Forestry Sector Administrative Order No. 27 on the Management of Mossy Forests

Forestry Sector Administrative Order No. 27 July 03, 1992 Subject: Management of Mossy Forests Pursuant to Republic Act 7586 which provides for the establishment and management of a National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), and to Letter of Instructions No. 917, which declared all mossy forests as Wilderness Areas, the following are issued for the guidance of all concerned: Sec. 1 All mossy forest shall form part of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) and shall be considered as Strict Nature Reserves. As such, they shall not be the subject of exploitation of whatever nature. Sec. 2 All DENR field officers through the Regional Offices shall submit within two (2) months the extent of mossy forests in their area of jurisdiction in map form, including other information such as dominant species, indigenous cultural communities, degree of encroachment, if any etc. Sec. 3 The Committee organized per DENR Special Order No. 1220, series of 1991 to formulate the specific plans and programs/activities with respect to the old growth forests is hereby to include in its tasks the planning of activities with regard to mossy forest management. Sec. 4. The Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (EDRB) and the Regional Ecosystems Research and Development Services are enjoined to initiate studies on the ecology and dynamics of the mossy forests. Sec. 5 All DENR Regional Offices are to prepare management plans for the mossy forest areas in their respective areas of jurisdiction and shall incorporate that same in their respective regional forestry plans for implementation within two years after the effectivity of this Order. Sec. 6 Implementation of the management plans for the mossy forests by the DENR field offices is hereby strictly enforced. Sec. 7 All previous orders inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. Sec. 8 This Order shall take effect immediately. VICTOR O. RAMOS Acting Secretary