Department Administrative Order No.2021 - 21 Adopting the Field Manual for Tree Seed Collection, Processing and Certification of Quality Planting Materials and Providing Mechanisms on ITS Adopting

Republic of the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City ow Tel. Nos. (632) 929-66-26 to 29 e (632) 929-62-52 aaa Website: http:/www.denr.gov.ph / E-mail: web@denr.gov.ph JUN 30 2021 DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER No. 2021 - ¢7 SUBJECT — : ADOPTING THE FIELD MANUAL FOR TREE SEED COLLECTION, PROCESSING AND CERTIFICATION OF QUALITY PLANTING MATERIALS AND PROVIDING MECHANISMS ON ITS ADOPTION Pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 705, otherwise known as the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines as amended, Executive Order No. 192 s. 1987 reorganizing the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Executive Order No. 318 s. 2004 promoting sustainable forest management, and Master Plan for Forestry Development, and to provide a standard procedure in tree seed collection, processing and certification of planting materials including accreditation of seed sources and forest tree nurseries, the adoption of the “Field Manual For Tree Seed Collection, Processing and Certification of Quality Planting Materials and Providing Mechanisms” on its adoption is hereby issued for the guidance of all concerned. SECTION 1. Basic Policy. It is the policy of the State to ensure the sustainable use, development, management, and conservation of the country’s forest resources not only for the present but also for the future generation. The government through the DENR shall promote the use of high quality planting materials in the establishment of tree plantations, tree farms, agroforestry and other forestation activities to promote other forest products in the country. SECTION 2. Objectives. This Order envisions to attain the following: 2.1 Ensure the continuous production of adequate supply of phenotypically and genetically-improved planting materials to meet the requirements for high quality seeds and seedlings by the government and private sectors in the establishment and development of tree plantations, tree farms, forest gardens, forestation, agro forestation projects, and rehabilitation of watersheds and coastal areas; 2.2 Develop a forest tree seed and seedling documentation and registry system for effective forest tree seed collection, handling and disposition; and sustainable seedling production; 2.3. Develop an accreditation system for government, local government units (LGUs), and private seed production areas for the operation of forest nursery; 2.4 Provide strategies and guidelines for the establishment, maintenance and protection of existing and potential Seed Production Areas (SPAs), Seedling Seed Orchards (SSOs), Clonal Seed Orchards (CSOs) and Seed Sources (SS); and in the determination of quality planting materials; and 2.5 Update the seed calendar for each forest tree species to serve as a guide for appropriate seed collection period. SECTION 3. Creation of National Forest Tree Seed Committee (NFTSC) and Field Forest Tree Seed Committee (FFTSC). The DENR shall constitute Committees to be called the Forest Tree Seed Committees to advise the Government on matters arising out of the administration of forest tree seed certification and to carry out the other functions assigned to it by or under this Order. The Forest Tree Seed Committee shall be composed of the National Forest Tree Seed Committee and Field Forest Tree Seed Committee. 3.1 National Forest Tree Seed Committee (NFTSC). The Committee shall consist of the following members, namely: Chairperson - Undersecretary (as designated by the DENR Secretary) Vice-Chairperson - Director, Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) Members - Director, Forest Management Bureau (FMB) Director, Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) President, Philippine Wood Producers Association (PWPA) President, Society of Filipino Foresters, Inc. (SFFI) The NFTSC shall have the following responsibilities and functions: a. Act as the oversight and policy-making body governing forest tree seed collection, handling and disposition; and high quality seedling production; b. Review and recommend for approval of the DENR Secretary a national framework for tree improvement; and C. Recommend to concerned/authorized agencies measures to regulate and monitor the exportation and importation of forest tree seeds and other materials. The NFSTC shall be supported by a National Technical Working Group (NT WG) composed of the following: Chairperson - Assistant Director, ERDB Vice-Chairperson - Assistant Director, FMB Members - Chief, Forest Ecosystem Research Division, ERDB Chief, Laboratory and Experimental Services Division, ERDB Chief, Forest Resources Conservation Division, FMB Representative, BMB Representative, PWPA Representative, SFFI Manager, Central Forest Tree Seed Center The NT WG shall have the following functions: a. Assess the national situation regarding the production of planting materials and recommend measures to ensure that planting stocks of sufficient quantity and high quality are made available in the various regions; b. Review and assess the state-of-the-art of planting stock production and assess the feasibility and appropriateness of such technologies under Philippine conditions; c. Evaluate and update the status of all seed sources in the country and recommend measures for the permanent establishment management and protection of such sources; Page 2 of 4 d. Recommend a forest seed and seedling documentation and registry system for effective forest tree seed collection, handling and disposition; and sustainable seedling production; e. Develop and recommend an accreditation system for government, LGUs, and private seed production area and nursery operator; and f. Formulate and recommend to the NFTSC a National Framework/Program on Tree Improvement for review and endorsement to the DENR Secretary for his approval. The NFTSC and NTWG shall be authorized to call on any DENR official and/or Office, and may invite resource persons from other agencies and/or institutions in the performance of its functions and responsibilities. A Support Staff from the ERDB and FMB shall provide secretariat services to the NFTSC and NT WG. 3.2 The Field Forest Tree Seed Committee (FFTSC). An FFTSC shall likewise be created in different regional clusters to be composed of the following: Chairperson - Center Head, ERDB Research Center Members - Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Forest Tree Seed Center Manager Representative, PENRO/CENRO (Technical Services) The FFTSC shall implement and carry out the plans and programs as mandated by the NFTSC at the field level, specifically on the assessment and verification of the source, collection and handling of seeds and planting materials; and in the accreditation of government/LGU and private seed sources, and forest nurseries. The FFTSC shall train extension workers, LGU staff, forest guards and other personnel in the Region, PENRO and CENRO on the above-mentioned activities. On Forest Tree Seed Certification, the functions of the FFTSC are the following: a. Adopt the standard forest tree seed certification scheme/criteria; b. Review and recommend for accreditation of seed sources and forest tree nurseries; c. Formulate a pricing system for seeds or other germplasm to be sold by accredited seed suppliers and private small tree farmers; and d. Perform other functions the NFTSC may assign. SECTION 4. Creation of Forest Tree Seed Center (FTSC). A Forest Tree Seed Center is a designated place where collected seeds from documented seed sources shall be brought, received, recorded, processed (dried, cleaned, and stored) tested, sorted, registered, and distributed to the nurseries and for the eventual out-planting (forestation and breeding). To continuously support the need of quality planting materials, the FTSC ensures the quality of the seeds produced from superior stands (Seed Production Areas/Individual Plus Trees Areas) through science-based tests and assessments. SECTION 5. Certification of Seeds and Other Sources of Planting Materials. An application for Seed Certification shall be submitted to the Field Forest Tree Seed Committee (FFTSC) which shall be accompanied by the required documents as provided in the Field Manual. Page 3 of 4 SECTION 6. Accreditation of Seed Sources. An application for Accreditation of Seed Sources shall be submitted to the FFTSC which shall be accompanied by the required documents as provided in the Field Manual. SECTION 7. Accreditation of Forest Tree Nurseries. An application for accreditation for forest tree nursery shall be submitted to the concerned PENRO/CENRO for initial evaluation and field verification. Said application shall be accompanied by prescribed documents as provided in the Field Manual. SECTION 8. Fund Support. The DENR shall allocate funds out of the yearly General Appropriation under appropriate budget line item to pursue the activities and program of NFTSC and FFTSC in carrying out the mandates as indicated in this Order. SECTION 9. Penal Provisions. Any person, group of persons or organizations cutting, mutilating and damaging trees within SPAs, SSOs, CSSOs and SS without any permit or not in accordance with the prescribed silvicultural treatment shall be punished in accordance with Section 68 and 69 of P.D. 705, as amended, and P.D. 953. SECTION 10. Supplementary Guidelines. The NFTSC is hereby authorized to issue specific and supplementary guidelines relative to this Order. SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. The provisions of DAO 09, series of 1995, DAO 2010-11, and other related issuances which are inconsistent with this Order are hereby revoked or modified accordingly. SECTION 12. Effectivity. This Order shall take effect upon acknowledgment by the Office of the National Administrative Registry (ONAR), and fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newsletter of general circulation. on “1 ROY A. CIMATU IY Secretary NE N REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Sa DEPARTMENT © OF Se aeeT vA AO Publicetion: Menile Bulletin 4 424 7eIImems September 18, 2021 Acknowledgement: UeP. Law Center Seotember 21, 2021 Page 4 of 4