(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Thursday, 26 December 2024) π—¦π—¬π—‘π—’π—£π—¦π—œπ—¦: Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Mindanao. Northeast Monsoon affecting Northern Luzon. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to ITCZ. Possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Moderate to strong winds coming from Northeast will prevail with moderate to rough seas / (2.1 to 3.7 meters).


Thursday, 25 July 2024

Project LAWIN reduces illegal logging hotspots in Caraga

By Mariesh F. CeledeΓ±a

OIC, Regional Executive Director Maritess M. Ocampo

BUTUAN CITY –  “There is a significant decrease in the number of illegal logging hotspots in the Caraga region from 17 to 6.”

This is the notable statement of OIC, Regional Executive Director Maritess M. Ocampo of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on July 16 at DENR Regional Office Training Center, Butuan City.

“In 2017, DENR Caraga recorded 17 illegal logging hotspots in the region. In 2023, it decreased to 7, and in June 2024 one more area was trampled down and under probationary review. We are determined to bring this down to 50 percent by 2027 or 2028,” Dir. Ocampo said in detail.

“These illegal logging hotspots are from the province of Agusan del Sur namely, municipalities of Esperanza, Talacogon, San Luis, and Loreto, including the towns of Lianga and Lingig in Surigao del Sur,” she added.

This accomplishment can be attributed to the Project Landscape and Wildlife Indicator System (LAWIN) which is a forest and biodiversity protection system that aims to protect, conserve, properly use, and sustainably manage forestry and biological resources.

Project LAWIN has 67 forest protection officers who vigilantly patrol and monitor the forest conservation areas in the region. A total of 7,951 kilometers were being patrolled by these forest protection officers exceeding their target of 6,960 kilometers in 2023.

“Sustaining the efforts on anti-illegal logging operation is another contributor in the decrease of illegal logging hotspots in Caraga wherein DENR and law enforcement agencies of the government apprehended a total of 667,260.77 board feet (bd. ft.) in 410 incidents and confiscated 743,151 bd.ft. in 486 incidents,” Ocampo relayed. 

DENR Caraga further collaborated with adjacent regions like Bukidnon in Northern Mindanao and Davao Region so the illegal forest products will be intercepted and will not reach the end market. It also strengthens projects under the National Greening Program (NGP) so communities in the illegal hotspot areas will divert their income from cutting trees and instead help the government against illegal logging.

Caraga region, as the timber capital of the South, has 976,072.21 hectares of forest conservation area. (MFC/PIA-Caraga)

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