Charcoal briquetting serves as a key solution to curb timber poaching in Eastern Visayas (Region 8) as residents face rising prices for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 8 Executive Director Arturo Salazar said Tuesday that the initiative targets communities reliant on traditional charcoal-making. This practice is heavily linked to regional forest degradation.

Agricultural waste such as coconut husks, shells, bamboo, and rice hulls provide the raw materials for these briquettes. Salazar noted that using these materials reduces pressure on forests while supporting a circular economy.

The project is currently piloted within the Ulot Watershed Model Forest in Paranas, Samar, and Salazar said DENR plans to expand the reach of these briquetting machines, which compress carbonized powder into uniform fuel blocks.

Salazar explained that high LPG costs are fueling an increase in illegal charcoal production as households switch to firewood. He has directed field personnel to intensify forest patrols to prevent unauthorized timber poaching.

“My directive to our field personnel is to intensify our watch in our forest to prevent timber poaching,” Salazar added. He clarified that charcoal making remains legal only if wood is sourced from designated firewood areas.

Angelito Villanueva, DENR-8 assistant regional director for technical services, said the initiative is part of a PHP 5 million project. The Canadian government provides the funding for this environmental effort.

The project began last year and focuses on local capacity building and the establishment of a nature school along the Ulot Watershed. This concept was inspired by global best practices from the International Model Forest Network. (PNA)