CABAGAN, Isabela (PIA) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Cagayan Valley has urged the Regional Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) People’s Organization Federation to leverage the economic potential of forests while ensuring environmental sustainability.
To reinforce the implementation of sustainable forest management and advance inclusive community development, the officers of the CBFM People’s Organization Federation have committed to sustain the community-driven projects and to strengthen their roles as forest stewards and champions of resource development.
This commitment was made during a two-day stakeholders’ gathering recently held at the Isabela State University (ISU) Cabagan Campus, which brought together People’s Organizations (POs), government officials, and partner institutions involved in CBFM programs in the Cagayan Valley region.
Through the activity, participants shared best practices and had a chance to revisit past initiatives to strategize future management efforts in sustaining the forest.
POs also conducted site visits to gain first-hand observation of the challenges and successful practices in forest conservation and livelihood development.
DENR Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn C. Bambalan, in her message, emphasized the significant role of CBFM in achieving sustainable development, as well as the importance of ecosystem services and the socio-economic benefits that can be derived from enterprise development within CBFM areas.
“I encourage the CBFM coordinators to continuously extend technical assistance to the PO members to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge for effective implementation of community-based projects,” Bambalan said.
Meanwhile, recognizing the role of academic institutions in community-based programs, ISU Cabagan Campus Executive Officer Emerson Barcellano expressed the university’s commitment to support CBFM initiatives through technical assistance and research-driven solutions to improve forest project interventions.
Isabela Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Orly Cariazo, along with other DENR officials, also shared policy updates and strategies to enhance the implementation of community-based forest management projects in the province.
(ALM/MFJ/ PIA Region 2 with reports from DENR)
