Illegal logging
It’s not long time ago, I wrote an article entitled “Philippine Bookworms”. Being in the publishing business since 1969 I know very well about the demand for paper (trees!) if one talk about books and magazines.
I was surprised to read the following news:
“Despite the myriad problems bugging the Philippine wood industry, wood products have remained one of the country’s biggest exports over the years. Wood-craft and furniture exports racked up nearly 102 million US dollars in August this year, according to the National Statistics Coordinating Board (NSCB).”
More of the Philippines wooden furniture and wood-craft were shipped to the US, the Philippines’ largest market with 61 percent of total market share. Other markets for Philippine wood products include Japan, Australia, United Kingdom, and Italy.
Trade Under Secretary Merly Cruz expressed optimism that the ongoing industry cluster capacity and development program of the government will help further in the growth of the Philippines’ wood industry.
And the medal’s other side?
I received a message from Butuan City telling me the following:
“Tribal leaders of the different tribes in the Caraga Region have called for an end of what they described as silent but dangerous, unabated illegal logging (and mining activities) in this region. Under the auspices of the church-based Caraga Conference for Peace and Development some two weeks ago, the summit attended by more than 500 lumad leaders from seven provinces. Among members of this conference have been the Armed Forces of the Philippines, PNP, national government sectors and others, like the Roman Catholic’s Dioceses of Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Surigao, Tandag and Malaybalay, where the tribes Manobo, Higaonon, Talaandig, Banwaon, Mamanwa and many more are still living… .
“The Sleeping Dinosaur” Peninsula, 8 km Badas zigzag road going down town to Mati.
Try to count the trees…
Where have all the trees gone…?
Last 5 posts by Klaus
- Good News for Expat Senior Citizen - September 6th, 2009
- Filipino Endeavors - August 30th, 2009
- Proud to be a Rotarian - August 23rd, 2009
- What Sara Duterte, Vice Mayor of Davao City said... . - August 16th, 2009
- An Evening of Classical Music in Davao - August 9th, 2009
Hi Klaus, in southern Zambales, the PNP has been arresting illegal loggers and charging them; evidenced by the logs being held at the front of the police station in my town. I am yet to hear what penalties are being handed down, perhaps other posters will be able to inform us?
It would be really good to see a Government supported tree nursery and planting industry here; I am unsure if any real effort is going into this?
If not then it’s a huge opportunity here, trees love high rainfall as there is in most of the Philippines; also the is a lot of money in greenhouse abatement program funding. To have a real impact this will need to be taken up on a national level.
Australia, despite having no carbon trading system in place as yet, has been pulling many millions of Euro into tree planting operations; funded by private European companies out to get green credentials for their business marketing.
This could happen here too!
Hi Chris, thanks for stopping by and leaving your interesting comment. The Southern Zambales example is great – but not enough. As you correctly said: Such things should be taken up to national level. I wonder, if penalties are being handed down. Of course, it would be good if the National Government would support tree nursery and planting industry here in the Philippines. We should not leave our hope…
Hi Klaus,
I could not agree more on arresting or penalizing those “illegal logging” activities. But perhaps a social program such as “Plant A Tree” may be implemented as well. It can be started from their own backyard, the neighborhood and so on – something basic that a young child can do, or made to understand the purpose of planting trees.
Back when I was a little girl (a long, long time ago) my father had to do some logging to feed nine children. He also understood the philosophy of the giving ang receiving. You cut down a tree, you must plant a new one to replace it.
Hug a tree everyone, it’s good for the soul!
Marcelina
I was a serious logging protester a number of years ago in Australia; I could write a book about it, but suffice to say this: 100 years ago the best foresters in the world knew how to manage forests sustainably. Some were still greedy, but the knowledge was commonplace in the right way of doing this. Along came full scale industrial capitalism and chainsaws; out went sensible intelligent sustainable forestry. It is now time to resurrect the old knowledge of this vital industry and for Governments to back it up with capital and legislation. Worldwide.
Hello:
I live in Souteast Arkansas, USA. When I was a boy we had the most beautiful forrests. We had no litter problem because it was common for any person to pick up trash when they seen it and throw it away. No matter how it got to the ground.Things have sure changed in the space of about thirty years. Now this place is a giant mangled cut over. and no one picks up trash because (that’s not their job!) I agree that if we will have any forrest for the future something has to be done. They have been talking about laws that how ever much wood is cut that much and more must be planted back again. I hope that law comes to pass.
Hi Marcelina De Lorez, thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. I can easily understand the situation of your family in the past. How much more I do appreciate “Cut a tree – and plant TWO more”. We even try to do this in our compound here in Davao, even our space is limited on 1,000 sqm. Hugging a tree – it’s good for the soul? Yeah, I believe in such things, because even my late lola taught this to all of us. Believe it or not, I am still hugging our trees nowadays…
Hi Chris, thanks again for your additional comment. It’s actually the same, what I learned and experienced from the past. I was born and grew up in deep German province with hugs and big forests. Many times I was lucky to get the chance to accompany some of the foresters: they really know how to manage forest sustainably. I am sure, if you would write a book, it could hit a lot of people… . Worldwide…!
Hi Tim Payne, thanks for dropping by and greetings to you in Southeast Arkansas. You mention the litter problem: a big problem also here in the Philippines. Of course, we are all knowing and talking about laws. The problem is only, if the law will remain as a written document without implementation…
Hi Klaus- This subject is close to my heart having worked in the timber industry since 1973 till now. If you may permit me to agree with Marcelina and Chris with regards to their passionate belief in looking after the forest. Near my house in Bukidnon the mountains are denuded of trees and its such a shame as the majority of the land is so inclinded its not viable to farm in the conventional way. If these areas were replanted with trees it would be a wonderful contribution back to society and if the resultant forests were managed from a sustainable point of view they could contribute to the economy of the region/province by way of levy for each tree felled.
Tree planting is a continuous vocation that must be practiced by all in my book.
Kind regards.
Jim.
Hi Klaus,
The government in the Caraga region ( Butuan City ) through the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) offers technical assistance and advise to anyone who will plant Felcata trees on their land. The Felcata tree is a fast growing softwood that is use primarily as pulp wood or light construction. It can grow as high as 100 feet in 8 to 10 years. The government is promoting this species as the fastest way to re-forest lands that were denuded during the Marcos era or through slash and burn of the jungle by farmers from other islands looking for cheap land. Don’t forget that 50 years ago Mindanao was a sparsely populated new frontier compared to other parts of the Philippines.
The difficulty in reforesting land that was once forest but is now small rice and vegetable farms is the fact that the farmers cannot afford to turn their lands into tree plantations. They barely survive from crop to crop as it is. How can they set aside one or two hectares for trees.? These trees need to be maintained for many years before they can be harvested. This costs money. All the while the trees are subject to drought ,disease and fire or other calamities. Harvesting is not a sure thing. My wife and I as well as her family are involved in this venture. Half of our seedlings we planted have been wiped out by disease. The DENR says there is nothing, no pesticide etc that will help. Fortunately the larger trees are strong enough to fight off the disease but it may have delayed their growth. Who knows, we will have to wait and see.
The Philippines now has a shortage of wood. It also has a shortage of rice as we saw earlier this year. Trees are important to prevent soil erosion in many areas. I agree a National program to promote reforestation is important. It’s just not that easy to implement once the forests are gone.
Hi Jim, I like to thank you for your comment. As you, I also strongly agree with Marcelina and Chris. I only can agree with you too regarding some places in Bukidnon. it’s indeed such a shame to travel and watch those areas – not only in Bukidnon. it’s so easy to plant new trees and take care of them. I really don’t know, where there should be a problem… Is it the more and more indifference???
Hi Randall Jessup, thanks for leaving here your interesting comment. You might be right about the farmers, who can’t turn their land back to forest. Also “so called housing projects” destroyed rain forest areas. EVEN, I would say that there is still enough space for reforesting programs. And, as you said, trees are important for all of us – not only to prevent soil erosions… .
Hi Ranieri Communications, thanks for leaving your comment/link here. I visited already your site and post also a comment. Your efforts need a lot more supports… You can count me in… .
Here is to you Klaus– kudos to you.It is too priviledged and honored that you as a German who is not a Filipino is more concerned about our forests.
It is a good stand to protect our environment and keep the trees’ life grow.
I think that make more the program on Plant a Tree– to be more consistent and supported.
I salute for your concern for your ecology back home.
I love to plant– even in small pots around my home..It is an antidote to keep plants around.
KEEP CARING FOR MY COUNTRY!
All the best,
Miriam
I am keen to meet you and help you support this project
Hello Klaus,
My question is how do you stop illegal logging by the implimentation of laws when those in charge of enforcing the laws can be bought and sold at prices so low that even after paying them off logging is still profitable. I became somwhat knowledgable about logging while in Butuan as members of my wifes family where into logging and they had so many ways to circumvent the laws and outrightly break the laws that the laws became without teeth since they wherent enforced.
I meen the situation was one to where tribal datus would sell large tracts of land and provide tribal labor to the loggers. The loggers would simply clear cut the land and usually leave it bare but sometimes replant it with bannana plants which to my understanding have not deep enough roots to prevent landslides. They would truck the logs sometimes at night or sometimes in broad daylight and the checkpoints where useless as they had allready prearranged payments set up with them. Sometimes the loggers would even ask for their illegal logs to be confiscated so they can win them back in a fixxed DENR auction and thusly obtain papers to make them legal The papers could even be negotuiated as you could get it checked off that you delivered smaller ammounts of logs than you actually delivered which left overage on the papers and allowed the paper to be used over and over again in a way that it could make illegally cut logs appear to be legal. There where many other ways as well and I even once saw palets made of planks and painted back and shipped to in disguise manila where wood is much more expensive. ETC ETC.
Its my oppinion that the time to be concerned about illegal logging isnt once place is bare of all trees due to clear cutting but should have rather been in past decades. Had a systematic and practical logging system been developed the present situation could have been either avoided or at least greatly reduced. At this point it seems that reforestation should be the focus as well as educating children on eviremental concerns.
Justin
Hi Miriam, thanks for your very kind and flattering words. I actually would like to do many more things, but it’s not easy as an expat to be involved in environment activities. Example: I tried to contact Greenpeace Philippines. Up to now not even a simple reply… . Anyway, I don’t know where you are located – but if you are in Davao, we could set up an appointment. Just email me by clicking CONTACT US on this page… . HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Hi Justin, again a big THANKS for your long and interesting comment. I am afraid to answer your first question with “You are right and I really don’t know”. Fact is: it happens everywhere in the Philippines. Some days ago, a Rotary friend (former Air Force pilot) invited me to join him on a helicopter flight. We visited several areas – and I really got sad to see more and more bald places, where I still reckon forests. We must still be concerned about illegal logging – but, as you correctly said, we must focus on reforestation and education our children.