TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Eastern Visayas has reactivated a regional task force to combat deforestation and protect the region’s critical forests and wildlife species.
This regional anti-illegal logging task force includes officials and personnel from various agencies, such as the Philippine National Police, the Aviation Security Unit, the Philippine Coast Guard, and local DENR offices, including the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices and the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office.
On Wednesday, the DENR gathered these stakeholders in Tacloban City to orient them on their roles in conserving the region’s remaining forest cover, addressing the challenges posed by climate change, understanding various environmental laws, and assessing the current status of the region’s forests and wildlife resources.
"We are thankful because our partners in law enforcement have been helping the DENR. It’s time to work together as one, because we cannot do it alone. Help us strengthen our advocacy on anti-illegal logging," said DENR Eastern Visayas Regional Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio during the meeting.
The task force's initial actions will include establishing 24/7 checkpoints operated by DENR and law enforcement personnel, developing a comprehensive database to support anti-illegal logging efforts, and equipping the task force with the necessary resources to effectively carry out its mission.
A 2022 report from Forest Foundation Philippines highlighted that Eastern Visayas has a total forest cover of 505,796 hectares, with the majority located in Samar. Samar boasts the most extensive unfragmented tracts of lowland rainforest in the Philippines, providing a natural habitat for a diverse range of species.
According to the report, more than half of the region's biodiversity is unique to Eastern Visayas, including 38 species of mammals, 215 species of birds, 51 species of reptiles, and 26 species of amphibians. The forests are also home to over 1,000 species of plants, 53% of which are endemic to the region. (PNA)
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