Philippine E-Journals

Village-based Illegal Logging in Northern Luzon

Ben J. Wallace

 

Abstract:

In Southeast Asia, it is human intervention into nature, through the uses and misuses of technological practices and perceptions, that primarily account for deforestation. The bulk of criticism and blame for deforestation in the Philippines from both legal and illegal logging is usually attributed to large logging corporations. The logging groups most often overlooked are small teams of poor farmers who are involved in illegal logging activities. In this paper, the illegal logging activities of poor farmers are examined, data on the number of trees logged each year by villagers are presented, and the extent of deforestation is projected in the greater Northern Luzon area.