ILOILO City – With the Philippines facing mounting threats of deforestation, biodiversity loss, and climate change, thousands of Filipino foresters convene at the Iloilo Convention Center from September 10 to 14 for the 2025 National Conference of the Society of Filipino Foresters, Inc. (SFFI) to chart stronger measures for sustainable forest management.
The five-day gathering, themed “Promoting Wood Self-Sufficiency and Biodiversity Conservation,” highlights the urgency of balancing timber demand with environmental protection while reaffirming the vital role of foresters in national sustainability efforts.
“The forestry profession is not merely about the management of trees, but rather the stewardship of entire ecosystems. Our responsibility as foresters extends beyond our immediate communities; it encompasses national and global environmental health,” stressed Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 executive director Raul Lorilla in his keynote address.
Lorilla called on participants to confront sector challenges with “innovative solutions and community engagement,” underscoring that the work of foresters directly shapes public awareness and long-term conservation outcomes.
Led by SFFI National Directorate president Atty. Roberto Oliva and vice president Forester Livino Duran, the conference brings together forestry leaders, policy advocates, and field practitioners nationwide. It features plenary sessions, an SFFI Exhibit on innovations and sustainable woodcraft, and the launch of the Manual on the Plantation Establishment, Development, and Management of Selected Erect Bamboo Species—a guide promoting bamboo as a renewable alternative to timber.
Deliberations tackle reforestation, agroforestry, climate action, and the integration of traditional ecological knowledge.
Field visits to ecological sites such as the Leganes Integrated Katunggan Ecopark; Bulabog Putian Natural Park in Dingle, Iloilo; Bucari Pine Forest in Leon, Iloilo; Taklong Island National Marine Reserve in Guimaras, and a model forest management project site will provide participants hands-on learning experiences in conservation and community-based forestry.
By the conference’s close this September 14, attendees are expected to return to their regions with concrete strategies, renewed networks, and a reinforced commitment to act as guardians of the nation’s forests and biodiversity./PN
