3 February 2011, Bworldonline news - An indefinite nationwide logging ban has been ordered by President Benigno S. C. Aquino III, following through on a plan to address forest denudation blamed as having contributed to recent floods and landslides.

Executive Order (EO) 23, signed last Feb. 1 and announced by Mr. Aquino in a speech at the inauguration of a water treatment facility in Muntinlupa City yesterday, will take effect immediately after its publication in a newspaper.

"A moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests of the entire country is hereby declared unless lifted after the effectivity of this EO," the directive states.

Natural and residual forests were defined in the order as those "composed of indigenous trees or not planted by man." Environment Secretary Ramon J. Paje said the country had some 7.2 million hectares of natural forest cover remaining.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was enjoined from issuing new Integrated Forest Management Agreements, a production sharing contract between the DENR and an applicant; Socialized Integrated Forest Management Agreements which grant rights to develop, utilize and manage a small tract of forest land; and Community-Based Forest Management Agreements, an arrangement between the government and the local community.

The DENR was also prohibited from issuing or renewing tree cutting permits in all natural and residual forests except for the clearing of road right of way by the Public Works department, site preparation for tree plantations; and silvicultural treatment or cultivation of forest trees, provided that logs from such activities are tuned over.

Tree-cutting activities from cultural practices as provided under the Indigenous Peoples Act may be allowed subject to strict compliance with DENR guidelines, the EO states.

The department was also told to strictly implement a forest certification system aligned with United Nations guidelines to ensure the sustainability of legal raw material sources and the chain of custody of timber and wood products.

Sawmills, veneer plants and other wood processing plants will be closed if they are unable to show proof they have been using sustainable sources of legally cut logs for at least five years. Documentation should be submitted within one month from the effectivity of the EO.