Context and Problem

• The Philippines’ CBFM gained earlier popularity in Asia as a pioneering and radical effort in
  forest tenure reform. It is the government’s centerpiece in addressing poverty, environmental
  degradation and social inequity/injustice in forest lands
• The CBFM Program has left several gaps and weaknesses that need to be reviewed and
  addressed while opportunities for enhanced impacts also exist especially its potential for
  achieving “triple benefits”.
• Impacts of the CBFM Program based on case studies show positive results in terms of forest
  rehabilitation; however, data shows that forest cover continue to decline. With such a
  predicament, empirical information on forest fragmentation to assess changes in forest condition
  through time can provide the necessary explanation.
• As some CBFMAs will be expiring in a few years, there is a need to assess the current CBFM
  program by delving into current pressing issues, reviewing recent studies and synthesizing
  lessons learned from other ASEAN countries as basis for enhancing relevant policies and
  programs. The outputs from the assessment will also be the basis for incorporating new and
  emerging challenges within and outside the forestry sector and in setting the direction of the
  program for the next 25 years.

Specific Objectives

• doing a stocktaking of literature from 2001 to 2019; and
• conducting forest fragmentation analysis of selected CBFM sites to scientifically establish
  the reason for the increase or decline in forest cover in these areas

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