Month: October 2016

Ramon A. Razal, Anna Floresca F. Firmalino, and Maria Cristina S. Guerrero

The study reviews the impacts (both positive and negative) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Community as well as the opportunities that may lend themselves to the integration of social forestry stakeholders into the mainstream of the ASEAN regional economy. It was funded through the Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP) with support from the ASEAN Swiss Partnership for Social Forestry and Climate Change (ASFCC). It forms part of the second phase of ASFCC’s three-year project that commenced in 2014, when the full integration of ASEAN into one community looms large on the horizon as a significant factor that will bear on regional developments in social forestry.

By 31 December 2015, it is envisioned that the ASEAN region will become one ASEAN Community that is founded on strong economic, political, and socio-cultural partnerships among the ASEAN member states (AMSs) comprising Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (hereinafter referred to as “Lao PDR”), the Federation of Malaysia, the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), as one of its pillars alongside the Political-Security Community (APSC) and the Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), seeks to transform the region into a single market and production base, a highly competitive economic region, a region of equitable economic development, and a region fully integrated into the global economy. The economic aspects of integration will entail liberalization of trade among the AMSs including measures that will eliminate all tariffs and non-tariff barriers, enhance interconnectivity, and such other measures that will allow free flow of goods, services, investment, capital and skilled labor.

MANILA, Philippines – The adoption of the Paris Agreement in 12 December 2015 created a momentum across the world for more ambition and cooperation to address climate change. At present, countries are undergoing their domestic processes for the ratification of the Paris Agreement and moving towards implementation of respective nationally determined contributions (NDCs). As a region, the greater challenge however is for ASEAN Member States to turn these contributions into public policies and investment plans for mitigation and adaptation while taking into consideration other pressing frameworks and strategies such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the ASEAN Vision on Food, Agriculture and Forests.

So far, despite the recognition of social forestry in the region, there is no systematic and coordinated process to link and include social forestry targets and goals in national climate change actions plans and NDCs of ASEAN Member States. While social forestry in the ASEAN region may take different modalities which vary from country to country, it is apt to say that “social forestry is not new to the region” and with its long history comes a list of successes, failures, and lessons, said Dr. Doris Capistrano. Global platforms such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, and particularly the progressions in the ASEAN region are compelling calls “to see social forestry with a slightly different lens.”

Dr. Maria Brockhaus, Center for INternational Forestry Research (CIFOR) and Ms. Sagita Aridhani, AWG-SF

Forester Ricardo Calderon, Director of the Forest Management Bureau, shared how the perspective of social forestry in the Philippines has changed through the years – from a transactional livelihoods-based view to one that is slowly progressing as essential to building people and forest resilience. Coming from a successful country-level workshop, the Philippines, through Forester Orlando Panganiban, puts on the regional table key learnings and recommendations made by the group. Workshop participants from Cambodia, Laos PDR, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Indonesia also shared actual experiences from social forestry and how this is being linked to climate change agenda in their respective countries.

Mr. Long Ratanakoma, AWG-SF National Focal Point of Cambodia (left) and Mr. Peter Thavone, representative of the REDD+ Division, Department of Forestry of Lao PDR (right)

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Dung, Forestr Inventory and Planning Institute, MARD

The participants were given the space to initiate, develop, and strengthen operational guidelines and roll into the prospective social forestry integration within bigger national climate change plans effectively. By putting together information on existing systems, best practices, and necessary capacity building and technical and tool support, the workshop aims to forward the premise of synergy in their respective countries.

Dr. Thaung Naing OO, Director, Forest Research Institute (FRI), Myanmar

 

Ms. Emmy Primadona of WARSI and Ms. Sagita Aridhani of the AWG-SF presenting their workshop output for Indonesia

Participants showcasing NTFP-based merchandise from the NTFP-EP partner communities

Efforts have been made at the national level in integrating social forestry and other sectors to national forestry programs and/or national climate change plans and actions. To name a few, Myanmar, Philippines, and Indonesia are among the countries in the region with initial progress.

Dr. Paciencia Milan of the Rainforest Restoration Initiative (RFRI) presented about
the potentials of scaling-up reforestation in the Philippines

Dr. Ephrain Laureano of B+Wiser USAID shared the use of technology in biodiversity protection system through The LAWIN program

Workshop participants were presented with key portions of their INDCs and have been given a set of questions on integrating social forestry, identifying capacity needs and challenges in integrating social forestry in their identified and proposed forestry actions. A facilitated discussion among workshop participants and invited CC and forestry experts followed.

“Social forestry is a clear response to pressing concerns around the climate change issue” – in pushing for the recognition of the successes and potentials of social forestry, it is inevitable that we also push for the securing of rights on land water and forest, sustainable and resilient technologies, and the strengthening of cooperatives. However, these plans still remain at the level of aspiration. Key issues relating to land tenure and meaningful participation have been around for many years already, and yet the situation hasn’t changed that much. Now that the opportunity to push the opportunity has presented itself to the region, we need more ways to ensure that they get into the agenda.

“Social forestry is a clear response to the pressing concerns around the climate change issue.”
– Esther Penunia, Asian Farmers Association 

The participants of the NDC Regional workshop

 

Article and photos by NTFP-EP Asia

Operationalizing the Paris Agreement, towards Developing ASEAN Guidelines to Strengthen Social Forestry Integration in NDCs planning in ASEAN

The Bayleaf Hotel, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines

The two-day regional workshop was used to present the regional and national contexts and frameworks of social forestry (SF) and climate change (CC) and how SF can contribute to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Experiences from participating countries were shared to further the elaboration of the link between SF and CC in the NDCs. Specifically, the regional workshop aimed to

1. To increase awareness of initiatives and strategies on Social Forestry and Climate Change in ASEAN, in the context of the Paris Agreement;
2. To distil good practices, approaches and strategies in social forestry that can strengthen implementation of NDCs and REDD+;
3. To identify synergies and complementation between social forestry and NDC implementation and REDD+;
4. To explore potential planning and facilitation tools and institutional

Sequioa Hotel, Mother Ignacia Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines

The National Consultative Workshop was held to establish the link between the contributions of community-based forest management to national climate change plans and nationally-determined contributions (NDCs). The event, entitled Connecting Forests, People and Climate Change Solutions seeked to:

1. To develop clear perspectives on the links of social forestry and climate change;
2. To renew commitments and support for community-based forest management (CBFM) programs;
3. To increase the understanding of stakeholders on climate change action planning and the Philippine NDC process;
4. To share good practice on building resilience and mitigating climate change within community managed/ social forestry areas; and
5. To develop recommendations and capacity needs on integrating social forestry in NDC planning and implementation.

MANILA, Philippines – Through its strong commitment to comprehensive policies and institutional arrangements, the Philippines has strongly adhered to principles and values of social justice and rights in the formulation of its climate change plans. This espousal is seen in its strong presence in regional and international climate change policy process. However, its policy and programs remains fragmented and substantial inclusion of forestry, especially social forestry in climate change plans and strategies, is yet to made.

There is increasing evidence that social forestry provides opportunity to increase national resilience to climate change, through diversifying rural livelihoods, increasing food security and leveraging social capital and knowledge. Researches and pilot projects have demonstrated that engaging local communities and promoting socio‐economic benefits with conservation can be an effective long-term strategy for slowing deforestation and forest degradation.

This growing body of evidence and demonstrated results suggest that making social forestry integral to the implementation of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) can enhance its relevance and effectiveness and ultimately benefit forest dependent communities in the Philippines and other members of the ASEAN region.

Clearly, there is opportunity and need to build on the achievements and lessons learned from decades of social forestry strategies in enhancing NDC planning and implementation.

This 12-13 October 2016, NTFP-EP held a National Consultative Workshop to establish the link between the contributions of community-based forest management to national climate change plans and NDCs. The event, entitled Connecting Forests, People and Climate Change Solutions seeks to:

1. To develop clear perspectives on the links of social forestry and climate change;
2. To renew commitments and support for community-based forest management (CBFM) programs;
3. To increase the understanding of stakeholders on climate change action planning and the Philippine NDC process;
4. To share good practice on building resilience and mitigating climate change within community managed/ social forestry areas; and
5. To develop recommendations and capacity needs on integrating social forestry in NDC planning and implementation.

A total of 70 participants participated in the workshop, coming from various groups, organizations, institutions, and agencies in the related fields of social forestry and climate change.

Day 1

“Without forests and local communities’ participation, the climate crisis will not be resolved.”

Partnerships based on trust has been the foundation of the many successful strides in the forestry sector in the Philippines. Ruth Canlas, Executive Director of NTFP-EP Philippines highlighted this in her opening remarks while also stating the need to address gaps while tapping opportunities to synergize efforts towards providing climate solutions as a country.

 

Ruth Canlas, Executive Director, NTFP-EP Philippines

The various communities’ role in forest protection through forest restoration and rehabilitation could not be undermined. Mayumi Quintos-Natividad, Assistant Director DENR-Forest Management Bureau distinctly recalled the formation of the Philippine National REDD-plus Strategy. It was through CoDE REDD, a group of forest-based communities and civil society organizations which persisted on the basis of social contracts and their shared passion for empowering forest-based communities.

Mayumi Quintos-Natividad, Assistant Director DENR-Forest Management Bureau

With the exponential increase in carbon emissions and its detrimental effects to the global climate dilemma, nations have convened under the UNFCCC platform to attempt to revert back to a tolerable carbon emission rates through legally-binding agreements which have yet to be ratified and implemented at a national level. In the Philippines, at least 40% of its carbon emissions could be curbed through the forestry sector alone. However, this potential is hindered by the rapid decrease in forest cover of many countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Atty. Edna Maguigad mentioned the “revolutionary preamble” for the forestry sector within the Paris Agreement. Article 5 of the Paris Agreement emphasizes the role of forests in reducing emissions by acting as carbon sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases.

Atty. Edna Maguigad, Regional Policy and Governance Adviser, NTFP-EP Asia

“Community-Based Forest Management is the national strategy to ensure the sustainable development of the country’s forest resources.” For. Orlando Panganiban, presented how community-based forest management in the Philippines has the potential to contribute to climate change solutions. DENR-FMB, through its modernization and mechanization of forest resources aims to plant trees at a striking rate of 1 million trees in a day.

For. Orlando Panganiban, Chief, Forest Resources Management Division, DENR – Forest Management Bureau

Participants from various community-based forest management associations, peoples’ organizations, and indigenous peoples’ organizations have shared strategies that have been employed by local communities in managing their forest resources. Olivia Melendrez of NTFP-EP Philippines shared indigenous knowledge, skills, and practices that communities use in keeping track of climactic patterns: specific bird species such as the sayaw from Mindoro and sawi from Bukidnon act as community signals of an impending typhoon.

Planting native tree species have also been proven to provide greater long-term benefits not just for communities but also for forest biodiversity, said Dr. Pacencia P. Milan of Rainforest Restoration Initiative (RFRI). Mr. Eleuterio Manaytay, President, Region 11 CBFM PO Federation and For. Marcelina Espos, Conservation and Development Division, DENR Region 8, have given testimonies on how forest rehabilitation and reforestation using native tree species have been effective in mitigating hazardous effects of typhoons within their respective areas.

Let’s talk forest – session on effectiveness of community managed systems in building resilience and mitigating and climate change was done using a talk show format

However, gaps still exist in integrating these traditional practices into policies currently in place in the Philippines. Rolito Landuan of Samahan ng mga Mangyang Alangan sa Mindoro shares how relief goods do not usually reach Libaog (Mangyan communities’ traditional evacuation centers) due to relief regulations limiting distribution of goods only to government-recognized evacuation centers.

Mr. Alejandrino R. Sibucao, Jr., Chief, Forest Economics Section

According to Mr. Alejandrino R. Sibucao, Jr., this wide spectrum of local strategies, good practices, and opportunities are yet to be linked to the potential of Philippine forests to potentially contribute to a total of 70% the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution.

For. Isabelo Montejo, Undersecretary for field operations

Opening the second day of the workshop was the department undersecretary for field operations Isabelo Montejo. The newly appointed undersecretary accentuated his extensive years of service in the forestry sector with his call to commitment from every stakeholder: “We will make a difference and I need all of you to support me so that we can al deliver our tasks on time with effectivity and efficiency.”

Atty. Jose Andres Canivel of the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PTFCF) (left) and Oliver Agoncillo of the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) (right)

Elaine Joyce Borejon of the Climate Change Commission

Accessible financial mechanisms have been presented to the plenary as an opportunity to further the goals of integrating social forestry plans into the national climate agenda at the local, regional national levels.

 

The participants then went into various break out groups (CBFM coordinators and offices, CBFM federation representatives, indigenous peoples, and civil society and academse) to discuss further how each stakeholder could ensure the integration of the climate agenda into their respective plans. As a synthesis, the group verbalized recommendations to enhance, sustain and integrate the contribution of CBFM to climate change plans, solutions, and other plans in the Philippine NDCs. Olivia Melendrez of NTFP-EP Philippines remarked: “We must recognize community-based knowledge, systems, and practices and integrate these to climate change policies and plans.”

 

NTFP-EP Asia