DENR eyes fuel wood plantations to curb illegal cutting of trees for charcoal making

By Danilo E. Doguiles

Thursday 26th of July 2012

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, July 26 (PIA) -- Socssksargen Region’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-12) is pushing for establishment of fuel wood plantations which will later become sources for production of charcoal.

Dr. Adeluisa G. Siapno , regional executive director of DENR 12, said the move is aimed at controlling further degradation of forest lands due to illegal cutting of trees to supply increasing demand for wood charcoal brought about by the rising prices of liquefied petroleum gas and electricity.

“We have received instructions from the DENR central office for the establishment of fuel wood plantations to support the need for fuel woods,” Dr. Siapno said.

To implement the project, she added, DENR 12 will commission people’s organizations for the planting of ipil-ipil (Leucaena glauca) and kakawate or madre de cacao (Gliricidia sepium) through Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM). These POs can later harvest the trees for income-generating charcoal production.

She explained, “ipil-ipil and kakawate coppice or grow sprouts when cut. They are also invasive growers and cannot easily be eradicated,” making these ideal for sustainable charcoal production, which could curtail the need to cut naturally-grown trees.

From July to December this year at least six POs across Soccsksargen Region are joining the project for the establishment of initial 20 hectares for fuel wood production within their CBFM area.

Among these are Zion Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (MPC) in Maitum and Kapanal T’boli MPC in Kiamba, both in Sarangani province; Limatong Dalumangkom Bual Farmers Association in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato; Hinalaan MPC and Tinulok MPC in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat; and Bayanihan Tree Farmers Association of South Cotabato in Tantangan, South Cotabato.

These POs have a total coverage of 16,988.44 ha for their CBFM.

At least P300,000 has been allotted for each of the 20-ha fuel wood plantations. The amount defrays cost for production of planting materials, site preparation and planting, and project management and supervision.

Meanwhile, Geronimo Sequito, DENR 12’s regional technical director for Protected Areas Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Service (PAWCZMS) clarified the department does not prohibit the production of charcoal because this is a source of livelihood in communities.

He, however, emphasized cutting of trees for charcoal making should be within lawful limits.

“Cutting of trees is only allowed in titled properties and timberland granted with certificate of contract,” he explained, citing as examples those covered by tree planting activities in the 1980s under the Kilusang Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran (KKK) Land Resource Management Program and National Integrated Social Forestry (NISF) Program.

“What is illegal is the cutting of naturally-grown trees,” he added.

Regarding use of fuel wood plantations as source for materials in charcoal production, he said, “what is needed is to train the POs on systems of selective harvesting that would limit their cutting of the planted trees and allow other parts of the plantation to recover for future utilization.”

In the entire country, 100 CBFM agreement areas are being targeted for fuel wood production. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)