By Andrea Joy Anas
Editor’s Note: Aya is currently a Senior Climate Policy Analyst (with a focus on Climate Governance) with the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities.
The CBFMA Policy Analysis and Inception Workshop, cited in this blog, served as a collaborative space to validate initial findings on the challenges and opportunities in community-based forest management. It brought together local stakeholders—including people’s organizations, LGU representatives, and DENR field officers—to share their experiences, provide community-level insights, and help refine policy directions and strategies to strengthen community-led forest and mangrove management.
At the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), we’ve long focused on pushing for climate action that’s fair, inclusive, and rooted in the daily realities of Filipino communities. This year, the organization has found itself exploring new ground by expanding our forestry work to include community-based forest management (CBFM). We recognize how critical forests are to building climate resilience, protecting biodiversity, and sustaining livelihoods. So, we began exploring how we could help strengthen community-led efforts to manage and protect these vital ecosystems.
To kick off this new direction, ICSC co-organized a two-day workshop with The Asia Foundation on June 9 at Tacloban City, Leyte and June 10 in Paranas, Samar. The event brought together a mix of participants––including representatives from local governments, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) field officers, people’s organizations, and researchers––to talk about the country’s existing community-based forest management efforts, particularly the Community-Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA).
CBFMA is a partnership between the government (through DENR) and local people’s organizations (PO). Through this agreement, communities are given the right to care for and sustainably manage a portion of forest land. They also gain tenure and access to resources, provided they commit to conservation and proper management practices.
On the first day of the workshop, we sat down with researchers and technical experts to unpack what was working, what wasn’t, and where reforms could make a difference through a development entrepreneurship lens. The group flagged issues that many communities encountered, like how preparing management plans and maps can be too technical and expensive. We also discussed the lack of clarity in some rules, especially with conflicting land tenure programs.
One big insight that stood out to me was how communities, despite their hard work in planting and protecting trees, sometimes feel unsure if they’ll actually benefit from the resources they’ve invested in. Add the stress of renewing agreements based mainly on paperwork instead of actual performance, and it becomes clear why many people feel discouraged. Because of this, there is a need to push for policy reforms that reward long-term management and commitment to the forest. The renewal and application processes must also be made simpler and more accessible, so communities aren’t weighed down by complex technical requirements.
The second day gave us the chance to validate these issues with the communities themselves. We held a validation workshop in Paranas, Samar, with representatives from local POs, LGUs, and DENR field offices. Their responses and the stories they shared were deeply rooted in lived experience.
For upland communities, the CBFMA has definitely helped protect forests, but we heard how the process of applying or renewing agreements can be overwhelming, especially for small organizations with limited capacity. Leadership turnover, lack of funds, and minimal LGU support also came up as persistent hurdles. The people were clear: if we want these efforts to last, we must make the system simpler, more supportive, and more responsive to the needs of those on the ground.
What really struck me, though, was the conversation on mangroves: In Paranas, many coastal areas are degraded, yet no formal CBFMA arrangements exist. We learned that mangrove zones are harder to manage due to overlapping claims, illegal activities, and a lack of clear policy. Some fishponds have been abandoned, but haven’t been officially handed back for restoration. Still, there’s hope, and communities want to be part of the solution. They just need clearer guidance, better coordination, and support to pursue sustainable options like eco-tourism or aquaculture.
Across both forest and mangrove ecosystems, a few key themes emerged: communities need simpler processes, more capacity-building, and stronger partnerships with LGUs and national agencies. Most of all, they need to feel that their efforts are recognized, and that the work they’re doing matters not just for their families, but for the country’s climate and ecological future. Moving forward, we must dive deeper into these stories: conducting case studies can help us better understand the realities on the ground and identify concrete, responsive policy reforms that will truly support community-led forest management.
This workshop was just the start of ICSC’s work in CBFM, but it reminded me of a truth we’ve always known: the best solutions are the ones shaped by those who live with the issues every day.
