Forest guards risk lives for Sierra Madre

LUCENA CITY—Armed with nothing but the simplest of food provisions and determination, a group of forest rangers has been combing the Sierra Madre mountain ranges in the northern section of Quezon province to prevent illegal logging activities.

“There’s always a surge in illegal logging activities during the Christmas season. We have to penetrate the forest to prevent [these],” said Rexter Telan, head of a team of six forest rangers from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Real town.

Telan said logging activities increase as the Christmas holidays near because this has become a source of easy money needed by illegal loggers and their protectors for the annual celebration.

“Illegal loggers [become] daring because so much is at stake. Their armed men often have powerful weapons and shotguns,” he said.

During operations that normally last for a week, Telan’s group would bring a few cans of sardines, dried fish, “bagoong” (fish paste) and rice. No weapon is needed, only gadgets like a camera, global positioning system (GPS) device, binoculars and solar-powered LED light.

“We have no firearms to defend ourselves from armed loggers. What we have is our sincere belief that God will protect us from harm,” said Telan.

Oftentimes, operations of forest rangers were not assisted by government troops.

“Having armed security [escorts] often invites grave consequences. We call them only when the need arises,” he said.

The harsh conditions in the Sierra Madre no longer affect them. “We’re already used to it. What we’re worried about is our protection from armed men,” Telan said.

He said forest rangers need firearms to protect themselves.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) agrees that the task to protect Sierra Madre, which stretches from Quezon to Cagayan province, is too risky.

In June, the DENR honored five workers—two forest rangers, two tree markers and a forester—who were killed while performing their jobs.

A week ago, Telan’s group recovered sawn flitches of hardwood species and a power saw in Sitio Tabi, Barangay Umiray in General Nakar town.

Last month, Telan and his team also recovered more than 3,000 illegally cut logs abandoned in remote mountain villages in General Nakar and Real towns. —DELFIN T. MALLARI JR.