Deforestation in Southeast Asia - the Philippines - Case Study Example

Running Head: Deforestation in Southeast Asia, A Case Study on the of the Forests in the Philippines Deforestation in Southeast Asia: A Case Study on the State of the Forests in the Philippines Name Professor Course Date Abstract Deforestation is one of the most emergent environmental issues that are in need of attention and immediate solution. The research conducted is aimed to present the state of deforestation in a Southeast Asian country, the Philippines. Included in the issues discussed are: the level of diversity of the forests, the causes of deforestation, the rate of depletion of resources in the forests and the policies and solutions that are implemented to replenish the forest resources and to decrease the destruction of the forest ecosystems. Introduction Countries in Asia and the Pacific contribute to the significant percentage of the forested area of the world. In 2005, a total of 734 million hectares or 19% of the world’s forest can be found in Asia. But due to the problematic effects of deforestation and invasion of human activities in the forest, the highest rate of decline in forest area can be found in the Southeast Asia, which is 2.8 million hectares every year (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2007). The study conducted is focused on one of the six countries with the highest decline in forest area which is the Philippines. It ranks fourth to Indonesia, Myanmar and Cambodia, the problematic areas in Southeast Asia with regards to deforestation (FAO UN, 2007). The Philippines is recognized as one of the countries in Southeast Asia to have great primary forests but due to the deforestation activities, significant percentage of the country’s forested areas had been denuded. For this matter, a study on the present state of the forests in the Philippines is the main focus of the research conducted. Assessment of Deforestation in the Philippines The immediate solution is required in the issues related to deforestation in the Philippines due to the continuous effects that can be observed in the state of the land, the livelihood and the biodiversity of the country. Based on the results of forest area studies, from 1995 to 2005 one third of the forest cover had been denuded (Butler, 2009). The country is even known to be included in the group of Southeast Asian countries with the highest deforestation rate as shown in Figure 1. (Source: FAO UN, 2007) Figure 1. Change Rates in Forest Cover, 2000-2005. The forest cover of the Philippines is 24% of the total land area which is equivalent to 7,162,000 hectares. Of the said forest area 829,000 hectares are classified as primary forest which is equivalent to 2.8% of the total forest area (Butler, 2009). In terms of the deforestation rates, in the period from 1995-2005 the rate of decrease of forested area in the Philippines is 2%. From 2000-2005 the update is that the country belongs to the group with > 1.5% decrease for every year in the period. Specifically based on the integrated study of different institution the decrease rate in the said period is 2.1%. In total, the forest loss since 1990 is -3,412,000 hectares which is equivalent to 32.3% (Butler, 2009; FAO UN, 2007). The Philippine forest area is considered 100% tropical and can be classified into primary, modifies natural, semi-natural, and production plantation. The primary forest area still present in 2005 is 829,000 hectares (11.6%). On the other hand, through the efforts of different agencies and organizations, the modified natural forest area is 5,713,000 hectares (78.9%) (Butler, 2009). Logging activities and agricultural cultivation of land through the 20th century had resulted to flooding that is evident in the 80s and 90s. On the other hand, the trend in mining through the 90s has added detrimental effects on the already diminishing forests of the Philippines. Aside from these factors, the increasing population and natural calamities such as erosion and flooding, which in the first place are also caused by deforestation, intensified the decrease in the forest areas (Butler, 2009; Van den Top, 2003). Through the history though, the continuous increase of environmental consciousness and education on the importance of the forest resulted to improvements in the state of the forest ecosystems in the country. One of the main reasons for the advocacy is the preservation and rescue of the high level of biodiversity and high percentage of endemic species in the population of forest organisms. With 46% or almost half of the 1,196 recorded species of forest animals in the Philippines that are endemic, there can be no other choice except the conservation of the forests. This is the same for the plant species with 40% endemic portion (Butler, 2009). Based on the latest record of the trend in the total forest cover in the Philippines, there is still a declining trend in forest areas but it the rate of decrease had slowed down as expressed by the average annual change in forest area. In 1990, there was a total of 10,574,000 hectares and after an annual rate of decline of -2.48% through 1990-2000, the total forest area decreased to 7,949,000 hectares. After 2000, the consciousness of the population regarding the negative effects of deforestation led to the decrease of the rate of deforestation to -1.98%. Thus the 2005 forest cover analysis revealed 7,162,000 hectares of forested area in the Philippines (Butler, 2009; Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2005). Table 1. Summary of Philippine Forest Facts and Figures Facts Figures Forest Cover Total forest area 7,162,000 ha % of land area 24% Primary forest cover 829,000 ha % of land area 2.8% % total forest area 11.6% Deforestation Rates, 2000-2005 Annual change in forest cover -157,400 ha Annual deforestation rate -2.1% Change in defor. rate since 90s -20.2% Total forest loss since 1990 -3,412,000 ha Total forest loss since 1990 -32.3% Forest Classification Public 89.5% Private 10.5% Production 75% Protection 11% Conservation 12% Forest Area Breakdown Total area 7,162,000 ha Primary 829,000 ha Modified natural 5,713,000 ha Semi-natural n/a Production plantation 304,000 ha Production plantation 316,000 ha Total Change in Forest Cover Forest 1990 (ha) 10,574,000 Forest 2000 (ha) 7,949,000 Forest 2005 (ha) 7,162,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) (262,500) -2.48% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) (157,400) -1.98% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) (3,412,000) -32.27% Change in rate (%) -20.24% Source: (Butler, 2009). The most recent data which was gathered from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Philippines showed a significant improvement in the forested area. The total Forest land is 15,805,325 hectares or 52.68% of the total land area with 50.17% classified forest land and 2.52% unclassified forest land. In terms of the forest cover, it increased to 7,168,400 hectares or 23.89% (DENR, 2006). Issues on Deforestation The term deforestation is defined as the lost of global forest cover as well as the continuous degradation of the forest environment. It can be based on the removal of forest products such as timber and other non-timber products in a rate faster than the natural replenishment of the forest. In addition, the said process, which is referred to as forest degradation, can lead to the decrease of crown cover that can drastically alter the balance between the organisms in the forest ecosystem. Another is the extraction of the forest vegetation to transform the land to agricultural field for production, which is also referred to as forest clearing. The main constraint of the deforestation is the manner wherein a forested area is transformed to an area wherein the forest elements are not recognizable or not present anymore, e.g. denuded areas and agricultural lands (Van den Top, 2003). In the Philippines, the two types of deforestation are exhibited on a high level of occurrence. The country had experienced the combined effects of logging and agricultural expansion (TED, 1997). To be able to determine the total view on the state of deforestation in the country, it is important to determine the possible causes of the problem through the course of history. Deforestation Drivers in the Philippines Drivers of deforestation are factors that can cause and escalate the effects of deforestation. In Southeast Asia, the main deforestation drivers are subsistence agriculture which constitutes 44%, logging 6%, intensive agriculture 44% and ranching and pasture 6% (Butler, 2008). Source: (Butler, 2008). Figure 2. Deforestation Drivers in Southeast Asia. Logging One of the main causes of deforestation in the Philippines is logging. During the early part of the 1900s Philippines is recognized as the pioneer in log production in Asia. This resulted to the drastic decrease in the forest area in the 80s. Along with countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia, Philippines largely contributed to the supply of timber in the Southeast Asian and world market. It can be observed that the said countries became the most endangered in terms of the depletion of forest resources after decades of exporting forest products without proper methods of replenishing the forest resources (Van den Top, 2003). Logging in the Philippines affects both the primary and secondary forests due to increasing scarcity of resources. This even can be interconnected with the issue of population. Aside from the fact the primary forests had been damaged during the excessive exportation in the early 1900s, the post war period continuously created a nation in poverty with increasing population and intensifying need for livelihood sources. This is then related to the other cause of deforestation which is agricultural expansion (TED, 1997; Van den Top, 2003). Although logging is presently prohibited in the country, illegal activities of logging and forest product smuggling are still occurring, thus, the forest density of the country is negatively affected (Butler, 2009; TED, 1997). Agricultural Expansion Due to the need of the people for livelihood, agricultural expansion occurs. This is the cultivation of the land in forested areas that are cleared. This type of activity damages the secondary forests. This can mean that instead of developing and replenishing the forest resources, the land is cleared for cultivation to be able to earn small amount of money for livelihood (TED, 1997). The people that are undertaking such activity can be considered to choose the marginal ecosystems or the borderlines of forested areas to be able to maximize the land for planting crops and harvesting of forest products. This activity poses a great threat to the forest since biodiversity is affected and interrupted by human activities. In 1990, there are 62.4 million people residing in upland areas that can affect the natural state of the forests (Butler, 2009; Van den Top, 2003). Basically, the complex interaction of factors that can negatively affect the forest had occurred in the Philippines. For that matter, deforestation is continuously being counteracted through different ways by the authorities, the government and private organizations. Policies toward the Resolution of the Problem There are different policies undertaken by the government and private sectors to answer the problems of deforestation in the Philippines. The action of the Philippine government is one of the most important methods that had been used to improve the state of forest areas in the country. The policies related to the forest management cover both the national and the local levels. Based on the Philippine Constitution, the Department Environment and Natural Resources, the state and the different agencies are mandated to protect and to resolve the different environmental issues. On the basis of different projects the cooperation of different groups and agencies can be classified (DENR Forest Management Bureau, 2010) One of the most significant actions of the Philippine government is the decentralization of the management of natural resources through the 1991 Local Government Code, Republic Act 7160. This was aimed to improve the rate of application of the solution to the local area instead of passing it to the national level which is a complex and complicated matter. Included in the government agencies involved are the Forest Management Bureau (FMB), The National Forest Programme Facility (NFP) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (DENR Forest Management Bureau, 2010; Garibay and Pascual, 1992; Ocampo-Salvador, 2002; Sajise, 1998). In the process the interagency communication is essential, thus, the National Council for Sustainable Forestry (NCSF), Department of Agriculture with their AFMA, Department of Agrarian reform with the CARP and other related agencies were established (DENR Forest Management Bureau, 2010; Garibay and Pascual, 1992; Ocampo-Salvador, 2002; Sajise, 1998). Other examples of the projects and policies implemented by the government are the Master Plan for Forestry Development (MPFD) and Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM). In addition, The Policies and Guidelines on Implementation of the Upland Development Program (UDP), Green Philippines Program (GPP) – Trees for Life, Watershed Integrated Land Use Planning, Management of Residual Forest, Forest Area Expansion, Forest Industries Development, Management of Grazing Lands and Forest Area Expansion were implemented. Some of these programs were effective and can be accounted for the improvement of the state of the Philippines forest. Advocacies for livelihood and conservation of biodiversity and other environmental components are also important (DENR Forest Management Bureau, 2010). Basically, efforts are not limited to the government agencies. In fact, there are numerous local and international groups and advocacies aimed to save the forest ecosystems. The main purpose of these groups and agencies is to achieve an integrated action to resolve the issues and problems related to deforestation (DENR Forest Management Bureau, 2010; Garibay and Pascual, 1992; Ocampo-Salvador, 2002; Sajise, 1998) Summary The study is focused on the different issues related to the problem of deforestation in the Philippines such as the causes, the effects and the resolutions undertaken. The country is one of the most biologically diverse territory in the Southeast Asia with very high percentage of endemic species, thus, it is considered top priority to save the forests. In a developing country such as the Philippines, overpopulation and scarcity of livelihood resources are putting pressure to the environment. These factors add up to the fact that deforestation and agricultural expansion towards primary and even secondary forests continuously decreases and negatively affects the forests. But the story of the Philippines does not stop in the destruction since there are evidences that even in a country with problematic economy, efforts undertaken by government and private agencies had significantly improved the state of the forests. Projects and policies targeting the reforestation, conservation of resources and livelihood projects are showing evidences of improvement in the forest cover of the country, which used to be deemed as hopeless. Conclusion Efforts in saving and improving the forest ecosystems in the Philippines are continuously being undertaken in the country. Conservation efforts are paying off. In a country with the most diverse ecosystems including primary forests, beach, mangrove and marine and dubbed as one of the focal points of biodiversity in land and water in Southeast Asia, Philippines has no other choice but to save the environment. The forest ecosystem is the crowning glory of the different types of ecosystems since it functions as the watershed, thus, saving the forest will help save all the other ecosystems. Regardless of the fact that the Philippines is a developing nation, the localized efforts along with the integrated international supports the country is receiving from the international community is paying off. Although the evidence of improvement is a small fraction compared to the destruction, the country is positively moving forward. References Butler, R. (2008). Drivers of Deforestation. Retrieved February 25, 2010 from http://rainforests.mongabay.com/deforestation_drivers.html Butler, R. (2009). Philippines: Forest Figures. Retrieved February 25, 2010 from http://rainforests.mongabay.com/20philippines.htm Department of Environment and Natural Resources (2005). The Philippines’ Green Environment: Fact Sheet. Retrieved March 1, 2010 from http://ecogovproject.denr.gov.ph/Downloads/Publications/Fact_Sheet_green_environment2.pdf Department of Environment and Natural Resources (2006). Land Classification 2006. Retrieved March 1, 2010 from http://forestry.denr.gov.ph/statglance.htm DENR Forest Management Bureau (2010). Programs. Retrieved March 1, 2010 from http://forestry.denr.gov.ph/# Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2007). State of the World’s Forests 2007: Asia and the Pacific. Retrieved February 27, 2010 from ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/009/a0773e/a0773e03.pdf Garibay, H.R. and Pascual, C.M. (1992). The Local Government Code: Examining The Prospects of Genuine People’s Participation in Local Governance. Retrieved March 1, 2010 from http://www.prrm.org/ National Geographic (2009). Human Impact: Deforestation and Desertification. Retrieved February 27, 2010 from http://www.nationalgeographic.com/eye/deforestation/deforestation.html Ocampo-Salvador, A. (2002) Environmental Governance in the Philippines. Sajise, Percy E. (1998): Forest Policies in the Philippines, A Winding Trail Towards Participatory Sustainable Development. TED (1997). TED Case Studies: Philippine Deforestation. Retrieved February 27, 2010 from http://www1.american.edu/TED/philwood.htm Van den Top, G. (2003). The Social Dynamics of Deforestation in the Philippines: Actions, Options and Motivations. NIAS Press. Read More