USAID: U.S. SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO PROTECT FORESTS
MANILA, December 13, 2004 (STAR) By Marvin Sy - The United States government has been supportive of the Philippine government’s efforts to eradicate illegal logging.A fact sheet released by the US Embassy over the weekend showed that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) had been providing assistance to the Philippines in the preservation of the environment, including the reduction of illegal logging and the conservation of primary forests.
The assistance was being channeled through the Environment Governance Project (EcoGov) in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and local government units (LGUs).
A total of 79 LGUs in Northern Luzon, parts of the Visayas and Central and Western Mindanao have benefited from EcoGov.
Much of the assistance has been for the improvement of the management of forests and other natural resources.
Aurora and Nueva Vizcaya, two of the provinces adversely affected by three recent typhoons, were among the beneficiaries of the project.
The fact sheet stated that paralegal and law enforcement training were given to DENR personnel, local government officials and community groups in the two provinces.
USAID is also providing legal assistance to indigenous and local communities participating in community-based natural resource management programs through its Environment Justice Project.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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