entail the rehabilitation and protection of 5,000 hectares of natural forests and establishment of 2,000 hectares of "species-rich" forests, the statement read.

These are concentrated in Leyte and on Panay island.

"This is one of the projects in which we are giving emphasis on addressing climate change issues," Mr. Lange said after the signing.

DENR said in a statement that "aside from policy development and pilot-testing, the project also seeks to enhance the capacities of the DENR...in planning and implementing climate-relevant forest measures, conflict mitigation, securing land use rights and improving local livelihood," particularly through community-based projects.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) signed on Monday a US$3.73-million project for the development of forest policy and pilot measures for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).

The signing of the “Climate-Relevant Modernization of the National Forest Policy and Piloting of REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) Measures in the Philippines,” commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Protection and Nuclear Safety, was conducted at the DENR Central Office in Quezon City on Monday.

Studies show that deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries account for around 17 percent of GHGs.

DENR Secretary Ramon Paje and GTZ Country Director Jochem Lange led the signing of the implementing agreement for the three-year project, which runs from 2009 to 2012.

REDD is a United Nations (UN) concept centered on providing incentives to developing countries to reduce the level of their forest losses.

The concept was highlighted in the Bali Action Plan, which cited deforestation and forest degradation, especially in developing countries, contribute significantly to greenhouse gases and that innovative approaches and incentives should be made available to developing countries taking efforts to arrest deforestation and forest degradation.

“No less than the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have recognized the immense potential of enhancing the capacities of developing countries in restoring their forests as an effective tool to combat climate change,” Paje said.

In the UNFCCC Bangkok conference held in October 2009, the meet agreed that forest restoration could make a “significant contribution to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions both globally and within the region.” REDD promotes environmental, economic and social benefits while protecting the rights of indigenous peoples and other forest-dependent communities.

Aside from policy development and pilot-testing, the project also seeks to enhance the capacities of the DENR and its partner implementers in planning and implementing climate-relevant forest measures, conflict mitigation, securing land use rights and improving local livelihood.

The project shall be implemented in the provinces of Leyte and Panay Island, targeting as beneficiaries the upland watershed-based communities.

In its project summary, around 35,000 tons of carbon is projected to be avoided plus an additional 7,000 tons of carbon to be sequestered annually.