New JICA-DENR Project to Strengthen Forest Monitoring and Conservation in the Philippines

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently signed the Record of Discussions (RD) for new technical cooperation project (TCP), Enhancing Forest Monitoring Capacity for Sustainable Management and Conservation of Forests. The RD was signed by JICA Chief Representative BABA Takashi and by then DENR Secretary Raphael Lotilla.

The four-year new project will develop and operationalize a near real-time forest disturbance alert system and strengthen forest management capacities, mainly in project sites in the province of Nueva Vizcaya under the Upper Magat and Cagayan River Basin, and in the province of Nueva Ecija under the Pampanga River Basin. These areas were previously covered by the JICA financed Forestland Management Project (FMP) implemented from 2012 to 2024.

The new project builds on the results of the earlier twelve-year development cooperation project, which promoted communities-based forest management and livelihood development in selected watersheds in Luzon and Panay. The FMP established 71,300 hectares of tree and agroforestry plantations. Contined monitoring and management are necessary to protect these areas from threats such as illegal logging and forest fires and to sustain forest restoration efforts.

Estimates indicate that forest cover in the Philippines has declined significantly from roughly 60% in the 1930s to 24% today, influenced by a combination of factors such as logging, agricultural land conversion, mining, and forest fires over the decades. The resulting degradation has increased risks such as landslides, flooding, and reduced watershed capacity directly affecting communities across the Philippines. These vulnerabilities are further intensified by the impacts of climate change which amplify the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Effective management of upland forests is therefore critical, not only to conserve these areas but also to help safeguard lowland communities. Strengthening forest monitoring and management systems remains essential to safeguarding forest resources and sustaining restoration efforts.

Ensuring the effectiveness of the project, the near real-time forest disturbance alert system will be linked with the expanded Lawin forest monitoring system which is utilized for monitoring and reporting of forests, biodiversity, and activities that threaten them. JICA experts to be dispatched under the project will be working closely with DENR's Forest Management Bureau and Biodiversity Management Bureau. The project will also include capacity building through targeted training programs and policy recommendations.

This initiative supports broader cooperation priorities between Japan and the Philippines, particularly in strengthening environmental protection, climate resilience, and sustainable natural resource management. The project also contributes to JICA's Global Agenda on Nature Conservation by promoting ecosystem restoration, the use of nature-based solutions, and the integration of scientific data and evidence-based modeling to guide policy and field operations. Together, these efforts reinforce shared commitments to safeguarding forests and enhancing community resilience.

As the Philippines and Japan commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2026, the initiative underscores the shared commitment of DENR and JICA to further strengthen cooperation in sustainable forest management and environmental protection in the years ahead.