Central Visayas Forest Cover Improves by 15 Percent

● Forest cover refers to natural and man-made forests, including forests within wetlands and built-up areas.

With massive government-led reforestation through the national greening program (NGP) and strong community involvement, the forest cover of Region 7 has improved by 15 percent, according to a top agency official.

“This represents an increase of 23,309 hectares from its 2010 baseline of 155,373 hectares, now totaling to 178, 682 hectares as of December 31, 2013,” said Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Technical Director for Forest Management Services Eduardo M. Inting.

Forest cover refers to natural and man-made forests, including forests within wetlands and built-up areas.

In a data released by the DENR-7’s Forest Management Services (FMS) as of May 30, Cebu’s forest cover posted an increase of 28.15 percent or equivalent to 50,299 hectares as against 2010 baseline of 39,251 hectares; Bohol improved by 8.03 percent or 55,773 hectares in contrast to 53,477 hectares.

The list goes on with Negros Oriental up by 11.87 percent or equivalent to 68,656 hectares compared to 2010’s 61,172 hectares; and Siquijor yielded 53.50 percent or 1,954 hectares, an increase of 681 hectares from its baseline of 1,273.

Inting revealed the improvement is attributed to the sustained reforestation efforts, regular monitoring and enforcement with the people’s organization (POs) and local government units (LGUs), creation of the regional anti-illegal logging task force, and imposition of Executive Order (EO) 23 on the moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests.

In the same FMS report, it indicated a total forest land or protected areas for Central Visayas which is about 585, 024 hectares.

“EO 23 has prohibited the DENR from issuing and renewing logging contracts and tree cutting permits in all natural and residual forests,” he added.

He explained natural and residual forest refer to forests composed of indigenous tree that were not planted by man.

Inting said the DENR-7 intends to improve more on the region’s forest cover by reforesting around 50,992 hectares of forest lands with the help of the LGUs ,POs, and other stakeholders next year.