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Forum Rationale

In 1890, the country’s forests covered 19.5 million hectares consisting of all woodlands within private and public lands, or about 65% of the total land area. With a population of about 6 million at the turn of the 19th century, there were more than enough forest goods to supply the requirements of the population and industries.

Until the 1970s, wood and log exports were the main dollar earners for the country and contributed significantly to the national economy. The desire to fuel the country’s economy with the most available and readily extractable natural resource, the rapid increase in the population which led to conversion of vast tracts of forest land to agricultural and
settlement areas and ever-increasing demand for forest-based products have led to the rapid depletion of the forest resources.

Wood is a readily renewable resource. Forests can be established much faster than most of the other natural resources of the country because of the abundance of sunlight and rainfall and the richness of its forest biodiversity. The lessons of the past have brought forward the need to embrace a different approach in making use of a renewable resource. Through sustainable Forest Management, there can be a continuous supply of wood and other important forest goods and services to meet the needs of the people and the nation.

The forest industry, however, is considered one of the most regulated in the country. It is usually affected by periodic changes in relevant policies particularly when natural calamities occur and when there is a change in political leadership. The situation is aggravated by the non-enactment of a law that can address issues which cannot be fully addressed by the
Revised Forestry Code promulgated 35 years ago. As such, a long-term forestry policy has remained an elusive dream.

There is therefore a need to bring together various stakeholders of forests and forest resources in a forum wherein the issues affecting the forestry sector can be discussed objectively and scientifically. In the forum, there will also be an exchange and sharing
of lessons learned and discussion and agreement on the proper direction towards a sound, long-term and meaningful forest policy that will truly benefit the present and future generations of Filipinos.