Abstract

ABSTRACT The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is mandated to lead in the sustainable management of the country’s natural resources. The continuous migration in forest and forest lands (FFL) and succeeding forest cover loss resulted in tenure reforms, with bundles of rights devolved to communities. Bundle of rights refers to a specific set of privilege granted to an individual or group of people, to do certain things with land or property. It includes access, use, management, exclusion and alienation rights. This study documented the migration trend and mode of land acquisition, extent of individual/collective rights, impact of secure tenure on livelihood and forest conservation, and how property rights in Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) areas improved. Migration happened in three important periods, with migrants wanting to secure better livelihood. The issuance of tenure instruments legitimized claims, allowed tenure holders to use, manage, and exclude others from accessing and using resources. While the ‘bundle of rights’ is within the terms and conditions of the DENR, the tenure reform is still a better option than any other programs implemented in the past. Lessons learned may be used as basis in further improving the provisions of the CBFM program in the future.

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