Log ban in Nueva Ecija [Philippines]: its impact on upland communities

Results of the study revealed the following: (1) significant differences were found as regards to the means of livelihood of upland residents before and after the log ban. There was a decrease in the residents who were laborers and those who depended on gathering forest products for a living after the log ban. (2) significant increase in the number of upland folks whose means of livelihood were employment, farming, backyard hog raising, and livestock raising. There was a significant decrease in the number of families earning lower than P10,000 a year and a significant increase in the number of families earning P100,000 and above. The utilization of forest products decreased significantly after the log ban. The common species of animals and trees in the upland areas had decreased significantly after the log ban. The common species of wild animals and trees in the upland areas had decreased significantly. The following changes in the ecosystem observed by the upland residents were as follows: degradation of forests, soil erosion, frequent landslides, abnormal weather, long dry season, dried streams and streams and silted rivers, and reservoirs. (3) local government units put up projects and programs for upland communities like the "Clean and Green", tree planting, municipal nurseries, farm to market roads, forest tree parks, and reforestation. The DENR [Department of Environment and Natural Resources] is pushing vigorously for the following programs: Community-based Forest Land Management Agreement, Contract Reforestation, Industrial Forest Management, and Socialized Industrial Forest Management Agreement. The findings have implications on forest management, such as massive information drive about the need to conserve biodiversity and prevent further deterioration of the ecosystem, using fair and ecologically sound farming practices, and close monitoring of the forest ecosystem