Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, REDD-plus and Overseas Forest Disaster Prevention
Research and Development Center, 2022 International Seminar
Sharing F-DRR approaches and techniques with developing countries: Experiences, realities andopportunities of private sectors
13:00-17:00 (JST) on February 1, 2023

Forest Restoration and Reducing DisasterRisks in the Philippines
Rex Victor O. Cruz
Professor Emeritus
College of Forestry and Natural Resources
University of the Philippines Los Baños
PHILIPPINES

Outline
1. Overview on disaster risks in the Philippines
2. Overview on the state of Philippine Forests
3. Roles of forest restoration on DRR in the Philippines
4. Opportunities, challenges and roles of private sector, nationalgovernment, local governments and communities, andacademe in forest restoration in the Philippines

World Risk Report 2022. Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft – Gemeinsam
für Menschen in Not e.V.
Schöneberger Ufer 61 10785 Berlin
Phone: +49 30-278 77 390 kontakt@entwicklung-hilft.dewww.entwicklung-hilft.dePhilippines at Risk

World Risk Report 2022. Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft – Gemeinsam
für Menschen in Not e.V.
Schöneberger Ufer 61 10785 Berlin
Phone: +49 30-278 77 390 kontakt@entwicklung-hilft.dewww.entwicklung-hilft.dePhilippines at Risk

World Risk Report 2022. Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft – Gemeinsam
für Menschen in Not e.V.
Schöneberger Ufer 61 10785 Berlin
Phone: +49 30-278 77 390 kontakt@entwicklung-hilft.dewww.entwicklung-hilft.deKey impactsof climatechange on
ecosystems
in PH

Philippine Land Area

30 Million ha2020 Forest Cover

7,226,394 ha
30.7% (2,221,173 ha)

65.0% (4,693,821 ha)

4.3% (311,400 ha)

Forest Cover Trend in the Philippines(1934-2020)

Forest cover had increased from 7.01 million hectares in 2015 to 7.22 million hectares in2020 (an increase of more than 200,000 hectares)

Deforestation andForest Degradation
Exacerbate DisasterRisks
Enhance CLIMATE HAZARDS• Surface soil erosion• Landslides• Coastal erosion• Enhance surface runoff• Riverine and coastal
flooding

Increase VULNERABILITY• Loss of livelihoods andincome• Reduce ability to adapt andcope with extreme events• Reduce access to social
services

Increase EXPOSURE• Increase in areas affected byfloods• Increase number of people
potentially at risk
• Increase properties andinfrastructures at risk
Adapted from IPCC.CH

Disaster Risks
Reduction throughForestry
REDUCING CLIMATEHAZARDS• CC mitigation• Improve soil stability• Increase soil infiltration
capacity• Reduce surface runoff• Regulate streamflow• Reduce wind and wave
velocity

REDUCING VULNERABILITY• Enhanced ecosystemservices e.g., water, regulate
pest/disease outbreaks• Increased opportunities forforest-based livelihoods• Improvement of local
economy and services

REDUCING EXPOSURE• Reduce occupation of highrisk areas• Reducing potential damage
due to reduced hazards

Adapted from IPCC.CH

Challenges to Forest Restoration

Agricultural Expansion
Shifting Cultivation
Urbanization
LoggingGlobal Forest Watch

Challenges to Forest Restoration
Poor governance
Poor planning
Weak law enforcement

Interconnected Problems in a Landscape

Lack of incentives to investors

Expansion

Land conversion

DEFORESTATION/DEGRADATION

Expansion and RelocationHigh risk to multiple hazards

UNSUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Suboptimal crop yield due to climatechangeLoss of Ecosystem Services• Carbon emission• Biodiversity loss
• Soil & water loss
• Pests & disease outbreaks• Flood and landslide riskincrease

Poor planning
Suboptimal use of urban areas
Poor enforcement of development
controls
Poor access to basic services

UNSUSTAINABLE URBANIZATION

Suboptimal use of agricultural land
Land conversion
Erosive & pollutive farm practices
Weak enforcement of regulatory
controls

Enhanced Ecosystem
Services• Crop production loss
• Soil & water degradation• Biodiversity loss

2028 Targets

Opportunities

Protection of 6.8 million ha of existing
forests protected, conserved andsustainably managed

REDD Plus

50% increase in average annual
income of upland communities

Partnership with local governments
and local communities

Existing plantations protected andmaintained

Tree plantation/carbon forest
development

75% of open access forestlands placed
under appropriate management
arrangements

REDD Plus and carbon offset projects

2028 Targets

Opportunities

111,000 hectares of grazing lands
sustainably managed

Livestock and dairy industry

Forest-based industries withsustainable source of raw materials
established

Tree plantation development andwood products development

REDD+ Implemented

REDD+ / Carbon offset projects

1.4 Million Hectares ofcommercial forest plantation
established

Tree plantation and wood productsdevelopment

Private Sector as Key Investor in Forest Restoration

TimberCarbon
Corridor
Carbon ForestProgram
KLIMA-Ayala
EnergyPrivate Sector as Key Investor in Forest Restoration

TimberCarbon
Corridor

Carbon Forest Program
Marubeni-DMCINational Government as Facilitator of Forest Restoration
Institutional Challenges

Policy Challenges

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•

•

•

•

Tax incentives for forest investments
Establishment of Forest Industrial Economic Zones(FIEZ)
More stability to policies on private sector
investments
Minimizing transaction costs
Resolving conflicts on land rights and ownership
Robust balance between production and protection
goals

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Competence in using management decision support
systems and tools
Natural capital accounting system
Carbon management
National Forest Certification and Monitoring System
Public-private-community partnerships
Integration of FR in local and regional development
planning
Enhanced portfolio approach on investments

Local and National Government as Land Development Coordinators
Addressing fundamental drivers of deforestation and forest
degradation
Landscape and ecosystem-based land use anddevelopment planning
Sustainable lowland and upland agriculture
Enforcement of land development controls
Forest law enforcement
Agricultural Expansion
Shifting Cultivation
Urbanization
LoggingLocal Governments as Organizers of Local Stakeholders•••••

Promote social acceptability
Resolve land conflicts
Facilitate granting of clearances and permits
Security
Support services

Carbon Forest Program KLIMA-Ayala Energy

Carbon Forest Program Marubeni-DMCI

Academe as Technical Service Providers
•••

•

•

•

•

Precision species selection based on site andmarket suitability
Availability of quality planting materials
Sustainable and adequate sources ofgermplasms
Identification and management of sources ofseeds and planting materials
Genetic and tree improvement research
Design and planning of forest restoration,
carbon forests and other nature-based solutions
Policy studies

Restoration of Mangroves

Academe as Technical Service Providers
Proposed DRR Measures forNorth Manila Bay

COASTAL LINE OF DEFENSE(DIKE + NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS]RESTORE MANGROVES
NATURAL HABITAT

Thank you