ARMM execs say log ban delivers results

COTABATO CITY—Forest cover in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has increased by 6 percent as a possible result of a region-wide logging ban that was enforced in the aftermath of Typhoon “Sendong” in 2011, according to the region’s officials.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman said Executive Order No. 001, which he issued in December 2011, is apparently yielding results.

The directive outlawed the cutting of naturally grown trees in any area of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Hadji Kahal Kedtag,  ARMM environment and natural resources secretary, said based on results of geo-mapping and other methods of measuring forest cover, the region’s forest cover has increased to 53,000 hectares in the last quarter of this year from 50,000 hectares in the same period in 2011.

Hataman and Kedtag attributed the achievement to the massive greening program of the regional government. At least P1 million in ARMM funds were spent on a seedling nursery program in Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, which the officials said played a major role in increasing forest cover.

Under the greening program, each of the ARMM provinces were asked to grow seedlings of fast-growing tree varieties and reforest all seven major watershed areas.

Kedtag said Maguindanao alone has produced a million seedlings since 2011, many of which have been planted in three watershed areas in Dimapatoy, South Upi and Kabulnan.

He said areas that have been substantially reforested include forests in Lanao del Sur, portion of a watershed in Lake Lanao, areas in Basilan, and watersheds in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Hataman said the logging ban stays although exempted are logging companies that possess logging permits called Integrated Forest Management Agreement
(Ifma).

Hataman said the regional government made sure that no Ifma project intrudes into watershed areas. Nash B. Maulana, Inquirer Mindanao