Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) seized six heavy-duty Stihl chain saws and 6,872 board feet of lumber and flitches during a string of anti-illegal logging operations in Infanta, Quezon, and Tanay, Rizal, early this month.
DENR Secretary Lito Atienza, who presented the seized chainsaws to the media at the DENR grounds in Quezon City, said the confiscation of the chainsaws bolstered their suspicion that illegal logging is on the rise with the onset of the summer season in the two provinces... [Continue]
Manila, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has computerized clearance forms for shipping logs and other forest products in the country for more efficient tracking of transactions that would cut down opportunities for illegal logging.
The DENR announced on Thursday that all its regional offices, except those in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, have started issuing computerized forms for clearances of timber and lumber shipments in a bid to eliminate fraud in such transactions... [Continue]
Butuan City, Philippines - Transparency Caraga, a non-government organization (NGO), said while legitimate businesses are failing or closing shop, gambling, illegal logging, and drugs have flourished in the Caraga region.
Transparency said most lending firms, one of the few profitable businesses in Caraga Region before, are suffering the brunt of delinquent collection particularly on micro-lending lending activities... [Continue]
Manila, Philippines - Environment Secretary Lito Atienza admitted on Thursday that corrupt environment personnel were behind the massive deforestation in the country, a practice that should be stopped to slow down climate change.
'The reasons for the degradation of forests are corruption and our own shortcomings,' Atienza said in his New Year message to officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources... [Continue]
13/09/2007
Manila, Philippines - Efforts to protect Philippine rain forests from illegal logging received a boost from a US$1.5 million (1 million) corporate donation for a reforestation project, an environmental group said Thursday.
Conservation International said its partnership with Japan's Toyota Motor Corp., which will provide the funds over the next three years, will help restore northeastern forests in an area larger than Switzerland... [Continue]
