ILOILO — Partnerships with local government units (LGUs) and private organizations are being hailed as the “game-changer” in Iloilo’s ambitious drive to transform itself into a “forest province,” with foresters warning that reliance on national funds alone will not be enough to reverse the region’s alarmingly low forest cover.
Roberto Oliva, president of the Society of Filipino Foresters, Inc. (SFFI), lauded the province’s growing synergy with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as a bold step towards sustainability.
“We are very happy that both the province and the city are coordinating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to really make the province of Iloilo green again,” Oliva said.
He stressed that engaging LGUs and private entities in establishing forest plantations is not just about planting more trees, but about building a movement that promotes biodiversity, eco-tourism, and sustainable land use.
“The Philippines is one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world,” he pointed out. “However, Western Visayas only boasts a mere 12 percent forest cover, significantly lower than the ideal range of 48 percent to 52 percent.”
DENR Region 6 executive director Raul Lorilla said the region still has far to go despite its 400,000 hectares of forest land.
“Our efforts are ongoing,” Lorilla said. “Through the National Greening Program, we have already planted an additional 11,000 trees in Western Visayas, but our commitment extends beyond mere planting. We’re focusing on the long-term rehabilitation and protection of our existing forest areas.”
The message of forest expansion resonated strongly at the recent SFFI’s national conference in Iloilo City, which drew nearly 1,500 foresters.
With the theme “Promoting Wood Self-Sufficiency and Biodiversity Conservation,” the gathering tackled urgent issues such as balancing wood sufficiency with biodiversity conservation, streamlining forestry policies, and integrating foresters into sustainable energy operations.
Delegates also toured ecological sites, including the award-winning Katunggan Integrated Ecopark in Leganes, Bulabog Putian Natural Park in Dingle, the Forest Management Project Site in Janiuay, and the Taklong Island Marine Reserve in Guimaras.
The Katunggan Ecopark — revived from an abandoned fishpond into a thriving mangrove forest — now stands as a model for ecological restoration./PN
