Countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines
The forest resources
The total area of forest and wooded lands (which include by definition forest fallows and shrubs) in Insular Asia will continue to decrease at a rate of about 1 % per year and particularly in Philippines and Malaysia. Conversion of forests for agriculture is still under way actively in the sub-region except in Philippines where the remaining natural forests are presently located mainly on lands unsuitable for agriculture. Fire, pests and shifting cultivation are adding more degradation to the forest cover. Only Indonesia still has vast areas of exploitable natural forests although a large part of it has been put under strict protection. However, the wealth of Indonesia cannot hide the dramatic situation of the forest in other parts of the sub-region such as in some Philippines islands. Forest are generally harvested under selective systems by private concessionaires. All countries have long experience in forest management but they all have examples involving heavy forest degradation. Presently in all countries and despite obvious difficulties, there is a clear policy objective to strictly apply new sustainable management principles and regulations.
Tree plantations programmes are promoted in all countries and Indonesia will progressively achieve a significant plantation resource. Philippines and Malaysia programmes could be constrained by tenure problems and lack of appropriate incentives. Commercial crops areas - coconut and rubber for Indonesia and Malaysia, coconut for Philippines - are important and wood production will remain significant if active replanting of over-mature stock is done.
Forestry sector development
For the whole sub-region, it is expected that the prevailing forest degradation would improve progressively benefiting from the country efforts to slow-down deforestation processes. Economic prosperity may contribute to reduced direct pressure on the forests. Natural forest production should improve as sustainable forest management rules are applied. Large planned plantation programmes could be limited due to various problems related to land tenure and financing. Forest conservation concerns will remain important in forest sector development.
Wood production and fellings
Indonesia supplies about 75 % of the roundwood in the sub-region and has a ratio SI/fellings equal to 1 suggesting overall equilibrium between wood production and felling. Malaysia and Philippines show a chronic deficit in the SI/felling balance. Malaysia which was in the worse position in this respect in 1995 tends to improve slightly its balance during the period to 2010 (0.6 to 0.8). However, the Philippines situation is expected to worsen (0.7 to 0.6). This situation indicates a constant and global degradation of the forest formations in these two countries. Fellings in terms of fuelwood and industrial roundwood exceed what the forested lands and agricultural lands can provide sustainably in the present conditions. The total wood stock increment would increase slowly (11%) by 2010 due to plantation forests production and the significant contribution expected from agricultural lands (about half of the total stock increment).
Wood production from commercial crops will play an important role in local timber supply. Wood stock increment of natural exploitable forests would decrease in accordance with the continued loss and degradation of forested lands. Production from tree plantations will largely compensate the deficit from the natural exploitable forest. Industrial roundwood fellings from natural exploitable forest would decrease by about 13% mainly due to severe logging restriction in Malaysia. Fuelwood and domestic use should increase from 1995 by 26% in accordance with the population increase. It is interesting to note that Philippines figures related to wood production and supply are greater than the Malaysia ones although Malaysia has a larger forested area than Philippines.
Table II.25 - Insular Asia: Status and projection Summary
|
Unit |
1990 |
1995 |
2000 |
2005 |
2010 | |
Production forests | |||||||
Production forests area - total |
ha |
97,270 |
93,724 |
90,687 |
88,142 |
85,574 | |
|
- Natural exploitable forests |
ha |
92,220 |
87,624 |
83,287 |
79,192 |
75,324 |
|
- Plantation forests |
ha |
5,050 |
6,100 |
7,400 |
8,950 |
10,250 |
Commercial growing stock - total |
m3 |
4,799,629 |
4,833,970 |
4,724,919 |
4,614,988 |
4,529,950 | |
|
- Natural exploitable forests |
m3 |
4,591,469 |
4,355,464 |
4,133,331 |
3,924,121 |
3,726,963 |
|
- Plantation forests |
m3 |
208,160 |
246,592 |
293,424 |
350,156 |
415,288 |
Wood stock increment - total |
m3/year |
148,743 |
149,133 |
151,442 |
155,640 |
158,697 | |
|
- Natural exploitable forests |
m3/year |
117,211 |
110,701 |
104,610 |
98,908 |
93,565 |
|
- Plantation forests |
m3/year |
31,532 |
38,432 |
46,832 |
56,732 |
65,132 |
Fellings ind. round. - total |
m3/year |
102,360 |
89,500 |
83,300 |
78,100 |
75,500 | |
|
- Industrial roundwood removals |
m3/year |
78,928 |
69,000 |
64,200 |
60,200 |
58,200 |
|
- Waste and residues |
m3/year |
23,432 |
20,500 |
19,100 |
17,900 |
17,300 |
Other forests and wooded lands | |||||||
Conservation areas |
ha |
25,343 |
25,343 |
25,953 |
26,453 |
26,953 | |
Low productive/open forests |
ha |
83,726 |
79,130 |
74,830 |
70,803 |
67,030 | |
Wood stock increment - total |
m3/year |
26,186 |
24,700 |
23,314 |
22,020 |
20,810 | |
Non forest lands | |||||||
Commercial tree crops |
ha |
9,170 |
9,250 |
9,500 |
9,500 |
9,500 | |
Arable lands |
ha |
26,540 |
30,265 |
33,451 |
36,533 |
39,527 | |
Wood stock increment - total |
m3/year |
77,495 |
86,499 |
94,179 |
101,434 |
108,623 | |
Fellings fuel/other wood - total |
m3/year |
177,412 |
192,054 |
207,911 |
225,084 |
243,682 | |
Wood stock incr., all sources |
m3/year |
252,424 |
260,332 |
268,936 |
279,094 |
288,130 | |
Fellings, all sources |
m3/year |
279,772 |
281,554 |
291,211 |
303,184 |
319,182 | |
Forest and wooded lands |
ha |
180,996 |
172,854 |
165,517 |
158,946 |
152,604 | |
Percentage forested lands |
% |
74 |
71 |
68 |
65 |
63 |
Table II.26 - Insular Asia: Changes between 1995 and 2010 related to some indicators
Unit |
in 000 ha |
| |||||||
|
Forests and w. lands |
|
Nat. exploit. forests |
|
Plantation forests |
| |||
Country |
1995 |
2010 |
% |
1995 |
2010 |
% |
1995 |
2010 |
% |
Indonesia |
139,950 |
126,922 |
-9 |
74,166 |
65,208 |
-12 |
5,184 |
8,434 |
63 |
Malaysia |
20,327 |
15,556 |
-23 |
11,255 |
8,510 |
-24 |
155 |
305 |
97 |
Philippines |
12,577 |
10,125 |
-19 |
2,202 |
1,605 |
-27 |
761 |
1,511 |
99 |
Total |
172,854 |
152,604 |
-12 |
87,624 |
75,324 |
-14 |
6,100 |
10,250 |
68 |
Unit |
in 000 m3 |
|
Unit |
| |||||
|
Total fellings |
|
Stock increment |
|
Ratio SI/felling |
Weight* | |||
Country |
1995 |
2010 |
% |
1995 |
2010 |
% |
1995 |
2010 |
% |
Indonesia |
194,183 |
234,173 |
21 |
201,804 |
228,356 |
13 |
1.04 |
0.98 |
73 |
Malaysia |
47,163 |
35,035 |
-26 |
31,421 |
28,888 |
-8 |
0.67 |
0.82 |
11 |
Philippines |
40,209 |
49,974 |
24 |
27,106 |
30,887 |
14 |
0.67 |
0.62 |
16 |
Total |
281,554 |
319,182 |
13 |
260,332 |
288,130 |
11 |
0.92 |
0.90 |
100 |
* Countries relative weight related to fellings by year 2010
Unit |
000 ha |
|
Total country land area |
Country |
1990 |
Indonesia |
181,157 |
Malaysia |
32,855 |
Philippines |
29,817 |
Total |
243,829 |
The forest resources
Indonesia is formed of a group of islands of which the main ones are Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java, Sulawesi, Maluku, Irian Jaya, Bali. The main land cover of Indonesia is forest (68%). The tropical forests in Indonesia are very diverse and they represent about 10% of all tropical forests of the world. The Wallace line divides Indonesia into two distinct vegetation and animal zones: the West contains the Dipterocarp forests and the East is more Australian type supporting lower volumes of commercial species. The dipterocarp forest ecosystem is economically important and represented in most of the islands of Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, the Moluccas. Dipterocarps are found in swamps and up to mountainous areas. Mangrove and other tidal-type forests, peat swamp forests have ecological importance. Approximately 44% of all productive forests are still unlogged and contain about 60% of all commercial volume of exploitable size. Forests are mainly owned and administered by the State. Production forests are granted to private or state companies under logging concessions issued for specified periods. Logging concessions are managed on a selective system, the so-called TPTI (Indonesian Selective Cutting and Planting System) with a theoretical cutting cycle of 35-years and including a provision for tree planting. Logging damages are reported to be very high and concession management was poor up to now. The export of logs and raw rattan are banned as part of a national policy to develop local industries.
The population is unevenly distributed with over 100 million people (out of nearly 200 million) living in Java which accounts for only 7 % of the total land area. Indonesia is still an agricultural country and shifting cultivation is common. It is expected that by 2010 about 25-30 million additional hectares of forest will be converted into other uses such as agriculture development, resettlement of nomadic societies and mining activities. Indonesian households in rural areas rely heavily (80%) on fuelwood and local timber supply from home gardens and from agricultural estate crops. Indonesia has a very large rubber and coconut estate. Non wood forest products like rattan are socially and economically important.
Level of soil erosion is high and agro-forestry has been practised for a long time under regreening programmes. Forestry extension is strongly supported. Teak plantations are found in Java and Pinus merkusii and Eucalyptus are planted throughout Indonesia. State and private companies are involved in establishing large industrial plantations with fast growing species (Acacia mangium) for pulp production. However low product value, landuse overlaps, low technical knowledge and low return on investment are constraining plantations development.
About biodiversity, Indonesia is incredibly rich in species. Conservation areas account for 19 million ha; moreover, an additional 30 million ha of protection forests have been closed to all commercial uses including access by the public.
Forestry sector development
An Indonesian Forestry Action Programme was finalised in 1991. This plan is revised and up dated regularly to be in line with the National Development Plan for Forestry in the National five-year development plan. New forest related Acts and Decrees have been adopted and provide an appropriate framework for effective intersectoral cooperation for better utilisation of the forest resources. The Government is committed to sustainable forest management and to limit wood wastage and put in place in recent years marketing incentives, measures to rationalise the forest industries and to deregulate wood trade in accordance with its industrialisation programme. The state is promoting through incentives tree plantations for land conservation and to meet higher timber demand while reducing the area of natural forest harvested. Cooperation is active with bilateral and multilateral agencies and NGOs.
Projected development
The outlook of Indonesia is very promising assuming continuing strong economic growth to support the growing and active population. Whilst the forest areas would decrease to the benefit of the agriculture and pasture land, efficiency in wood production and utilisation would be improved due to better forest management and wood utilisation practices. Industrial and rural planting would continue to be promoted. However, it is expected that the planned industrial planting programme could be constrained by technical and funding problems. The ratio Si/Felling will stay almost balanced. Although a lot of efforts are made in forest management and plantations forests, the wood production versus supply will come slightly into deficit by the year 2010 mainly due to the increasing local consumption. Fuelwood supply will represent 81% of the total roundwood supply by 2010. At that time, the share of the tree plantation in industrial roundwood production would be about 42%.
References
Asiantimber - "Indonesian forestry - Driven by markets, shaped by policy" - by Abbas Adhar - April 1996
FAO - Forestry Paper - 128/124/112
FAO - NFAP - update No 32 - July 1995
FAO - Project GCP/RAS/148/AUL - Support programme for sustainable management, conservation and utilisation of tropical rain forests in Asia. - Proceedings of the project formulation workshop - Bangkok (Thailand) - February 1995
FAO - UTF/INS/066/INS National Forest Inventory - Final Forest Resources Statistics report - June 1996.
ITTO - (Reid, Collins) - Supply and Demand of Sustainable Produced Tropical Timber from the Asia-Pacific Region - September 1993
MoF - Major Development and issues related to sustainable forest management in Indonesia - 16th Session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission - 1996
WB - (Jaakko Poyry) - Tropical Deforestation in Asia and Market for Wood - 1992
Table II.27 - Indonesia: Status and projection
|
Unit |
1990 |
1995 |
2000 |
2005 |
2010 | |
Production forests | |||||||
Production forests area - total |
ha |
81,852 |
79,350 |
77,235 |
75,501 |
73,642 | |
|
- Natural exploitable forests |
ha |
77,418 |
74,166 |
71,051 |
68,067 |
65,208 |
|
- Plantation forests |
ha |
4,434 |
5,184 |
6,184 |
7,434 |
8,434 |
Commercial growing stock - total |
m3 |
3,893,424 |
4,106,272 |
3,998,473 |
3,906,205 |
3,840,672 | |
|
- Natural exploitable forests |
m3 |
3,716,064 |
3,559,989 |
3410,470 |
3,267,230 |
3,130,006 |
|
- Plantation forests |
m3 |
177,360 |
208,464 |
245,568 |
290,172 |
340,776 |
Wood stock increment - total |
m3/year |
111,764 |
112,687 |
115,261 |
119,478 |
122,333 | |
|
- Natural exploitable forests |
m3/year |
85,160 |
81,583 |
78,157 |
74,874 |
71,729 |
|
- Plantation forests |
m3/year |
26,604 |
31,104 |
37,104 |
44,604 |
50,604 |
Fellings ind. round. - total |
m3/year |
44,200 |
44,200 |
45,500 |
45,500 |
45,500 | |
|
- Industrial roundwood removals |
m3/year |
34,000 |
34,000 |
35,000 |
35,000 |
35,000 |
|
- Waste and residues |
m3/year |
10,200 |
10,200 |
10,500 |
10,500 |
10,500 |
Other forests and wooded lands | |||||||
Conservation areas |
ha |
19,340 |
19,340 |
19,340 |
19,340 |
19,340 | |
Low productive/open forests |
ha |
63,256 |
60,599 |
58,054 |
55,616 |
53,280 | |
Wood stock increment - total |
m3/year |
18,977 |
18,180 |
17,416 |
16,685 |
15,984 | |
Non forest lands | |||||||
Commercial tree crops |
ha |
4,000 |
4,000 |
4,200 |
4,200 |
4,200 | |
Arable lands |
ha |
20,000 |
22,579 |
24,709 |
26,795 |
28,893 | |
Wood stock increment - total |
m3/year |
63,200 |
70,937 |
77,488 |
83,746 |
90,038 | |
Fellings fuel/other wood - total |
m3/year |
138,937 |
149,983 |
161,906 |
174,778 |
188,673 | |
Wood stock incr., all sources |
m3/year |
193,941 |
201,804 |
210,165 |
219,909 |
228,356 | |
Fellings, all sources |
m3/year |
183,137 |
194,183 |
207,406 |
220,278 |
234,173 | |
Forest and wooded lands |
ha |
145,108 |
139,950 |
135,290 |
131,117 |
126,922 | |
Percentage forested lands |
ha |
80 |
77 |
75 |
72 |
70 | |
Parameters for projection to 2010 | |||||||
Deforestation factor |
% |
0.84 |
FRA 90 |
|
|
| |
Plantation forests progr. |
ha |
150 |
200 |
250 |
200 |
200 | |
Removals - ind. roundwood |
m3/year |
34,000 |
34,000 |
35,000 |
35,000 |
35,000 | |
Conservation areas |
ha |
19,340 |
19,340 |
19,340 |
19,340 |
19,340 | |
Commercial tree crops |
ha |
4000 |
4,000 |
4,200 |
4,200 |
4,200 | |
Range lands conversion factor |
% |
50 |
estimated |
|
|
| |
Other/range/barren lands |
ha |
12,049 |
14,628 |
16,958 |
19,044 |
21,142 |
Table II.28 - Indonesia: Known/estimated parameters
|
Unit |
1990 |
Sources |
Areas |
|
|
|
Total country land (without water) |
ha |
181,157 |
FRA - 90 |
Forests and wooded lands |
ha |
145,108 |
FRA - 90 |
Natural exploitable forests |
ha |
77,418 |
MoF/GFSS |
Plantation forests |
ha |
4,434 |
UTF/INS/065 - FAO |
Conservation areas |
ha |
19,340 |
MoF |
Low productive/open forests |
ha |
63,256 |
estimated |
Arable lands |
ha |
20,000 |
FAO - 1994 |
Commercial tree crops |
ha |
4,000 |
FAO - 1994 |
Other/range/barren lands |
ha |
12,049 |
estimated |
Commercial Growing stock, (CGS) |
|
|
|
CGS natural exploitable forests |
m3/ha |
48 |
WB - JP |
CGS plantation forests |
m3/ha |
40 |
estimated |
Mean Annual Increment (MAI) |
|
|
|
MAI natural exploitable forests |
m3/ha/year |
1.1 |
ITTO/WB |
MAI plantation forests |
m3/ha/year |
6 |
ITTO/FAO |
MAI low prod./open forests |
m3/ha/year |
0.3 |
estimated |
MAI commercial tree crops |
m3/ha/year |
0.8 |
ITTO - estimated |
MAI arable lands |
m3/ha/year |
3 |
estimated |
Fellings and Removals |
|
|
|
Industrial roundwood removals |
m3/year |
34,000 |
ITTO |
Waste and residues |
% of ind.rem. |
30 |
estimated |
Fuel/other wood consumption |
m3/inh/year |
0.76 |
FAO |
Population |
inh |
182,812 |
UN |
Increase per year |
% |
1.59 |
UN - average |
The Forest Resources
Malaysia is a federation of three states: Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. The climate of Malaysia is typically humid tropical or wet equatorial with a seasonal monsoon heavy rain. The topography generally consists of alluvial and swampy coastal plains with rolling hilly country inland and mountain ranges in the interior. Tropical forests cover about 58% of the total land area (68% if wooded lands are added). On plains and low hills, dipterocarp forest predominates and represents 87% of the total natural forests. The main species are from the genera Anisoptera, Dipterocarpus, Dryobalanops, Hopea, Shorea and Parashorea. On higher mountains, forest flora show more variations. Along the coast, swamp forests and mangrove have a particular ecological importance. Under the Malaysian Constitution, land is defined as a state matter and forest ownership is within the jurisdiction of the respective State Governments forming the Malaysian Federation.
On the total area of natural forest, a total of about 14 million hectares have been designated as the Permanent Forest Estate (PFE) which is under management. The Modified Malayan Uniform System (55-year cutting cycle) and the Selective Management System (30-year cutting cycle) are applied in Peninsular Malaysia. Selective harvests based on 50-year to 25-year cutting cycles are prescribed in the forests of the states of Sabah and Sarawak. Harvesting of forest resources is carried out by the private sector, ranging from individual operators to multinational companies. Currently, allocation of annual fellings coupes are based on forest inventory data. Harvesting practices have been very damaging for the natural stands and recovery from previous cuttings is not certain as forest loggers practices do not often comply with the prescribed management regulations. Logs export is banned in the Peninsular region and is still authorised in the two other regions.
Deforestation is said to be kept minimal but some forest areas are still being converted into other uses usually agriculture and resettlement of the population. Forests are also affected by shifting cultivation particularly in Sabah and Sarawak. Traditionally, forests have been an important source of raw material for the rural population. Rattan and bamboo's are planted and products represent an industrial asset. Fruits found in the natural forests are of economic value for the local population. Malaysia owns very large rubber and coconut estates which provide a large amount of industrial wood. Man-made forests have relatively limited area in Malaysia and aim mainly to either supply wood industries or to restock areas deforested by shifting cultivation.
Malaysia has over the years been establishing a network of protected areas for the conservation of biodiversity. About 1.39 million hectare have been totally protected as National Parks and Sanctuaries. Large tracts of the PFE have been put under protection status for the conservation of biological diversity. Additional national parks are under consideration.
Forestry sector development
Forestry development in the country is according to a series of "five year national development programmes". In 1992, the National Forestry policy was revised and more emphasis is given to sustainable management, involvement of communities in agroforestry programmes and appropriate conservation programmes. The objectives of the policy are implemented in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah while Sarawak is still relying on the former forest policy adopted in 1954. Also, the existing National Forestry Act was amended in 1993. Provisions are made to prepare and implement state forest management, to implement reforestation plans and to establish a Forest Development Fund. Consideration is given to long-term agreement for forest concessionaires and to provide incentives in forest plantation establishment. Furthermore, initiatives like the National Committee on Forest Plantation have been set-up to promote private sector investment in forest plantation programmes. Concerted efforts are made with the private sector and communities to promote forest sector development and to ensure sustained yield management of the forests.
Projected development
Despite all efforts to control the depletion of the natural forest, enforcement of new laws and regulations to improve management practices will take some time. Natural forests will continue to decrease in terms of area and quality. Considering the present trend in deforestation, almost all natural forests outside the PFE would have been converted into other uses. Domestic consumption is increasing rapidly and possible shortage of timber and pulpwood is foreseen as the population augments rapidly. Malaysia is presently promoting tree plantations schemes with fast growing species but many difficulties arise such as availability of land, land tenure rights, financing incentives, fire protection. Planting objectives could not be achieved in the prevailing conditions. Potential to increase utilisation of wood from commercial tree crops exists although use of rubberwood is already high.
Although, log harvesting from natural forests will decrease regularly, the ratio SI/felling will be kept negative during the period meaning continued forest degradation. However, the ratio SI/felling will pass from 0.6 up to 0.8 indicating some improvement towards total wood production sustainability. Fuelwood share in the total domestic roundwood supply will be 25% (11% in 1990), as industrial roundwood supply will fall by 49% during the considered period. The share of industrial roundwood production from plantations forests will be relatively small (15%) by 2010 in comparison with natural exploitable forests.
References
Asia Pacific Forest Industries - Forest plantations - Too little, too late? - April 1992
FAO - Forest Inventory and Management System project - final report - 1995.
FAO - Forestry Paper - 128/124/112
FAO - Project GCP/RAS/148/AUL - Support programme for sustainable management, conservation and utilisation of tropical rain forests in Asia. - Proceedings of the project formulation workshop - Bangkok (Thailand) - February 1995
FAO - Tropical Forestry Action Plan - 5th draft - 1990
FAO/UNDP - Regional Project on improved productivity of man-made forests through application of technological advances in tree breeding and propagation (RAS/91/004) - Overview Document - October 1993.
ITTO - Supply and demand of sustainable produced tropical timber from the Asia-Pacific region - Sept. 1993 - Draft report.
ITTO - Supply and demand of sustainable produced tropical timber from the Asia-Pacific region - Phase II - March, 1995.
MoF - Forestry and Environment - 1992
Table II.29 - Malaysia: Status and projection
|
Unit |
1990 |
1995 |
2000 |
2005 |
2010 | |
Production forests | |||||||
Production forests area - total |
ha |
12,460 |
11,410 |
10,459 |
9,596 |
8,815 | |
|
- Natural exploitable forests |
ha |
12,355 |
11,255 |
10,254 |
9,341 |
8,510 |
|
- Plantation forests |
ha |
105 |
155 |
205 |
255 |
305 |
Commercial growing stock - total |
m3 |
697,130 |
504,543 |
499,590 |
475,008 |
449,766 | |
|
- Natural exploitable forests |
m3 |
691,880 |
630,303 |
574,206 |
523,101 |
476,545 |
|
- Plantation forests |
m3 |
5,250 |
6,490 |
8,130 |
10,170 |
12,610 |
Wood stock increment - total |
m3/year |
25,550 |
23,751 |
22,147 |
20,722 |
19,459 | |
|
- Natural exploitable forests |
m3/year |
24,710 |
22,511 |
20,507 |
18,682 |
17,019 |
|
- Plantation forests |
m3/year |
840 |
1,240 |
1,640 |
2,040 |
2,440 |
Fellings ind. round. - total |
m3/year |
52,000 |
40,300 |
33,800 |
28,600 |
26,000 | |
|
- Industrial roundwood removals |
m3/year |
40,000 |
31,000 |
26,000 |
22,000 |
20,000 |
|
- Waste and residues |
m3/year |
12,000 |
9,300 |
7,800 |
6,600 |
6,000 |
Other forests and wooded lands | |||||||
Conservation/protected areas |
ha |
1,390 |
1,390 |
2,000 |
2,500 |
3,000 | |
Low productive/open forests |
ha |
9,788 |
8,917 |
8,123 |
7,400 |
6,742 | |
Wood stock increment - total |
m3/year |
2,936 |
2,675 |
2,437 |
2,220 |
2,023 | |
Non forest lands | |||||||
Commercial crops |
ha |
1,970 |
2,050 |
2,100 |
2,100 |
2,100 | |
Arable lands |
ha |
1,040 |
1,920 |
2,743 |
3,536 |
4,256 | |
Wood stock increment - total |
m3/year |
3,995 |
4,995 |
5,893 |
6,686 |
7,406 | |
Fellings fuel/other wood - total |
m3/year |
6,262 |
6,863 |
7,522 |
8,244 |
9,035 | |
Wood stock incr., all sources |
m3/year |
32,481 |
31,421 |
30,477 |
29,628 |
28,888 | |
Fellings, all sources |
m3/year |
58,262 |
47,163 |
41,322 |
36,844 |
35,035 | |
Forest and wooded lands |
ha |
22,248 |
20,327 |
18,582 |
16,996 |
15,556 | |
Percentage forested lands |
ha |
68 |
62 |
57 |
52 |
47 | |
Parameters for projection to 2010 | |||||||
Deforestation factor |
% |
1.78 |
FRA 90 and 95 |
|
| ||
Plantation forests progr. |
ha |
10 |
000 ha per year |
|
| ||
Removals - ind. roundwood |
m3/year |
40,000 |
31,000 |
26,000 |
22,000 |
20,000 | |
Conservation areas |
ha |
1,390 |
1,390 |
2,000 |
2,500 |
3,000 | |
Commercial tree crops |
ha |
1,970 |
2,050 |
2,100 |
2,100 |
2,100 | |
Range lands conversion factor |
% |
50 |
|
|
|
| |
Other/ranges/barren lands |
ha |
7,597 |
8,557 |
9,430 |
10,223 |
10,943 |
Table II.30 - Malaysia: Known/estimated parameters
|
Unit |
1990 |
Sources |
Areas |
|
|
|
Total country land (without water) |
ha |
32,855 |
FRA - 90 |
Forests and wooded lands |
ha |
22,248 |
FRA - 90 |
Natural exploitable forests |
ha |
12,355 |
MoF/GFSS |
Plantation forests |
ha |
105 |
FAO - Fortyp |
Conservation areas |
ha |
1,390 |
MoF |
Low productive/open forests |
ha |
9,788 |
estimated |
Arable lands |
ha |
1,040 |
FAO |
Commercial tree crops |
ha |
1,970 |
FAO |
Other/range/barren lands |
ha |
7,597 |
estimated |
Commercial Growing stock, (CGS) |
|
|
|
CGS natural exploitable forests |
m3/ha |
56 |
MoF/GFSS |
CGS plantation forests |
m3/ha |
50 |
estimated |
Mean Annual Increment (MAI) |
|
|
|
MAI natural exploitable forests |
m3/ha/year |
2 |
MoF |
MAI plantation forests |
m3/ha/year |
8 |
estimated |
MAI low prod./open forests |
m3/ha/year |
0.3 |
estimated |
MAI commercial tree crops |
m3/ha/year |
1.5 |
estimated |
MAI arable lands |
m3/ha/year |
1 |
estimated |
Fellings and Removals |
|
|
|
Industrial roundwood removals |
m3/year |
40,000 |
ITTO/Fordept |
Waste and residues |
% of ind.rem. |
30 |
estimated |
Fuel/other wood consumption |
m3/inh/year |
0.35 |
FAO |
Population |
inh |
17891 |
UN |
Increase per year |
% |
1.92 |
UN |
The Forest Resources
Forest cover in Philippines is 23% and is the lowest rate found in the insular Asia sub-region. The main forest types in Philippines are Dipterocarp forest, mountain forest (Podocarpus), limestone soil forest, Pine forest (Pinus keysia and P. merkusii) and mangrove. Massive deforestation, grazing, shifting cultivation, forest conversion for permanent subsistence agriculture have occurred legally or illegally during the past 20 years and the remaining exploitable natural forest area is presently very limited. By constitution, all forms of natural resources including forests are owned by the State. The dipterocarp forest is being harvested and logged in accordance with the Philippines Selective Logging system. Ideally the system aims at maintaining the uneven-aged structure of the original forest. However, the capacity of the system to maintain sustained yield forest is questionable; there are also difficulties in applying proper logging practices. In 1992, essentially all of the remaining virgin forest was transferred to non-exploitable reserves and a total log ban is imposed in the virgin residual forest stands. The future wood supply should therefore come from second cut logging of the natural forests or from the plantation logging.
Deforestation remains high and caused by various factors such as forest fires, excessive firewood gathering, improper grazing practices, illegal logging and pests. Concerning the commercial crops, Philippines has a very large coconut estate (3 million ha) and rubber plantations cover about 80,000 ha. Alienable lands have been severely eroded throughout the country and large areas are denuded.
A national forestation programmes was launched in the 1980s and the objective is to plant up to 150,000 ha per year (Paraserianthes falcataria, Eucalyptus deglupta, Acacia mangium). Survival rate was considered very low at the beginning but is expected hopefully to increase considerably in the recently established plantations. Typhoons periodically cause serious damage to the plantation forests.
Large areas have been put under conservation status. However, many of the national parks, sanctuaries and watershed forest reserves are in critical condition and inadequately protected reportedly due to lack of funds and political will.
Forestry sector development
A Master Plan for Forestry Development (MPFD) was formulated in 1990. Massive funding is required to implement the plan and a lot has been forthcoming. A set of new regulations including a draft of the Forest Code, an Environmental Code, a National Integrated Protected Area System Act etc.. have been passed to conserve the forest resources and address the problems of environmental degradation. Public lands including integrated social forestry areas are presently distributed to the farmers under the Agrarian Reform programme. Tree planting programmes are ambitious but wrong price policies to harvest public forests has induced excessive logging and discouraged interest in reforestation.
Projected development
The forest situation in Philippines would imminently face huge problems if the implementation of the MPFD fails. Policy reforms that promote the development of the forest resources are needed. The short-term nature of timber licensing do not motivate private concessionaires to manage and harvest properly the forests. Would Philippines be able to put these reforms in place in time? The forest degradation will continue in spite of efforts to protect the remaining natural forest as the population pressure increases. Improvement of the harvesting practices and the rehabilitation of the logged over areas would help to get a long-term sustainable supply of 3.2 million m3 of industrial roundwood. Lack of investment capital and secure tenure are major constraints for industrial forest plantations and only limited incentives are assumed to be made available to adequately support rural forestry and agroforestry.
The (wood Stock Increment) SI/felling ratio will remain relatively stable but in deficit during the considered period. Fuelwood supply represents 92% of total roundwood supply, the balance being used as industrial roundwood! MAI is relatively high in comparison with other sub-regional countries as all forests are already logged over.
References
AsDB - Forestry Sector Study of the Philippines - 1993
CIRAD-Forêts - Bois et Forêts des Tropiques - Forestry in the Philippines: priority to reforestation - No 246 - 1995
FAO - Forestry Paper - 128/124/112
FAO - GCP/RAS/131/NET - Field doc. N042 - Regional wood energy development programme in Asia.
FAO - Project GCP/RAS/148/AUL - Support programme for sustainable management, conservation and utilisation of tropical rain forests in Asia. - Proceedings of the project formulation workshop - Bangkok (Thailand) - February 1995
FAO/Japan - GCP/RAS/106/JPN - Field Doc No 17 - 1987 - Assessment of forest resources in six countries
FAO/Netherlands - (GCP/RAS/111/NET) - Wood based energy system in rural industries and village applications by P. V. Bawagan
FAO/UNDP - Regional Project on improved productivity of man-made forests through application of technological advances in tree breeding and propagation (RAS/91/004) - Overview Document - October 1993.
ITTO - Supply and demand of sustainable produced tropical timber from the Asia-Pacific region - Sept. 1993 - Draft report.
ITTO - Supply and demand of sustainable produced tropical timber from the Asia-Pacific region - Phase II - March, 1995.
Bureau of Forestry Development (BFD) - Master Plan for Forestry Development - 1990.
Bureau of Forestry Development (BFD) - National Report on Forestry - 1988 (box).
Table II:31 - Philippines: Status and projection
|
Unit |
1990 |
1995 |
2000 |
2005 |
2010 | |
Production forests | |||||||
Production forests area - total |
ha |
2,958 |
2,963 |
2,993 |
3,045 |
3,116 | |
|
- Natural exploitable forests |
ha |
2,447 |
2,202 |
1,982 |
1,784 |
1,605 |
|
- Plantation forests |
ha |
511 |
761 |
1,011 |
1,261 |
1,511 |
Commercial growing stock - total |
m3 |
209,075 |
223,156 |
226,856 |
233,775 |
239,511 | |
|
- Natural exploitable forests |
m3 |
183,525 |
165,173 |
148,655 |
133,790 |
120,411 |
|
- Plantation forests |
m3 |
25,550 |
31,638 |
39,726 |
49,814 |
61,902 |
Wood stock increment - total |
m3/year |
11,429 |
12,695 |
14,034 |
15,440 |
16,904 | |
|
- Natural exploitable forests |
m3/year |
7,341 |
6,607 |
5,946 |
5,352 |
4,816 |
|
- Plantation forests |
m3/year |
4,088 |
6,088 |
8,088 |
10,088 |
12,088 |
Fellings ind. round. - total |
m3/year |
6,160 |
5,000 |
4,000 |
4,000 |
4,000 | |
|
- Industrial roundwood removals |
m3/year |
4,928 |
4,000 |
3,200 |
3,200 |
3,200 |
|
- Waste and residues |
m3/year |
1,232 |
1,000 |
800 |
800 |
800 |
Other forests and wooded lands | |||||||
Conservation areas |
ha |
4,613 |
4,613 |
4,613 |
4,613 |
4,613 | |
Low productive/open forests |
ha |
10,682 |
9,614 |
8,652 |
7,787 |
7,008 | |
Wood stock increment - total |
m3/year |
4,273 |
3,846 |
3,461 |
3,115 |
2,803 | |
Non forest lands | |||||||
Commercial tree crops |
ha |
3,200 |
3,200 |
3,200 |
3,200 |
3,200 | |
Arable lands |
ha |
5,500 |
5,766 |
5,999 |
6,202 |
6,379 | |
Wood stock increment - total |
m3/year |
10,300 |
10,566 |
10,799 |
11,002 |
11,179 | |
Fellings fuel/other wood - total |
m3/year |
32,213 |
35,209 |
38,483 |
42,062 |
45,974 | |
Wood stock incr., all sources |
m3/year |
26,002 |
27,106 |
28,294 |
29,556 |
30,887 | |
Fellings, all sources |
m3/year |
38,373 |
40,209 |
42,483 |
46,062 |
49,974 | |
Forest and wooded lands |
ha |
13,640 |
12,577 |
11,645 |
10,832 |
10,125 | |
Percentage forested lands |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Parameters for projection to 2010 | |||||||
Deforestation factor |
% |
2 |
FRA 90 |
|
|
| |
Plantation forests progr. |
ha |
50 |
000 ha per year |
|
| ||
Removals - ind. roundwood |
m3/year |
4,928 |
4,000 |
3,200 |
3,200 |
3,200 | |
Conservation areas |
ha |
4,613 |
4,613 |
4,613 |
4,613 |
4,613 | |
Commercial tree crops |
ha |
3,200 |
3,200 |
3,200 |
3,200 |
3,200 | |
Range lands conversion factor |
% |
75 |
|
|
|
| |
Other/range/barren lands |
ha |
7,477 |
8,274 |
8,973 |
9,583 |
10,113 |
Table II.32 - Philippines: Known/estimated parameters
|
Unit |
1990 |
Sources |
Areas |
|
|
|
Total country land (without water) |
ha |
29,817 |
FRA - 90 |
Forests and wooded lands |
ha |
13,640 |
FRA - 90 |
Natural exploitable forests |
ha |
2,447 |
Master Plan/GFSS |
Plantation forests |
ha |
511 |
Master Plan |
Conservation areas |
ha |
4,613 |
Nat. Report 91 |
Low productive/open forests |
ha |
10,682 |
estimated |
Arable lands |
ha |
5,500 |
FAO - 94 |
Commercial tree crops |
ha |
3,200 |
FAO - 2010 |
Other/range/barren lands |
ha |
7,477 |
estimated |
Commercial Growing stock, (CGS) |
|
|
|
CGS natural exploitable forests |
m3/ha |
75 |
BFD/GFSS |
CGS plantation forests |
m3/ha |
50 |
estimated |
Mean Annual Increment (MAI) |
|
|
|
MAI natural exploitable forests |
m3/ha/year |
3 |
BFD - For.Mgt.Bur. |
MAI plantation forests |
m3/ha/year |
8 |
estimated |
MAI low prod./open forests |
m3/ha/year |
0.4 |
estimated |
MAI commercial tree crops |
m3/ha/year |
1.5 |
estimated |
MAI arable lands |
m3/ha/year |
1 |
estimated |
Fellings and Removals |
|
|
|
Industrial roundwood removals |
m3/year |
4,928 |
FAO 94 |
Waste and residues |
% of ind.rem. |
25 |
estimated |
Fuel/other wood consumption |
m3/inh/year |
0.53 |
FAO |
Population |
inh |
60,779 |
UN |
Increase per year |
% |
1.86 |
UN |