The Forest Ecosystem Research Division (FERD) plans, formulates, coordinates, and monitors RDE PAPs related to the conservation and sustainable management of production and protection forests, upland farms, and grasslands, including rehabilitation of mining and degraded areas. It conducts basic researches and develops standards and protocols on said areas of concerns and assists in the technology assessment, integration and packaging. FERD also develops, improves, and recommend policies and guidelines for sustainable management of forest ecosystem.

FERD RDE Program on Forests Ecosystem Resiliency and Sustainability
(2017 to present)

This program is geared towards establishing sustainable development, management, and conservation of production and protection forests to include upland farms, grasslands, and degraded areas to ensure the country’s resilience towards the negative impacts of climate change and disasters. It’s specific objectives are: (1) Develop standards, indicators, baseline information, procedures to enhance ENR risk assessment process to address environmental vulnerability issues; (2) Develop technologies/ protocols for sustainable sources of genetically improved germplasm of priority forest tree species with support technology for plantation, reforestation and other purposes; (3) Generate science-based information and develop standards/ technologies, indicators, combined with verification of available potential technologies/ tool for the improvement, effective and efficient management of degraded areas; and (4) Generate science-based information and inputs to policy developed for a standard ecosystem accounting system to ensure effective management of forest resources.

Under this program, there are three (3) subprograms, namely: (a) Generation of conservation standards and protocols for forest biological systems; (b) Development of technologies on sustainable resource management of forest ecosystems; and (c) Application of sociocultural and economic tools in improving forest governance. These sub-programs are being implemented by its three Component Sections.

 

FERD has three Component Sections as follows:

I. Forest Biology and Conservation Section (FBCS)

Program Strategy:    Generation of Conservation Standards and Protocols for Forest Biological Systems

Description: Address issues concerning the interactions and changes in forest biological systems; ensure conservation of forest faunal and floral diversity; ensure a sustained supply of genetically improved planting stocks of priority forest tree species for the country’s wood industry; and enhance adaptive responses of forests to climate change.

Priority Areas of Concern:  Biotechnology and Chemical Ecology; Forest Pathology and Entomology; Forest Taxonomy and Inventory; Conservation Biology; Wildlife biology; Forest Health; Landscape and Forest Ecology; Species Site Matching; and Tissue Culture.

Deliverables: Recommendations on policy revisions of existing guidelines on forest and other natural resources conservation; Policy recommendations/brief on newly developed standards and protocols on forest and other natural resources conservation; Database on forest and other natural resources conservation; IEC materials on forest resources conservation (e.g. manuals, guidebook).

 

II. Forest Resources Management Section (FRMS)

Program Strategy:    Development of Technologies for Sustainable Resource Management of Forest Ecosystems

Description:   Focuses on issues on forest ecosystem preservation, rehabilitation and restoration. Ensure sustainability of forest ecosystem through science-based information and development of technologies and indicators, combined with verification of available potential technologies/tool for the assessment and rehabilitation of marginal & degraded areas as well as to enhance ENR risk assessment process.

Priority Areas of Concern:  Forest Soils; Management Practices in Forest Plantations; Forest Restoration and Rehabilitation Techniques; Forest Influences & Silviculture; Watershed and Water Resources Management & Conservation; Vulnerability & Risk Assessments; Application of GIS and Remote Sensing; Production and Management of NTFP; Monitoring and Evaluation System for Environmentally Critical Projects (ECPs): Eradication and Management of IAS.

Deliverables: Recommendations for policy revisions of existing guidelines on forest resources management and rehabilitation; policy recommendations/brief on newly developed technologies on forest resources management and rehabilitation; database on forest resources management and rehabilitation; IEC materials on forest resources management and rehabilitation (e.g. manuals, guidebook).

 

III.    Forest Economics and Social Forestry Section (FESFS)

Program Strategy: Application of Socio-cultural and Economic Tools in Improving Forest Governance

Description: Deals with issues on socio-economic approaches in the management and conservation of the forest ecosystem. The projects shall enhance the forest governance through assessment the forest ecosystem services; ensure sustainability of forest ecosystem through policy development and analysis; develop and apply technologies on agroforestry and upland farming systems; utilize and enhance traditional knowledge on forest management; strengthen community-based management; and mainstream concept of carrying capacity in promoting ecotourism.

Priority Areas of Concern:  Community Based Forest Management; Agroforestry & Upland Farming Systems; Forest Ecotourism; Social Forestry; Carrying Capacity; Traditional Forest Knowledge and Practices; Ecosystem Goods and Services Accounting; Forest Resource Valuation; and Forest Governance.

Deliverables: Recommendations for policy revisions of existing guidelines on forest economics and governance; policy recommendations/brief on newly developed guidelines/tools on forest economics and governance; database on forest economics and governance; IEC materials on socio-cultural and economic tools (e.g. manuals, guidebook).

 

A. On-going Projects of the Division

At present, the division continues to execute planned activities of its two (2) on-going projects under its program. These are: (1) “Vulnerability Assessment of Priority Watersheds in the Philippines to Climate Change” (Under emerging issues), and (2) “Enhanced National Greening Program” (DENR special program).

 

a.1 Vulnerability Assessment of Priority Watersheds in the Philippines to Climate Change

Vulnerability Assessment (VA) of priority watersheds in the Philippines to climate change is conducted to effectively prepare for the possible impact of climate change to watershed and coastal resources.  Results are then incorporated in the preparation of the Integrated Watershed Management Plans (IWMPs).

Technical Assistance (TA) is extended by the ERDB VA Team to the DENR VA field implementers to assess and mentor them on data collection, processing, and generation of VA maps, as well as interpretation of results. TA is done throughout the twelve (12) regions in the country which is also a venue for getting feedbacks needed to further enhance the technology.

 

a.2 Enhanced National Greening Program (eNGP)

Pursuant to Executive Order 193 series of 2015, The ERDB National Greening Program-Production of Quality Planting Materials (NGP-PQPM) through the Forest Ecosystems Research Division (FERD) continued to implement its assigned tasks and activities provided under the Expanded National Greening Program (2016-2028). Initially, ERDB was tasked to oversee the production of quality planting materials through its developed genetic improvement technologies. Currently, there are various built-in studies being continuously implemented by the division under this program.

 

B. Monitoring and Evaluation of RDE Projects of Research Centers

As part of its oversight function, the division continuously conducts the periodic Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation (RBME) activities of the various projects/studies of RDECs anchored on its program.

The overall purpose of RBME is to measure and assess performance in order to learn and manage results more effectively. Results-Based Management aims to improve research and development throughout the project cycle from conceptualization, to implementation up to completion. Combination of virtual and actual field visits for the aforementioned M&E activities of those anchored RDECs projects are regularly conducted to accomplish the targets.