ILOILO City – Confronted with Western Visayas’ low forest cover and increasing climate vulnerabilities, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is turning to private landowners as crucial partners in expanding the region’s green buffer — a shift in strategy officials say could significantly improve forest protection and climate resilience.
DENR Region 6 officials revealed that the region’s current 12-percent forest cover accounts only for forestland areas, and the figure could rise substantially once reforestation efforts in privately owned parcels are included.
“Ang 12 percent refers only sa forest land. Waay diri na-include ang private land. All in all siguro mga daku naman ang forest cover naton,” DENR-6 regional executive director Raul Lorilla told reporters.
He said the agency is now working closely with local government units (LGUs), encouraging private claimants, survey claimants, and titled lot owners to plant trees on idle land to help improve ecological stability at the community level.
Lorilla emphasized that DENR-6’s long-term goal is for communities to reach a balance of “40 percent ang forest and 60 percent ang indi forest… Amo na ang ideal to have food ecological stability.”
Private lands seen as safer, more sustainable reforestation sites
The DENR-6 chief pointed out that trees planted on titled or privately owned lots are less prone to illegal cutting — one of the major challenges in upland reforestation.
“Not like sa bukid nga ang mga tawo nga waay sing duta amo na masaka kag mangguba pero kon ang tanuman private property bisan bayaan sang private owner wala sang matandog. So, kon ma-increase inang advocacy matabo gid nga ma-increase ang forest cover,” he said.
Lorilla added that while DENR prioritizes planting activities in forestland as part of environmental vulnerability mitigation, expanding forest cover in private areas strengthens overall climate protection for communities.
“We will be assuring the community that by increasing forest cover we are safe sa mga vulnerabilities kag sa mga impact sang climate change,” he stressed.
No timeline for hitting 28% target due to funding constraints
Despite targeting 28 percent forestland cover for Western Visayas, the agency admits there is no clear timeline for achieving this due to the region’s dependence on government funding.
Lorilla said the DENR cannot implement programs without adequate resources but is integrating tree planting with forest protection measures to ensure that seedlings survive and grow.
He underscored that the shift toward partnerships — especially with LGUs and private owners — remains central to DENR’s expanded reforestation strategy.
Yesterday, December 11, was International Mountain Day, highlighting the importance of protecting forest ecosystems amid worsening climate impacts./PN
