DENR Administrative Order No. 2020-18 on Promoting Tree Plantation Development and Liberalising Harvesting and Transport of Planted Trees and Tree Derivatives for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development

Republic of the Philippines Department of Environment and Natm·al Resources Visayas Avenue, Diliman, 1100 Quezon City Tel. Nos. (632) 8929-6626 to 29, (632) 8755-3300/8755-3330 Website: www.denr.gov.ph DEC 1 7 2020 DENR Administrative Order No. 2020- 18 SUBJECT PROMOTING TREE PLANTATION DEVELOPMENT AND LIBERALIZING HARVESTING AND TRANSPORT OF PLANTED TREES AND TREE DERIVATIVES FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 705, as amended, governing the utilization and management of forest resources and Executive Order No. 192 Series of 1987 mandating the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as the primary government agency responsible for the conservation, management, development and proper use of the country's environment and natural resources, as well as the licensing and regulation of all natural resources as may be provided by law to ensure sustainable supply of wood and equitable sharing of the benefits derived from the forests for the welfare of the present and future generations the following guidelines are hereby promulgated in order to promote tree plantation development and liberalize harvesting and transport of planted trees and tree derivatives. Section 1. Basic Policy. It is the policy of the State to ensure the sustainable use, development, management, renewal and conservation of the country's forest and other natural resources. Sec. 2. Objectives. This aims to accelerate the establishment of tree plantations in production forest lands to meet the wood requirements of the country by simplifying the requirements in the harvest and transport of planted trees and tree derivatives and encourage tree plantation development in private lands. Sec. 3. Scope and Coverage. This Order shall cover plantation establishment, certification, harvesting and transport of planted trees and tree derivatives in forest lands with existing tenure or management arrangement and in registered private tree plantations. Consistent with the provision of Executive Order No. 23, naturally grown trees within forest lands shall not be cut or harvested. The gathering/ harvesting and transport of saps and resins, though considered as tree derivatives, shall be governed by other specific policy. Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. The terms shall be defined in these guidelines as follows: a. Tree Derivatives - any material extracted or taken from trees such as but not limited to roots, bark, stump, branches, leaves, and the like. b. Tree Plantation Certifier - any registered corporation/group engaged in forestry services and registered or accredited by the DENR to certify that harvested logs and tree derivatives for transport are planted from tree plantations. Let's Go Green! c. Licensed Forester - any person with up to date registration to the Professional Regulatory Commission-Board of Foresters. d. Private land - any land belonging to any private person or group of person or juridical entity by virtue of statutory and/or customary laws including tax-declared alienable and disposable lands, judicial title, OCT, TCT, CLOA. e. Vertical Integration - a strategy in improving production efficiency of wood-based enterprises by controlling two or more process in the supply chain such as: a) tree growing, b) harvesting, c) wood processing, d) value adding and e) distribution/marketing. Sec. 5. Planted Trees in Forest Lands with Tenure or Management Arrangement. Holders of DENR tenure agreements or management arrangements inside production forest lands shall follow these harvesting and transportation guidelines: 1. All activities (i.e. planting, harvesting, and wood processing schedules) in the area shall be in accordance with the approved management plan (i.e. Comprehensive Development and Management Plan, Indicative Development Plan, among others) as required under existing regulations; 2. Prior to harvesting of planted trees, a 5% inventory shall be conducted by licensed Foresters based on existing laws, rules and regulations. The prescribed timber inventory report should be signed by a duly licensed Forester and submitted to the CENR Office/Implementing PENR Office for information, database, and monitoring purposes. 3. Transport of harvested logs and tree derivatives: a. Logs and tree derivatives to be transported outside the tenured area shall be accompanied by the original copy of Certification stating that the products are from tenured/managed forest plantations. The Certification shall be issued by a third-party tree plantation certifier duly registered or accredited by the DENR. The said Certification (see Annex A) shall be displayed prominently in the vehicle where the products will be carried, and a copy submitted to the CENR Office for information and database. b. Logs and tree derivatives that will only be utilized within the tenured/managed area shall not need any Certification. Sec. 6. Planted Trees in Private Lands. Private landowners are hereby encouraged to establish tree plantations, harvest, and transport the same as they seem fit. Private landowners shall follow these harvesting and transportation guidelines: 1. When a private landowner will engage in tree plantation, he/she shall register said tree plantation to the nearest CENR Office/Implementing PENRO (see Annex B). No fees shall be collected by the CENRO/Implementing PENRO for these services. 2. No Tree Cutting Permit and Self-Monitoring Form (SMF) are required in harvesting and transporting harvested logs from registered tree plantations. Only the Certification issued by a third-party tree plantation certifier duly registered or accredited by the DENR shall be secured, for harvesting and transporting said logs/trees. 3. For ease of transport, the logs and tree derivatives shall be accompanied by original copy of Certification stating that the products are from the landowner's private property. The Certification shall be issued by a third-party tree plantation certifier duly registered or accredited by the DENR. The Certification (see Annex C) shall be displayed prominently in the vehicle where the log and derivative will be carried, and a copy submitted to the CENR Office/Implementing PENRO for information and database. 4. When the logs and tree derivatives will only be used inside the landowner's private property, no Certification shall be needed. Sec. 7. Liberalizing the Setting up of Wood Processing Plants. Private landowners with registered tree plantations and holders of tenure agreements or management arrangements may apply and establish their own wood processing plant (WPP) to encourage vertical integration, in compliance with existing laws, rules and regulations. Sec. 8. Tree Plantation Certification Training. Within three (3) months from the issuance of this Order, the Forest Management Bureau shall develop a training program for tree plantation certification and issue the necessary guidelines for the recognition of third party certifiers, responsibility and accountability, including penalties and liabilities in case of violations of certifiers, certification fees, among others. Only duly licensed Foresters of recognized corporations/group shall be considered for certification training. Sec. 9. Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting. The DENR through the Forest Management Bureau shall develop a monitoring, assessment and reporting system to be implemented by the DENR field offices. Sec. 10. Strengthening Research and Development. The Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau in coordination with the Forest Management Bureau shall develop a strengthened research and development programs on tree plantation establishment and management to assist tree plantation owners. Sec. 11. Transitory Provision. During the period that there are no private third-party tree plantation certifiers, licensed and permanent foresters from the Forest Management Bureau and the Regional, Provincial and Community Offices of the DENR shall certify plantation developers, free of charge. Only third-party certifiers recognized by the DENR shall be allowed to certify plantation developers after one year from the issuance of this Order. Sec. 12. Separability Clause. Should any provision or part of this Order be declared unconstitutional, those not affected shall remain to be in force and full effect. Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. All other DENR circulars, orders, memoranda, and issuances inconsistent herewith shall be amended or repealed accordingly. Sec. 14. Effectivity. This Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation and upon submission to the Office of the National Administration Registrar (ONAR) from the UP Law Center. FUBLIC/',TJON: The Me.nilc=i. 'I'imes January 20 1 2021 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: U.P LAW CENTER February 3, 2021 01 ROY A. CIMATU Secretary :;:~ a?!~ REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPF'~NES 1i1 If ~Uf 1\fliji\Hf 111 SEtlF.'.05'3345 ANNEXA TRANSPORT CERTIFICATE OF PLANTED TREES IN TENURED/MANAGED FOREST PLANTATIONS This is to certify that the logs and/or derivatives contained in this shipment are planted trees from the Tenured/Managed Forest Plantations. Tenure Holder Contact No. Location Total Area Species Total Volume Forest Certifier Accreditation No. Contact Details Authorized Signature Date Certified This certification is issued pursuant to existing rules and regulations of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The DENR and other deputized government agencies may conduct random inspection of shipments. The shipment owner and forest certifier shall both be held liable for any violations found herein. ANNEXB DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES Regional Office I PENRO CENRO PRIVATE TREE PLANTATION REGISTRATION No. Owner's Basic Information Name Pennanent Address Contact Number ·~--. Email Address Tree Plantation Location OCT/TCTNo ----------- Barangay/s Mw1icipality/ies Province Total Lot Area I Total Lot Area I Devoted to Plantation Tree Species to be Planted Attachments GIS enerated ma or Tree Plantation I hereby certify that the above information arc true and correct. Signature over Printed Name of Applicant Date Submitted I hereby certify that the above information are verified and the Private Tree Plantation registration is approved: Signatw-e over Printed Name ofCENR Officer Date Approved ANNEXC TRANSPORT CERTIFICATE OF PLANTED TREES IN PRIVATE LANDS This is to certify that the logs and/or derivatives contained in this shipment are planted trees from the Tenured/Managed Forest Plantations. Landowner Contact No. Location Total Area Species Total Volume Forest Certifier Accreditation No. Contact Details Authorized Signature Date Certified This certification is issued pursuant to existing rules and regulations of the Department of Environment and Naturnl Rcsourl.-es (DENR). The DF.NR and other deputi7.ed government agencies may conduct random inspection or shipments. The shipment owner and forest certifier shall both be held liable for any violations found herein.