SOCIAL FORESTRY

Minsarib L. Kalnasa
Western Mindanao State University
Definitions
 Social forestry is more precisely defined as forestry for
the people and by the people (Chowdhury, 1983 as cited
by Social Forestry Program (SFP), 1985)
 Harmonizing production forestry activities with the
overall societal objective of social objective of social
justice and handling of natural resources in an
unimpaired state to succeeding generation (FAO-UPLB-
SIDA-Centre for Forestry Education Development for
the Asia and Southwest Pacific regions, 1983 as cited by
SFP, 1985
 Social forestry is the branch of forestry which deals with
the study of man and the forest and their
interrelationships in order to promote the socio-
economic well being of uplanders especially the poor
forest occupants and at the same time protect and
improve the quality of their environment (Mariano, 1984
as cited by SFP, 1985)
History of Social Forestry
 Social forestry is believed
to have its beginning in
Europe as early as the 17th
century.
Concept
 The concept of social forestry developed from the
concept of forestry for the local community. It first
gained popularly in Gujarat, India in the mid-1970s
 Launched the Social Forestry Programme in 1969-70 and social
forestry divisions were established.
 This was a people’s programme. The state embarked upon an
ambitious mission of ogranising and motivating people to take up
tree plantation on land, wastelands, roadsides, canal sides,
farmlands school and college compounds and other government
lands.
 The result of the programme were encouraging, and were
appreciated internationally. After the success of the initial efforts,
the state was encouraged to formulate a project extending to all
the districts.
 This project was launched 1980 and has been funded by the state
and consequently Gujarat has switched from being a good deficit
to a good surplus state today.
 As a pioneer in the social forestry sector, the success of Gujarat has
been globally acclaimed.
Social forestry in the Philippines
 Philippines, like most other countries in Asia has been
repeatedly plagued with the problem in DEFORESTATION.
 Reports from 1969 to 1988 indicated that the
average rate of deforestation is about 210,000
hectares per year (RP-german inventory, 1988.)
 Shifting cultivation or locally known as Kaingin-
making & the influx of migrants into forests land
were identified as among the major causes of
forest destruction.
 In the early years of forest management, the
strategy of the government in response to the
kaingin-making was focused on the adoption of
punitive measures.
Principles of Social Forestry (Santos et.al)
1. People are the most important variables in upland conservation.
2. Villagers should be seen as active partners, rather than passive
objects of development.
3. Community members have the intelligence to study their own
problems, decide on solutions and implement these solutions.
4. Development of groups, rather than individuals, must be
pursued.
5. People should be involved in all stages including planning,
implementation, maintenance and evaluation of conservation
work.
6. Development is achieved when community members and
institutions have transformed, not conformed, to status quo.
7. Community problems can be solved only through a holistic
approach.
8. Simple, low-cost and locally available materials should be
used in upland development work.
9. Individuals learn most from their peers, both from within
and outside the community
10. Experience is the best teacher, doing makes learning easier.
Social forestry in the Philippines was divided into
three periods
 Pioneering period (1974-1981)
 Integration and consolidation period
(1982-1989)
 Institutionalization and expansion
period (1990- beyond)
Pioneering period (1974 – 1981)
 Three pioneering social oriented projects were adopted.
 Forest Occupancy Management (FOM) 1974
 Communal Tree Farming (CTF) 1979
 Family Approach to Reforestation
FOM
 The inception of the Forest Occupancy Management
Program was on 19 May 1975 when President Marcos issued
Presidential Decree No. 705.
 This decree, as amended by PD No. 1559, states that
"kaingeros, squatters, cultural minorities and other
occupants who entered the forest lands before May 19, 1975
without permit or authority shall not be prosecuted;
Provided, that they do not increase their clearings; Provided
further, that they undertake the activities imposed upon them
by the BFD in accordance with a management plan calculated
to conserve and protect forest resources in the area;
 Forest occupancy management was designed as a
component of the country's overall watershed
management and forest protection program to regulate
and control the destructive land management practices
of kaingeros and other forest occupants in order to
conserve water, soil and other forest resources.
 Department of Natural Resources, through the Bureau of Forest
Development, actually launched its Forest Occupancy Program on
8 April 1975 with the following objectives (FOM Manual, BFD
1975):
 a.) stabilize and manage the occupancy of kaingeros, squatters,
cultural minorities and other forest occupants in order to prevent
or minimize further forest encroachment and destruction;
 b) To help improve and uplift the socioeconomic conditions of
these forest occupants; and
 c) To transform the forest occupants from agents of forest
destruction to partners in forest development and conservation.
 Managed Occupancy" means that the bonafide forest
occupants could stay in the area which they actually occupied
and/or developed, provided that their continued occupancy
would not result in sedimentation, erosion, reduction in
water yield, and destruction of other forest resources
(Magno 1981).
 To fully implement this program, the BFD formulated the
following eight mechanics of implementation to attain its
objectives:
 Information campaign.
 Census.
 Plan preparation.
 Farm lot survey and delimitation.
 Issuance of Forest Occupancy (FO) permits.
 Farm development and improvement.
 Introduction of income-generating activities, infrastructure
and organization of farmer
 Extension of welfare services.
 Alleviate the living conditions of upland farmers acquired a 2 to 3 years contract
authorizing item to plant trees on cleared land and to intercrop the tree seedlings
with food crops during the duration of the contract before moving on to the new site.
Family Approach to Reforestation, 1979
 A short term contract with families to
set up tree plantation in public land.
Communal Tree Farm Program, 1979
 Forest occupants & other members of the communities adjacent to
forest lands joined efforts to developed identified sites into agro-
forestry farm.
 Ensure immediate generation of employments and additional
income to the country yards while giving more meaning to
Government to people relationship
 Like two other programs, the focus of CTF were the open and
denuded forest lands.
 In this scheme, the participating families on the basis of the
memorandum of agreement entered into by & between the mayor
of the municipalities where the CTF projects located and the BFD.