Improving Forest Management: A Case Study of DENR-CAR&rsquo;s Turned-over Logs

Beberly  M. Tauli-Calugan,

Improving Forest Management: A Case Study of DENR-CAR’s Turned-over Logs

Discipline: Forestry and Arboriculture

Abstract:

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DENR-CAR) is committed to enhancing sustainable forest management practices, particularly concerning the utilization of turned-over logs derived from Tree Cutting Permits (TCPs). Recognizing the importance of optimizing resource use and minimizing environmental impact, this study examines current policies and practices surrounding these logs, seeking opportunities for improvement and greater efficiency. While existing guidelines, such as DAO 2003-18 and MMO 162, provide a valuable foundation, this research explores how to strengthen implementation further and ensure equitable utilization. A qualitative case study methodology was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, document analysis, and thematic analysis to gather and interpret data effectively. The approach provided in-depth insights into the systemic challenges hindering effective log management, including unclear regulatory definitions, inefficient data tracking, absence of designated custodians, and weak enforcement mechanisms. The study's findings reveal a critical need for policy enhancements encompassing (1) implementing a prepayment mechanism for TCPs to streamline processes and reduce bureaucratic delays, (2) designating barangay Local Government Units (LGUs) as custodians to ensure localized and traceable management, and leveraging technology for efficient data monitoring and decision-making; and (4) fostering community participation in log utilization projects —such as school infrastructure and community development initiatives—ensures equitable benefits while promoting local stewardship. Strengthened monitoring and enforcement mechanisms and capacity building for relevant agencies are also proposed to mitigate non-compliance and resource misuse. This holistic framework offers actionable insights to improve log governance in CAR, promoting transparency, accountability, and technology-driven processes to achieve sustainable forest management and contribute to broader conservation goals.

References:

Abayao, L. (2021). Policy landscape for customary forest management in the Philippine Cordilleras. Philippine Journal of Public Policy: Interdisciplinary Development Perspectives, 0(0), 66-93. https://doi.org/10.54096/UQAY7118
Acuti, D., Lemarié, L., & Viglia, G. (2023). How to enhance the sustainable disposal of harmful products. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 186, 122151. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.techfore.2022.122151
Ankomah, F., Boateng, K., Asante, W., & Ansong, M. (2022). Implementation gaps in forest management prescriptions and noncompliance in forest regulations in Ghana: Case study of four forest reserves. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 24(7), 9355-9379. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-021-01828-9
Awolorinke, A. C., Takyi, S. A., & Amponsah, O. (2023). Insouciant, powerless or helpless: An assessment of the factors that contribute to non-compliance with the regulations that protect ecologically sensitive areas in the Greater Kumasi Metropolis. Urban Governance, 3(2), 148–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ugj.2023.03.004
Basu, A., & Basu, J. P. (2023). Impact of forest governance and enforcement on deforestation and forest degradation at the district level: A study in West Bengal State, India. Regional Sustainability, 4(4), 441-452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.regsus.2023.11.002
Dawson, N. M., Coolsaet, B., Sterling, E. J., Loveridge, R., Gross-Camp, N. D., Wongbusarakum, S., Sangha, K. K., Scherl, L. M., Phan, H. P., Zafra-Calvo, N., Lavey, W. G., Byakagaba, P., Idrobo, C. J., Chenet, A., Bennett, N. J., Mansourian, S., & Rosado-May, F. J. (2021). The role of Indigenous peoples and local communities in effective and equitable conservation. Ecology and Society, 26(3), art19. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-12625-260319
Diansyah, W., Abas, A., & Sakawi, Z. (2021). A systematic review on community forest management in Southeast Asia: Current practices and impacts on biodiversity conservation and livelihood quality of local communities. Human Ecology Review, 27(1), 3-21. http://doi.org/10.22459/HER.27.01.2021.01
Erbaugh, J. T., Pradhan, N., Adams, J., Oldekop, J. A., Agrawal, A., Brockington, D., ... & Chhatre, A. (2020). Global forest restoration and the importance of prioritizing local communities. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 4(11), 1472-1476. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-01282-2
Ehrlich-Sommer, F., Hoenigsberger, F., Gollob, C., Nothdurft, A., Stampfer, K., & Holzinger, A. (2024). Sensors for digital transformation in smart forestry. Sensors, 24(3), 798. https://doi.org/10.3390/s24030798
Hifume, A. K., Arias, J. M., & Anthony, O. (2024). Tackling Illegal Logging: Problems and Challenges. American Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Research (AJHSSR), 8(5), 81-94. https://repository.umindanao.edu.ph/handle/20.500.14045/1192
Kahsay, G. A., Bulte, E., Alpizar, F., Hansen, L. G., & Medhin, H. (2023). Leadership accountability in community-based forest management: experimental evidence in support of governmental oversight. Ecology and Society, 28(4). https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-14469-280420
Latupeirissa, J. J. P., Dewi, N. L. Y., Prayana, I. K. R., Srikandi, M. B., Ramadiansyah, S. A., & Pramana, I. B. G. A. Y. (2024). Transforming public service delivery: A comprehensive review of digitization initiatives. Sustainability, 16(7), 2818. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072818
Mondejar, M. E., Avtar, R., Diaz, H. L. B., Dubey, R. K., Esteban, J., Gómez-Morales, A., ... & Garcia-Segura, S. (2021). Digitalization to achieve sustainable development goals: Steps towards a Smart Green Planet. Science of The Total Environment, 794, 148539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148539
Moutinho, P., Lucas, I. L., & Baniwa, A. (2022). Policy Brief: The Role of Amazonian Indigenous Peoples in Fighting the Climate Crisis. https://tinyurl.com/6axytdux
Nuesiri, E. O. (2022). Good governance of local forest is neither easy nor cheap: Policy learning from Bimbia-Bonadikombo. Forest Policy and Economics, 136, 102672. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2021.102672
Rahmi, E., & Wijaya, C. (2022). Analysis of Public Service Quality Improvement Through Bureaucratic Simplification Policies. Technium Soc. Sci. J., 36, 29.
Robinson, E. (2021). Citizens, custodians, and villains: Environmentality and the politics of difference in Senegal’s community forests. Geoforum, 125, 25-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2021.06.017
Sayo, F. (2024). What is sustainable forestry? Retrieved from https://earthly.org/what-is-sustainable-forestry
Sharma, S. (2021). Evaluating forest reforestation policies in Southeast Asia: A case study from Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand. In Natural Resource Governance in Asia (pp. 79–97). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-85729-1.00004-9
Stake, R. E. (2006). Multiple case study analysis. Guilford Press.
Sotoudeh Foumani, B., Kolahi, M., Mohammadi Limaei, S., Fisher, J., & Rostami Shahraji, T. (2021). Multiple streams framework and logging policy change in the Hyrcanian forests of Iran. Australian Forestry, 84(4), 191–199. https://doi.org/10.1080/00049158.2021.1989848
Stoyanovich, J., Howe, B., & Jagadish, H. V. (2020). Responsible data management. Proceedings of the VLDB Endowment, 13(12). https://doi.org/10.14778/3415478.3415570
Uisso, A. J., Chirwa, P. W., Ackerman, P. A., & Bakengesa, S. S. (2023). Do Community Perceptions of Forest Management and Conservation Vary Across Wealth Groups? The Case of the Kilosa REDD+ Initiative in Tanzania. Human Ecology, 51(2), 251-263. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-022-00385-7
Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6^th ed.). SAGE Publications.