The Philippines is now considered as one of the most severely deforested countries in the tropics and one of those countries with the lowest per capita forest cover in the Asia Pacific region. Reforestation and plantation development continue at a very slow pace, resulting to decline in sustainable wood supply and making the country a net importer of wood. In response to the alarming condition of the forestry sector, the Philippines has embraced the concept of Sustainable Forest Management as the main policy thrust in order to guarantee the long-term stability of its forest resources.
