Analysis of Key Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in the Philippines
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01 Analysis of Key Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources Imprint This publication is by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit through the Climate- relevant Modernization of Forest Policy and Piloting of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) Project in the Philippines, funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) under its International Climate Initiative. The BMU supports this Initiative based on a decision of the German Parliament. For more information see http://www.international-climate-initiative.com. As a federally owned enterprise, GIZ supports the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. Items from named contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Published by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Registered offices Bonn and Eschborn, Germany T +49 228 44 60-0 (Bonn) T +49 61 96 79-0 (Eschborn) Responsible Ricardo L. Calderon Director Forest Management Bureau Department of Environment and Natural Resouces Dr. Bernd-Markus Liss Principal Advisor Climate-relevant Modernization of Forest Policy and Piloting of REDD E: [email protected] Department of Environment and Natural Resources Climate Change Office, 2nd Floor, FASPO Building Visayas Avenue, Quezon City, 1101 Philippines T: +63 2 929 6626 local 207 F: +63 2 829 3374 Source and Copyrights © 2012 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Authors / Researchers Antonio P. Carandang, Leonida A. Bugayong, Priscila C. Dolom, Leni N. Garcia, Ma. Magdalena B. Villanueva, Nena O. Espiritu and the Forestry Development Center, University of the Philippines Los Banos - College of Forestry and Natural Resources Copyright on Photos The photos in this publication are owned by GIZ unless otherwise indicated in the photo. Maps The geographical maps are for information purposes only and do not constitute recognition under international law of boundaries and territories. GIZ does not guarantee in any way the current status, accuracy and completeness of the maps. All liability for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from their use is excluded. Layout / Design Ryan G. Palacol Printed and distributed by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Place and date of publication Manila, Philippines April 2013 Analysis of Key Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in the Philippines Foreword The 2011 Philippine Forestry Statistics of the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) show that based on the interpretation and analysis of 2003 satellite imageries, the national forest cover amounts to 7.168 million hectares or 23.89 per cent of the country’s total land area of around 30 million hectares. While the deforestation rate has stabilized and even reversed in some areas, the forest cover is way below the 1934 data of 17.8 million hectares. The forest loss affects the national interest to produce goods and ecosystem services and translates to a substantial contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. During the UNFCCC COP-13 in Bali, Indonesia in December 2007, the international community has called upon countries to explore the concept of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) as a new mechanism to combine forest protection with objectives of climate protection, biodiversity conservation and improvement of local livelihoods. In the recent international discussions, the concept has been expanded to include conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD- plus). At the country level, the Philippines expressed its high interest to participate as signified by the commitment to adjust its forest policy to the necessities of climate protection in the context of REDD-plus. In this context, the Government in collaboration with a wide range of actors has established the Philippine National REDD-Plus Strategy (PRNRPS) which has become integral part of the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016 and the National Climate Change Action Plan 2011- 2028. To support the implementation of the PNRPS particularly the REDD-plus readiness phase, the International Climate Initiative of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) funded the Project “Climate-Relevant Modernization of the National Forest Policy and Piloting of REDD Measures in the Philippines”. The Project is implemented by GIZ with the DENR as the main partner, in cooperation with local government units (LGUs) and a wide range of stakeholders. In line with the country’s efforts towards forest and climate protection and the development of appropriate policy and instruments for pursuing REDD-plus as foreseen under the PNRPS, the Project supported the conduct of four policy studies in collaboration with key stakeholders: (1) Analysis of drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, (2) Forest policy, (3) Clarifying carbon rights, and (4) Analysis of free prior informed consent (FPIC) implementation. This study aims to assess the key drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, analyze the underlying causes, incentives and relative importance, to develop a policy agenda and to derive differentiated recommendations to address the various drivers of deforestation and forest degradation effectively and to be able to design related REDD+ activities. Thus, the study could provide pertinent information to policy makers at local and national levels in looking deeply into the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation and craft necessary policy actions to prevent their occurrence and reduce the negative impacts of climate change through mitigation and adaptation. Understanding the direct and indirect causes of forest loss would result in a more focused strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming. v We would like to extend our deep appreciation to the study team of the Forestry Development Center headed by Dr. Antonio P. Carandang, for their tireless efforts in gathering secondary data, interviewing relevant stakeholders in the four (4) study sites, analyzing all the information and preparing a comprehensive report that contributes to a better understanding of key drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in the Philippines. vi Acknowledgements The study team acknowledges the support provided by the implementers of the project “Climate- relevant Modernisation of the National Forest Policy and Piloting of REDD in the Philippines” funded under the International Climate Initiative of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The Forest Management Bureau (FMB) helped oversee the conduct of the four policy studies, among which is the “Analysis of Key Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in the Philippines”. The DENR officials from the Central Office, FMB, Regional Offices (4A, 4B, 8, 10), PENROs, and CENROS have kindly assisted us in coordinating our field visits and the conduct of key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), from the Commissioners to the Provincial and local officers, were supportive of our research activities. The key informants and focus group discussion participants in the four sites – General Nakar, Quezon; Southern Leyte; Palawan; and Mount Malindang – have been kind enough to provide us with their insights and information that have guided us in the analysis. We appreciate the active participation of the various barangay officials and community members, indigenous people’s organizations, non-government organizations, forest products and related industries, and local government units that have all been instrumental in making us understand the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in their sites. The list of KII and FGD participants are in the Appendix B. Our appreciation is also forwarded to the officials of the College of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of the Philippines Los Baños for always supporting the policy studies of the Forestry Development Center’s staff members. Finally, we have benefited from the comments and suggestions of the reviewers of this report, former DENR Secretary Ricardo M. Umali, CFNR Dean Juan M. Pulhin, Mr. Jörg Seifert-Granzin, and Dr. Bernd-Markus Liss. vii viii Analysis of Key Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in the Philippines Table of Contents FOREWORD v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vii LIST OF tables xi LIST OF FIGURES xii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY xiii ACRONYMS xv 1. INTRODUCTION Objectives 3 Methodology 4 a. Selection of Study Sites 4 b. Secondary Data Gathering and Analysis 5 c. Pre-testing and Finalization of Research Tools 6 d. Respondents 6 e. Field Surveys 7 f. Data Analysis 7 Limitations of the Study 8 2. THE CONTEXT OF DEFORESTATION AND FOREST DEGRADATION International and Regional Context 11 The Case of the Philippines 19 Deforestation in the Philippines 19 Climate Change and REDD-plus Initiatives in the Philippines 23 3. ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK 27 4. KEY DRIVERS OF Deforestation AND FOREST Degradation A. Forest Products Extraction