The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) continues to lead and intensify efforts to mobilize sustainable development in forest lands, which are crucial in national development, job creation, and building resiliency to climate change.

Relatively, the Sustainable Forest Management Areas (SFMA) were determined and correspondingly delineated on the ground within production forests with the assistance of field offices from 2018-2024. SFMAs are open-access areas potential for forestry-related development activities through provision of management agreements/ arrangements. As of 2025, 1.186 million hectares were already mapped within forest lands, wherein 176,013.60 hectares were identified as potential for solar and wind energy development, which supports the national goal of increasing the share of renewable energy to at least 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040. Moreover, other forest-based management arrangements namely: a) plantation and agroforestry development; b) ecotourism; c) grazing; and d) other special land uses such as carbon forestry.

To promote transparency, accountability and further engage the forestry stakeholders, the SFMA Portal showing the corresponding locations in the national map is now uploaded and readily accessible through the FMB website. This initiative was based on the recommendation made by the Senate of the Philippines during the ongoing CY 2026 budget deliberations. It will serve as a platform which enables communities, and other potential partners to explore opportunities for sustainable forest management. Consequently, with the help of this online initiative, we can optimize forest land use while ensuring long-term sustainability of the environment and natural resources of the country. (visit SFMA Portal)