The DBP Forest Program is an initiative of the Development Bank of the Philippines primarily to protect the country’s critical watersheds and coastal areas and at the same time, enhance protection of the environment. Implemented in 2005, open forest areas are selected for planting of high value fruit and forest trees and mangroves that will reduce soil / coastal erosion, conserve water, increase biodiversity, serve as spawning ground for fishes and crustaceans, serve as protection against strong wave incursion, and promote rural livelihood opportunities.
Objectives
The DBP Forest Program aims to achieve the following:
- To support and encourage greening and reforestation of the country.
- To provide rural livelihood opportunities.
- To prevent soil/coastal erosion, absorb rainfall, conserve water.
- To promote biodiversity, protect and restore habitat as well as mitigate climate change.
- To serve as a natural guard against strong wave incursion.
- To increase knowledge in technical planting requirements, and environmental protection.
- To strengthen organizations of selected DBP Forest Partners in terms of information, capability and experiences.
Eligibility Criteria in Selecting/Evaluating Forest Partner/Project
Pre-Qualification Criteria
- Priority Areas:
- Urban Park / communities and typhoon stricken area/s
- Project sites have slope of 18% and above
- Not to be subjected to land use change
- Areas proven to be compatible with certain high value fruit trees
- Accessible to allow easy bringing in of planting stocks and to facilitate monitoring and bringing of produce to markets
- Partner has tenurial control over the project area
- Rehabilitation of existing forest project sites of good standing forest partners/successfully implemented projects
- High poverty incidence
- DBP Community
- Priority Areas:
Areas linked with the Bank clients or borrowers
- DBP Water Resources and other Related Programs – Where Bank–funded water supply projects or hydropower projects are located needing reforestation or rehabilitation of coastal mangrove areas
- Forest–Based Manufacturing Projects
Classification and Size of a DBP Forest Project Site
Upland and Coastal Forest projects are classified into revenue-generating and non-revenue generating. For a forest project to have ecological impact in terms of soil and water conservation and significant economic yield, the desirable size for each type of forest is as follows:
- Revenue Generating – Desirable Size: 50—200 hectares
- Fruit Tree Forest or Mixed with Other Trees/ Crops
- Other economically useful species
- Non-Revenue Generating
- Mangrove Forest – Desirable Size: 10-100 hectares
- Forest Trees not for Cutting – Desirable Size: 50-200 hectares
- Special Projects
- Urban Park/ Historical/ Cultural Park – Desirable Size: 5-100 hectares
- Revenue Generating – Desirable Size: 50—200 hectares
(more visible sites)
- Bangsamoro Forest project – Desirable Size: 50-200 hectares
(located in ARMM which includes the Provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, and Sultan Kudarat and its seat of government, Cotabato. Cities include Lamitan and Marawi)
Eligible Forest Partners
- State Universities and Colleges
- Local Government Units (LGUs)
- Peoples Organization (POs) that have been awarded Community Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA) by DENR
- Other Government Agencies which have large forest areas under their management.
Assistance to be Provided by DBP to Forest Partners
- 100% Cost of Planting Stocks (PS)
- 40% Cost of PS for site preparation, plantation establishment, maintenance and protection
- 10% Cost of PS for mortality
- 10% Cost of PS for livelihood assistance
- Rehabilitation of existing projects, as may be approved by the DBP Management Committee
DBP Forest Book
DBP Forest Brochure
DBP Native Tree Seed Bank Project
Project Location Map
DBP Forest Projects
- Application Forms: