JICA-supported project to boost forest monitoring in PHL

THE Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have agreed to implement a four-year technical cooperation project to strengthen forest monitoring and conservation efforts in the Philippines.

In a statement on Monday, JICA said the two parties recently signed the Record of Discussions for the project “Enhancing Forest Monitoring Capacity for Sustainable Management and Conservation of Forests.”

The project seeks to develop and operationalize a near real-time forest disturbance alert system while enhancing forest management capacities in selected sites.

JICA said the project covers areas including the Upper Magat and Cagayan River Basin in Nueva Vizcaya and the Pampanga River Basin in Nueva Ecija.

“Continued monitoring and management are necessary to protect these areas from threats such as illegal logging and forest fires and to sustain forest restoration efforts,” JICA said.

The agency said the project’s forest disturbance alert system will be linked with the expanded Lawin forest monitoring system, which is used for monitoring forests, biodiversity, and related threats.

JICA said its experts will work closely with DENR’s Forest Management Bureau and Biodiversity Management Bureau to implement the initiative.

The project will also include capacity-building measures through training programs and policy recommendations.

According to JICA, the initiative builds on gains from the Forestland Management Project (FMP), a 12-year development cooperation program implemented from 2012 to 2024.

The FMP promoted community-based forest management and livelihood development in selected watersheds in Luzon and Panay, and established 71,300 hectares of tree and agroforestry plantations. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel