The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Thursday launched a new agreement consolidating forestry permits to create jobs and streamline forest land management.
The Sustainable Forest Land Management Agreement (SFLMA) integrates seven existing forestry tenure instruments into a single production-sharing agreement.
Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla said the SFLMA marks a “major shift” in how the Philippines manages its 15.8 million hectares of forest lands.
The agreement offers 25-year renewable terms, allowing for diverse management strategies within a single forest area, including agroforestry, ecotourism, forest plantation development, and conservation initiatives.
“This consolidation eliminates the fragmented application processes and overlapping requirements that have historically discouraged potential investors and delayed project implementation. The streamlined approach creates clearer pathways and management strategies for sustainable forest enterprises,” said Lotilla.
The SFLMA supersedes various instruments such as the Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA), Community-Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA) and Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism (FLAgT).
Beyond simplifying administrative procedures, the SFLMA is designed to foster sustainable economic growth and enhance community benefits by encouraging vertical integration within the forestry sector and facilitating the establishment of value chains.
The DENR also highlighted Forest for Life: 5 Million Trees by 2028 which aims to plant five million indigenous trees nationwide, targeting 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) in carbon sequestration by 2028 and 3.5 million tCO2e by 2038. Priority areas include Ilocos Norte, Rizal, Leyte, Bataan, Bukidnon, and Lanao del Norte. An online portal has been launched for stakeholders to access application processes and view available planting areas.
The DENR also presented updates on its mapping of 1.186 million hectares of forest lands identified for sustainable investment in agroforestry, grazing and specialized forest uses, offering immediate opportunities for private sector engagement.
Officials said the integrated approach positions forests as drivers of economic growth while ensuring environmental protection, creating new pathways for sustainable community development by broadening stakeholder participation.
