112 : Certificate of Stewardship

Overview

The CBFM strategy recognizes the individual rights of occupancy through the granting of the Certificate of Stewardship (CS). The CS is an agreement entered into by and between the government and individuals/families actually occupying or tilling portions of the forestlands covered with Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) Agreement.

Main Governing Policies	Executive Order No. 263 series of 1995; DENR Administrative Order No. 2004-29; DENR Administrative Order No. 1998-45
Qualified Recipients [6]	Filipino citizens of legal age Actual tillers or cultivators of the land to be allocated Member of the People’s Organization which was granted a CBFM area subject to the CS application Willing to develop the land as well as participate in CBFM activities Not a previous holder of CS that was cancelled for a cause
Period of CS [6]	Co-terminus with CBFM Agreement
Application Requirements [6]	PO Resolution requesting the DENR through the CENRO for the issuance of the CS with the following attachments: Census of forest land occupants Agreement on the rights and responsibilities of CS holders Individual application for CS of prospective beneficiaries, duly endorsed by the PO head Community map (parcellary map) of the area showing parcels actually occupied and/or cultivated by individual families, properly numbered, and validated in the general meeting
Available Areas [6,7]	CBFM areas
Where to Apply [6]	Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)
Approving Authority [8]	CENRO (below 3 hectares) PENRO (More than 3 hectares to 5 hectares)
Applicable Fees [4,6]	None
Incentives and Privileges [1,4,6,7]	Possess, occupy, develop, protect, manage and utilize forestlands and its resources in accordance with the ratified CRMF, and appropriate methods and practices, and such other rights as may be granted by law All income/proceeds derived from the land shall accrue to the CS holder. In case the resources were planted through the project involving the CBFM-PO, the proceeds shall be subjected to the agreed benefit-sharing mechanisms. Has the right to transfer or convey, in whole or in part, the area covered by CS to any co-member of the CBFM-PO who is qualified to be a CS beneficiary. Has the right to nominate his/her heir to the Stewardship Agreement, to facilitate orderly transfer upon death or incapacity or change of vocation of the CS holder. Upon expiration of the Stewardship Agreement, the CS holder or direct next-of-kin shall have the right of pre-emption to any subsequent Stewardship Agreement covering their allocated land. May avail of assistance provided by other government and non-government organizations
CS Holder Responsibilities [6]	Develop and utilize their allocated land consistent with sound ecological practices in accordance with the approved plans of the CBFM-PO Assist in the conduct of parcellay survey and delineation of boundaries Formulate farm plan and participate in the preparation of the CBFMA Five-Year Work Plan (FYWP) Protect and conserve forest growth both within the CBFMA area and those areas adjacent thereto from unauthorized activities Preserve monuments and other landmarks indicating corners and outline of boundaries of individual property rights Has the priority right to sub-lease from the People’s Organization to which the CS holder is a member, portions within the CBFMA areas that are adjacent to or near the land covered by the CS Follow forest and environmental laws, policies, rules and regulations (e.g., EO 23, easement, etc.)
Development Plans [6,7,9,10, 11,12]	Individual Development Plan*   *Should be in accordance with the Community Resource Management Framework and Five-Year Work Plan
Allowable Activities [6,7,9]	Plantation establishment in open areas Application of silvicultural programs such as timber stand improvement and assisted natural regeneration Development of non-timber forest resources, Biodiversity utilization and conservation Agroforestry (in areas identified as suitable for agriculture) Harvesting & transport of planted trees Transferability of the CS
Prohibited Activities [2,6,7]	Cutting of trees along gullies, steep slopes, river channels and other identified critical areas Cutting of naturally growing trees Cutting of mangroves for coastal areas

Flow Chart

Policy References

Main Policies

The following are the existing policies used as references in this index:

Code	Policy No.	Policy Title	Date Signed	Signatory
1	EO No. 263 series of 1995	Adopting Community-based Forest Management as the National Strategy to Ensure the Sustainable Development of the Country’s Forestlands Resources and Providing Mechanisms for Its Implementation	1995 Jul 19	Pres. Fidel V. Ramos
2	EO No. 23 series of 2011	Declaring a Moratorium on the Cutting and Harvesting of Timber in the Natural and Residual Forests and Creating the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force	2011 Feb 1	Pres. Benigno Aquino III
3	DAO 1998-42	Production Sharing Agreement with People’s Organization in the Harvest of Forest Plantations Owned by the Government Inside CBFM Areas	1998 Jun 24	Sec. Victor O. Ramos
4	DAO 1998-43	Exemption of Community Based Forest Management Projects from the Payment of Administrative Fees	1998 Jun 24	Sec. Victor O. Ramos
5	DAO 1998-44	Guidelines on the Establishment and Management of the CBFM Special Account	1998 Jun 24	Sec. Victor O. Ramos
6	DAO 1998-45	Guidelines Governing the Issuance and Transfer of Certificate of Stewardship (CS) within CBFM Areas	1998 Jun 24	Sec. Victor O. Ramos
7	DAO 2004-29	Revised Rules and Regulations for the Implementation of Executive Order 263, otherwise known as the Community-Based Forest Management Strategy (CBFMS)	2004 Aug 25	Sec. Elisea G. Gozun
8	DAO 2016-07	DENR Manual of Authorities on Technical Matters	2016 May 19	Sec. Ramon J.P. Paje
9	DAO 2020-18	Promoting Tree Plantation Development and Liberalizing Harvesting and Transport of Planted Trees and Tree Derivatives for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development	2020 Dec 17	Sec. Roy A. Cimatu
10	FMB TB 20	Enhanced Guidelines and Procedures in the Preparation/Updating of the Community Resource Management Framework (CRMF) and Five-Year Work Plan (FYWP) for the CBFMA	2016 Apr 19	Dir. Ricardo L. Calderon
11	FMB TB 20-1	Approval/Affirmation of Community Resource Management Framework (CRMF) and Five-Year Work Plan (FYWP) for the CBFMA	2017 Jun 13	Dir. Nonito M. Tamayo
12	DAO 2021-17	Guidelines for the Affirmation of Community Resource Management Framework (CRMF) and Approval of Five-Year Work Plan (FYWP) of the Holders of Community-Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA)	2021 Jun 21	Sec. Roy A. Cimatu

 

 

Other Policies

The following are other existing policies related to CBFM and CS:

Policy No.	Policy Title	Date Signed	Signatory
DAO 1996-30	Integration of all the Community-based Forest Management Strategy and People-Oriented Forestry Programs and Projects into the DENR Regular Structure)	1996 Oct 10	Sec. Victor O. Ramos
DAO 1998-41	DAO 1998-41: Guidelines on the Establishment of Community-based Forest Management (CBFM) Projects within Watershed Reservations	1998 Jun 24	Sec. Victor O. Ramos
DAO 1999-11	Amending DAO 98 Series of 1998 to include CBFMP under the Coverage of Program D of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and the National Anti-Poverty Program	1999 Apr 14	Sec. Antonio H. Cerilles
DMC 1997-11	Operationalization of the CBFM Program at the Regional, PENR and CENR Offices	1997 Jul 18	Sec. Victor O. Ramos
DMC 1998-10	Test Implementation of the Project Impact Monitoring and Evaluation System (PRIMES) as Monitoring and Evaluation Guidelines for Community-Based Forest Management Program (CBFMP)	1998 Jun 24	Sec. Victor O. Ramos

Policy History

The following are the policies related to CBFMA and CS that were repealed and/or amended:

Policy No.	Policy Title	Date Signed	Signatory
DAO 1996-29	Rules and Regulations for the Implementation of Executive Order No. 263, Otherwise Known as the Community-based Forest Management Strategy (CBFMS)	1996 Oct 10	Sec. Victor O. Ramos
DAO 1998-10	Guidelines on the Establishment of Community-based Forest Management (CBFM) Projects within Mangrove Areas	1998 Mar 4	Sec. Victor O. Ramos
DAO 1999-29	Amendments of DENR A.O. No. 96-29 which prescribes the Rules and Regulations for the Implementation of Executive Order No. 263, otherwise known as the Community-Based Forest Management Strategy (CBFMS)	1999 Jul 22	Sec. Antonio H. Cerilles
DAO 2000-44	Amending Certain Provisions of DAO 96-29 and Providing Specific Guidelines for the Establishment and Management of Community-based Forest Management (CBFM) Projects within Protected Areas	2000 Jun 6	Sec. Antonio H. Cerilles
DAO 2003-11	Repealing DENR Administrative Order No. 1999-29 which Amends Certain Provisions of DAO 96-29 related to the Processing and Approval of Community-based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA)	2003 May 10	Sec. Elisea G. Gozun
DMC 1997-12	Guidelines for the Formulation of Community Resource Management Framework and Annual Work Plan for Community Based Forest Management Areas	1997 Jul 18	Sec. Victor O. Ramos

Related Documents

Frequently Asked Questions [link to document]

See Also

Community-Based Forest Management

National Greening Program

Harvesting and Transport