The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Western Visayas (DENR-6) has partnered with an intergovernmental organization, Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO), for the sustainable development of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) within the Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) area in the municipality of Maasin, Iloilo.

“The project aims to transition local residents from a traditional ‘gather and sell’ mindset towards other bamboo handicrafts,” DENR-6 Regional Executive Director Raul Lorilla said in a statement on Tuesday.

The initiative, which was implemented last year, provided members of the Federation of People’s Organizations, Katilingban sang Pumuluyo nga Naga-atipan sa Watershed sang Maasin (KAPAWA) with specialized training, enterprise development, and workshops to upscale them in selling bamboo crafts and products.

“The AFoCO project in Maasin proves that we do not have to choose between protecting our forests and providing for the community, because we can do both. By empowering KAPAWA to process non-timber forest products, we are reducing the pressure on our natural timber while giving the community livelihood and ensuring the health and sustainability of the Maasin Watershed,” Lorilla said.

Unlike traditional hardwood trees that take 20 to 50 years to mature, bamboo reaches its full height in just one growing season and achieves optimal structural strength in only three to five years, the DENR said.

Lorilla welcomed the AFoCO Secretariat in South Korea and Vietnam, the Forest Management Bureau, the Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service, and the NTFP-Exchange Program Philippines during their monitoring and evaluation visit on Jan. 6 to 8.

The three-day visit served to verify that the project’s implementation remains aligned with its established timeframe and objectives.

They also reviewed the financial utilization, addressed logistical challenges and established a strategic roadmap for the next phase of the project. (PNA)