Forestry in the news

Media

Part of Forestry Leaves

Title: Forestry in the news
Language: English
Year: 1954
Rights
Fulltext: •FORESTRY IN THE NEWS• NEW FORESTRY POLICY BARED A new forestry policy was recommended yesterday by Agriculture Secretary Salvador Araneta to President Magsaysay. Araneta said this new forestry policy involves the implementation of a 12-point program, as follows: 1. Free distribution of forest seedlings to farmers to encourage them to plant foreat trees, eapecially around the boundaries of their farms. 2. Require applicants of public lands to plant a certain percentage of the area applied for to tree farms. 3. Hilly lands within forest areas that are bare will be given under SO-year leases for the establishment of tree farms. 4. To supply freely all seedlings needed by the public under these tree progrll1118 and to this end to increase the number of nurseries of the Bureau of Forestry. S. Cutover areas have enough seedlings for natural reforestation end do not need to be reforested if they can be protected against "kaiiigineros." For this reason, the number of forest guards should be increased. 6. During summer when kaiiigineroa are active in destroying the forest, the cooperation of the air force will be requested to detect the activitie1 of kaiiigineros. 7. Existing forest concessions will be required to conduct their logging operations in a way that will make possible the natural regeneration of the forest. 8. New forest concessions to be granted will be obliged to do selective logging to provide for the continuous development of the forest. 9. In provinces or areas where the forest has already been reduced to an amount less than the required minimum, no new forest concession will be granted until the area of forest has again reached the required minimum. This is the situation in the island of Negros. 10. Exportation of logs to Japan will be discouraged by requiring that exporters will have to exportl in the form of lumber at least 10 per cent of their uports. 11. Present kaiiigineros and squatters will be taken care of by giving them long term leases in the forest area, provided they agree to plant them with trees. If they can not develop a tree farm, they will be provided with agricultural lands in the same way the Huks are provided with agricultural lands. 12. An intensified educational campaign in the vernacular will be conducted. Manila Daily Bulletin, July 22, 1954 September, 1954 DIVERSION OF LOGS TO JAPAN THREATENS MARKET IN U.S., PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE FINDS The Philippines is now on the brink of losing her million dollar United States lumber market which will adversely affect her total economic set-up. This warning was sounded yesterday by the fourman committee created recently by President Magsaysay to study the problems of the local lumber industry. This is due to the fact, the committee said, that Filipino lumber producers now find it more profitable to export logs to Japan than lumber to the United States. The result, the committee added, is that at present the United States market is inadequately supplied, causing a well-founded fear among American consumers that the situation will eventually lead to a total loss of the United States markets for Philippine lumber. "Our loss of the U.S. market will be a regrettable consequence, considering that this is the only stable outlet for Philippine production that will bolster our dollar ezchange reserves," the group said. The committee also deplored the fact that some of the logs exported to Japan are processed into sawn lumber and plywood and re-exported to the United States where they undersell lumber comin1 directly from the Philippines. This anomalous situation, the committee said, has likewise resulted in confusion and in undermining the reputation and quality of prestige of Pl woods in the United States as Japanese exporters have been laz insofar as standards and grades of lumber exported to the United States are concerned. The committee recommended that the country study how best to meet the enormo1111 demand for Philippine lumber in the United States. The committee is composed of Rep. Guillermo R. Sanchez, Public Works Acting Secretary Vicente Orosa, Central Bank Gov. Miguel Cuademo, and Antonio de las Alas. Manila Times, Aug. 7, 1954 * * * I wanted to secure from the director of forestry a permit to gather an additional 9,132 kilos of almaciga, but it was too late to send the request by mail. So, on July S, which was a holiday, I wired my son in Manila to go to the forestry office to file my request and to pay the required fees. On July 6, my request was approved. On July 7, I received by plane the corresponding papers. That's an indication that the new director of forestry is on Page 55 the job. If only all government officials would do their work as promptly and efficiently as he!-A resident of Puerto Princesa, Palawan-FP, _July 31, 1954 * • * PROPOSE MORE PLYWOOD EXPORT Japanese plywood manufactured from Philippine logs is offering "stiff competition" to exports from this country in the American market, a returning lumber e:1:ecutive reported last night. "And rightly so, because there is a big market for Japanese plywood in the United States," said Renato Arevalo, director of the Sta. Clara Lumber Company. Back from a two-month business and pleasure trip abroad, Arevalo observed that Philippine lumber exporters were not manufacturing enough plywood for export to other countries. "Our plywood products are also acceptable in the United States," he said. "The trouble is we have not been able to produce enough to create a demand aboard." He said that although a number of local firms have branched out from lumber production to engage in plywood-making, these companies have produced just enough for local consumption. "We need to step up our production in order to edge out our competitors who are dependin~ on us for their raw materials. That way we would be able to survive competition abroad," he said. Arevalo noted that there is a continued demand for Philippine hardwoods in the U.S. He observed that although hardwoods from other counbiea were also competing with it, American consumers have continued patronizing P.I. exports because of its superior quality.-The Manila Times, Aug. 11 * * * TIMBER SMUGGLING EXPOSED Large scale illegal · cutting of trees and timber smuggling reportedly going on inside the Marivele1 Military Reservation in the province of Bataan was disclosed yesterday by Agriculture Secretary Salvador Araneta. This information was embodied in a communication relayed to Vice-President Carlos P. Garcia, in his capacity as secretary of foreign affairs, asking for the status of the said reservation and the result of the delimitation undertaken by the joint committee of the United States and Philippine Governments. Disturbed et the rate forest areas in Bataan are being denuded of cover, Secretary Araneta warned that this sad state will upose the province to soil erosion, floods and eventually, the death of irrigation water in dry seasons. Secretary Araneta requested the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to make the necessary representations with the United States Government so that "approPage .56 priate measures" can be taken to ll1T8lt illecal cutting of timber in the province.-The Manila Times, Aug. 11 * * * FERRER REASSIGNS ECIJA FORESTER Agriculture Undersecretary Jaime N. Ferrer recently ordered the reassignment to another province of the assistant disbict forester of Nueva Ecija upon learning that he has a brother in the province who is engaged in the lumber business and is a member of the Nueva Ecija Producers Association. An investigating committee of the Bureau of Forestry was assigned to look into the charge that Regalado Benavidez, Nueva Ecija assistant forester is also engaging in the lumber business.-The Sunday Chronicle, Aug. 8 * * * BUREAU CERTIFIES ALIENABLE LANDS Forestry Director Felipe R. Amos revealed that there were 11,970 hectares of land that are no longer needed for forest purposes that were certified as alienable and disposable lands, and 10,866 hectares that were classified as timberlands last month (July). The said lands are located in the following places: Davao City, Davao: 1,972 hectares as alienable and disposable lands, and 1,288 as timberlands; Guianga, Davao: 308-82; Sablayan, Mindoro Occidental: 3,368-99,400; Carranclan, Nueva Ecija; 1,26096; Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija: 12-0; Rizal, Nueva Ecija: 121-0; and lpil, Zamboanca del Sur: 4,929-0. Of the 28 cases of individual land clanification requeets acted upon, 7 cases covering a total area of 193.56 hectares within the unclassified public forests were certified as alienable and disposable lands, 13 cases were found within areas already certified as alienable and disposable lands1 and 8 cases were found within areas certified for forestry. No individual public land application wu acted during the month of July, 1954.-Sunday Times, Aug. 15, 1954 * * * TIMBER INDUSTRY FEATURED IN DOCUMENTARY Fll.M The timber industry in Mt. Province, with emphasis on logging and utilization, was featured recently in a documentary film, "The Heritage", which was taken for the bureau of forestry. The movie feature was taken by the Smith Sound System Laboratories, which was represented by Prudencio Mariano. A representative of the local forestry office was assigned upon instruction of forestry director Felipe R. Amos to accompany Mariano and his staff of cameramen and technicians to Km. 44, in a typical logging oamp along the Halaema Mountain Road. ((Continued on page 58) FORESTRY LEAVES IN THIS CORNER the houses and other establishments. To foster a better understanding and promote 2. Nepotism and its effects on the laborers. cooperation, to inject and revitalize the spirit of re- 3. The performance budget. search and to iron out and enlighten the personnel on the problems and difficulties in administration, our new Chief of the Division of Forest Investigation, Forester Valentin Sajor, had initiated a novel activity barely a month since he assumed his new position. This program consists of weekly conferences followed by open forums among the personnel of the Division, College of Forestry, Forest Products Laboratory and Forest Experiment Station. The first of these weekly conferences was convened on August 4, 1954 and has continued regularly ever since. During these meetings, pressing administrative questions and difficulties are threshed out and discussed. In addition, one or two technical men from the institutions cited above are invited to speak on a subject or problem relative to forestry and other allied subjects. Some of the important topics so far presented during these conferences were: 1. Sanitation in the park and in the premises of FORESTRY IN THE . (Continued from page 54) Among the phases of the timber industry depicted in the documentary film were the felling of trees by loggers, yarding, and loading to the tramline. From the cutting area, the scene shifted to the gold mining districts, where the utilization of the Benguet pine timber was also depicted.--Sunday Times, Aug. 15, 1954 * * * PHILIPPlt-."'ES WILL HONOR TREES The nation will pay homage to its trees this year on September 11, 1954 as planned by a committee in compliance to Presidential Proclamation No. 30. It must be remembered that trees are the associates of man since creation time that it is but proper to think of them even once a year in the perpetuation of their species. Trees, like man, live and die with the difference that trees are under man's service all the time, while man himself mercilessly and uselessly kill trees many a time. This fact seems to lead to misunderstanding of the co-existence of man and vegetation in the plan of world creation. But some men realized this difference. They are wise and feel sympathy, admiration and love to trees and decided to do something for them. Hence, Arbor Day is created as a means to pay trees a respectful homage. When President Magsaysay was a Congressman in the year 194!!, he planted a Narra tree (Pterocarpus indicus) 1 ¥2 meters high during Arbor Day on September 10, 1949, and now, this tree is 14 meters in height with a circumference of 124 centiPage 58 4. Responsibilities of Student-Rangers and Belo Boys. 5. How to conduct Research Work. 6. A Planting Plan for a Portion of the MaralasMolawin (Pili) Block. 7. Relationship of the College of Forestry and the Division of Forest Investigation on Research. 8. Working Outline for the Study of the Behavior of some Wild Dipterocarp Seedlings When Transplanted in the Forest. 9. Organization, Functions and Activities of the Forest Products Laboratory. 10. Soil Cover and Necessary Balance of Forest Cover for Multiple Purposes. Lively discussions and constructive suggestions from those present highlighted the conferences. It is planned that other men outside the Bureau and College of Forestry will be invited to speak in future meetings. D. V. J. meters. It bore its first fruits in abundance in 1953. The site of planting is in front of the church in Castillejos, Zambales. If everybody will plant a tree in his own yard, he will have a nice and beautiful one like that planted by the President, after five years. In the Philippines the responsibility of carrying out the work falls in the National Arbor Day Committee headed by Undersecretary Ferrer who is doing the best to make the occasion a success. The Bureaus of Forestry and Plant Industry are preparing the planting materials in the Central Experiment Station, Manila, of the first and in different nurseries of the second situated in many parts of the Philippines. They may be secured free of charge with the permission of the respective Directors. According to Secretary Ferrer, this year's Arbor Day is "an intensified anti-kaifigin campaign for one solid year" and his Committee approved and passed the slogan "Plant and Protect Our Trees and Conserve the Nation's Wealth." The Committee's work is symbolic of our appreciation to trees. Last year's accomplishment is a history of some 4,582 . 055 trees planted in public grounds, plazas, parks, school grounds and roads where they won the love and admiration of the people.-V. Parras, Sunday Times, Aug. 29, 1954 Woodman, spare that tree! Touch not a single bough! In youth it sheltered me, And I'll protect it now. G. P. Morris FORESTRY LEAVES