Optimal use of forest resources pushed

SEN. Jose «Jinggoy» Estrada has filed a bill that seeks to optimize the utilization of forest resources to support the sustainable development of the country by providing equitable access and benefits to stakeholders.

In filing Senate Bill (SB) 2484, Estrada said that forests play a very important role in the country.

«For many residing in rural areas, it is the primary source of income and subsistence. As one of the many countries identified as vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, forest management is integral in providing solutions that will help us navigate and address the issues brought on by the increasing population and its effects and strains on our environment,» Estrada said.

Citing data from the Forest Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Estrada said there were 17 million hectares of forest land in 1976, which dwindled to 15.8 million in 2021.

He also cited an Asian Development Bank (ADB) case study on the cost of natural disasters in the Philippines between 2000 and 2016, placing socioeconomic damage at $20 billion with an average annual damage of $1.2 billion.

The same study also found that the income levels of typhoon-affected households are more likely to go lower than ever.

A World Bank case study said that higher forest cover generates higher water yields in the driest months of the year, ensuring the subsistence of communities that are dependent on water resources for agriculture.