Kidapawan City, Cotabato – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-12 (DENR-12) Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Cotabato and the Agroforestry Research, Development, and Extension Center of the Ecosystem Research and Development Bureau (ARDEC-ERDB) have joined forces to enhance the management of the Amas Experimental Forest (EF). A meeting held on February 26, 2025, at the PENRO Cotabato Office in Kidapawan City focused on co-management strategies, highlighting the forest’s research potential, ecological importance, and future development plans.
ARDEC-ERDB’s Experimental Forest Management (EMF) Center Head Joan S. Gilberto and her team presented a comprehensive three-year Site Management Plan (2025-2028). This plan includes research on Wild Edible Plants (WEPs) and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) for sustainable use, the development of eco-tourism through nature-based education, and continued maintenance and protection of the forest. Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), these initiatives will be implemented collaboratively by ERDB-ARDEC and PENRO Cotabato, with a formal soft launch set for November.
The Amas Experimental Forest spans 100 hectares within the Kidapawan Lansones Forest Reserve, also known as the Cotabato Provincial Forest and Ecotourism Park (CPEEP). Recognized for its ecological, historical, and scientific significance, the reserve was established through Presidential Proclamation No. 297 in 1938 by then-President Manuel L. Quezon. It was later amended by Presidential Proclamation No. 881 under President Fidel V. Ramos to emphasize forest protection, timber production, conservation, and research.
Through this partnership, PENRO Cotabato and ARDEC-ERDB seek to transform the Amas Experimental Forest into a model for sustainable forest management. By integrating conservation efforts with scientific research and eco-tourism, they aim to ensure the long-term sustainability of this valuable natural resource.
