TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY-BASED FOREST MANAGEMENT (CBFM)
Initiators: Coy, Marlea and Olive
CBFM is a strategy that seeks to democratize management of forestlands where upland and coastal communities can benefit from sustainable forest management. As a social justice concern in relation to environment, WISE is providing assistance to the ongoing preparation of the CBFM 2008-2017 Strategic Plan. This undertaking is being extended to an NGO Consortium, DENR, POs, and indiviuals with the main objective of ensuring that peoples' organizations (both tenured migrants and indigenous peoples) and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) are brought into the process.
The NGO CBFM Support Group or The NGO Consortium
For almost two (2) years, CBFM players, particularly the POs, DENR, LGUs and NGOs participated in a dialogue process. An organizing committee was organized to plan out activities and oversee the conduct of various assessment and planning workshops. Members of this committee come from the said representations. On the part of the NGOs, the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) was represented in the committee.
In the midst of the above critical engagement of the POs and NGOs with DENR, there were issues pertaining to unilateral cancellation of CBFMAs by DENR leadership. In relation to this, NGOs conducted/ facilitated activities/ actions that supported the appeal for the lifting of the cancellation. The Philippine Federation for Environmental Concern (PFEC) initiated meetings of NGOs involved in CBFM to discuss the issues and see how to engage in the said CBFM assessment and planning workshops.
During the September 2006 workshop on CBFM Strategic Plan organized by DENR, NGOs managed to get invited and participated actively in the sessions. At the closing plenary, the NGOs were one in suggesting to the organizers that regional workshops be conducted. This was based on the fact that there was low level of representation of POs, local NGOs, and LGUs and such will have negative impact on the ownership of the process and output.
Immediately after the September 2006 workshop, NGOs who participated in the sessions had a caucus and organized themselves into NGO CBFM Support Group or NGO Consortium. They also agreed to request FMB to include the Philippine Federation for Environmental Concern (PFEC) in the organizing committee which was immediately acted favorably by CBFM Division of the Forest Management Bureau.
The Consortium was also offered by the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF) to avail of a grant to participate in the workshops and implement related activities. With members of the Consortium putting in their own resources, the undertaking with PTFCF achieved its main objective of ensuring that the planning process for CBFM, particularly directed to the national and regional plans, bring in the POs, NGOs, and LGUs. As reported by the Consortium, out of 285 workshops participants, there were 112 POs. They consisted 39% of the total number of participants. Local NGOs on the other hand comprised 12% represented by 35 participants. Hence, the POs and NGOs had a representation of 51%. At the same time 138 LGU and DENR officials and staff participated for the government. They registered a participation of 49%.
The above courses of action led to the crafting and adoption of the CBFM Strategic Plan for the next ten years (2008-2017) and membership of the three NGO coalition groups in the National CBFM Steering Committee.
Core group of the NGO Consortium
A core group regularly meets with CBFM Division of FMB. This is composed of Philippine Federation for Environmental Concern (PFEC), Non-Timber Forest Products-Exchange Program (NTFP-EP), Upland NGO Assistance Committee (UNAC), and Women's Initiatives for Society, Culture, and Environment (WISE), Inc. Individuals from the IIRR maintain their participation with the group as their organization has new set of programs.
Members of the National CBFM Steering Committee (3 coalition level groups)
1. Philippine Federation for Environmental Concern (PFEC)
2. Non-Timber Forest Products-Exchange Program (NTFP-EP)
3. Upland NGO Assistance Committee (UNAC)
Those who engaged in the Strategic Planning Workshops (13 groups- 4 coalition level and 9 primary organizations)
Members of Organizing Committee
1. International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR)
2. Philippine Federation for Environmental Concern (PFEC)
Core Group for the Strategic Planning Workshops
1. International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR)
2. Philippine Federation for Environmental Concern (PFEC)
3. Non-Timber Forest Products-Exchange Program (NTFP-EP)
4. Upland NGO Assistance Committee (UNAC)
5. Women's Initiatives for Society, Culture, and Environment (WISE), Inc.
Participating Organizations
1. Broad Initiatives for Negros Development (BIND)
2. Enterprise Works Worldwide, Inc. (EWW)
3. Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC)
4. Kalahan Foundation, Inc. (KALAHAN)
5. NGOs for Fisheries Reform (NFR) / Tambuyog
6. Tanggol Kalikasan (TK)
7. Upholding Life and Nature (ULAN)
8. Yakap Kalikasan Tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Pilipinas, Inc. (YKKPI)
Regional Cluster Workshops NGO Participants (Indicated participation in The Consortium)
From Baguio Cluster
1. PROCESS Luzon
2. Cagayan Valley Partners in People Development (CAVAPPED)
3. Concerned Citizen of Abra for Good Government (CCAGG)
From Bacolod Cluster
4. PROCESS Bohol
5. Ting Matiao Foundation
From Cagayan de Oro Cluster
6. Ecosystem Work for Essential Benefits, Inc (ECOWEB, Inc)
7. Father Vincent Cullen Tulugan Learning and Development Center (FVCTLDC)
8. Green Mindanao
9. Kasanyangan Mindanao Foundation, Inc. (KFI)
From Davao Cluster
10. Philippine Eagle Foundation
11. Kapwa Upliftment Foundation
Regional Cluster Workshops NGO Participants (Requested as member of listserve while deciding on level of participation)
12. Mahintana Foundation, Inc (MAHINTANA)
13. Institute of Small- Farms, Inc. (ISFI)
14. Institute of Primary Health Care (IPHC)
