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INSULAR ASIA - SUB-REGIONAL STATUS AND PROJECTION


INDONESIA
MALAYSIA
PHILIPPINES


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
(1000)

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

INDONESIA

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
(1000)

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
(1000)

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

MALAYSIA

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
(1000)

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
(1000)

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

PHILIPPINES

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
(1000)

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
(1000)

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


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