Allocation and Tenure Instruments on Forest Lands: a Source Book

This Source Book, prepared by the Philippine Environmental Governance (EcoGov) Project in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is intended to serve as a reference material to help DENR field personnel in guiding communities, investors, local government units (LGUs), private persons and other organizations and individuals desiring to apply for tenure instruments on forest lands.

It covers all existing tenure and allocation agreements for the management and use of forest resources in forest lands. Agreements generally refer to long-term tenure instruments in forest lands with right of occupation. This material also features information on permits and licenses, which are generally short-term instruments where the holder is given the privilege to conduct developmental activities within the forest lands but without right of occupation.

Each agreement and instrument is briefly described. Sample specimen of the various permits and instruments are provided so that the reader would know how they look like.

This Source Book hopes to elevate the level of transparency in the system of allocating tenure and access rights to upland resources in the Philippines by facilitating access to this information, especially by the local stakeholders including local governments. It improves accountability as the public is properly guided as to the functions and responsibilities of concerned agencies and offices and tenure holders. Also, it encourages participation as the issuance of the instrument provides for participatory decision-making among the DENR, LGUs and other stakeholders.