About one hectare of the forest reserve area in Brgy. Canlusong, E.B. Magalona has been damaged by timber poaching and illegal charcoal making activities, the Task Force Ilahas said.

More than 6,000 board feet of round timber were also discovered cut by poachers from the area, E.B. Magalona police chief Santiago Rapiz said.

About 850 sacks of charcoal were also reported to taken from the area, E.B. Magalona Environment and Natural Resources Officer Ariel Malunes, said in his report to Mayor Alfonso Gamboa.

The recent discovery of the cutting of premium species of trees was made by members of the Biodiversity Monitoring and Evaluation Team on patrol in Sitio Mariga-uk, about five kilometers from rebel-infested Brgy. Canlusong, E.B. Magalona.

The BIOME members also discovered charcoal pits in the area.

Task Force Ilahas investigations showed that the poachers used an ax in cutting lauan and tanguile trees, an act prohibited by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Of the more than 6,000 board feet of round timber cut by poachers, only 1,200 board feet were brought to Canlusong barangay proper, about 27 kilometers from E.B. Magalona town, because of an almost impassable terrain and bad weather, Rapiz said.

Malunes said 109 prime species of trees with an average of 34 centimeters had been cut by poachers and converted either into charcoal or lumber.

The joint team of E.B. Magalona police and Task Force Ilahas was accompanied by Gamboa in a dialog with Canlusong barangay residents Friday.

Rapiz said they are trying to identify those behind the forest destruction.

The municipal government of E.B. Magalona has recommended to the DENR the cancellation of the charcoal permits to residents.

The Task Force Ilahas has also noted that the issuance of such permits by DENR is being abused by those engaged in the business of selling charcoal.

TFI investigations show that they usually apply for a permit to cut trees from private property and convert them into charcoal. In reality, however, the trees being cut are in the forest reserve area.

Meanwhile, the police also impounded a passenger jeep loaded with 25 sacks of charcoal, that had been intercepted by the Task Force Ilahas Saturday at the Carabalan Road in Brgy. 2, Himamaylan City.

TFI investigations traced the charcoal to a reforestation project area in Sitio Bulod, Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan.*GPB

back to top