The 27th Meeting of the ASEAN Senior Officials on Forestry (ASOF) and its related meetings, held in Bogor, Indonesia on July 15-19, 2024, the Philippines demonstrated its remarkable commitment to sustainable forest management. Led by the Assistant Secretary for Field Operations – Western Mindanao and Director of the Forest Management Bureau, in concurrent capacity, Arleigh J. Adorable, CESO III, the Philippine delegation included Ina Karissa Tobias from the Forest Management Bureau, Conrado B. Marquez, and Marilyn Lalican from the Ecosystem Research and Development Bureau, and Rico Cabangon, Director of the Department of Science and Technology – Forest Products Research and Development Institute.

Asec. Adorable’s presentation highlighted the country’s significant achievements in increasing forest cover and implementing the National Strategy for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), which aligns with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. This strategy aims to enhance forest cover from 24.53% in 2023 to 25.53% by 2028, focusing on the sustainable management of forestlands and boosting the resilience of forest-dependent communities to climate change.

The Philippines further highlighted its innovative approaches to nature-based solutions (NBS) and ecosystem-based adaptation (EBA), such as the National Greening Program and sustainable watershed management. The delegation emphasized noteworthy private sector partnerships with Shell Pilipinas Corporation, Marubeni Corporation Philippines, and DMCI Holdings, Inc., particularly regarding forest carbon projects focused on reforestation and improved forest management. These initiatives not only contribute to local sustainability efforts but also enhance regional cooperation within ASEAN.

Asec. Adorable’s presentation underscored the importance of regional cooperation and technical assistance for promoting climate action. He recommended strengthening ASEAN cooperation through existing international commitments like the UNFF and UNFCCC, and facilitating the legal trade of forest products among member states. The Philippines’ proactive approach at the ASOF meeting, demonstrating its dedication to sustainable forest management and regional collaboration, sets a strong example for other ASEAN countries in promoting climate action and sustainable forestry practices. This instills confidence in the audience regarding the Philippines’ leadership in this area.

Beyond the ASOF meeting, the Philippines also made significant strides at the 27th ASEAN Working Group on Forest Products Development (AWG-FPD) Meeting. The country introduced its initiative in the promulgation of the national standards for SFM for its National Forest Certification System. The Philippines further shared developments of several web-based platforms for improved data management, including the Chainsaw Information System (CIS). Additionally, they emphasized private sector involvement in marketing legally sourced forest products. The delegation also highlighted initiatives in herbal and medicinal plant conservation and development. This included hosting the ASEAN Conference on Medicinal Forest Trees and drafting the Philippines Herbal Medicine Development Plan.