Brief Description of The Partnership

PNOC-EDC is perhaps the first energy company in the country to introduce social forestry as a new business paradigm by imbedding sustainable development ideals in its corporate mission and implementing the program as a vital exercise of its social responsibility. Social forestry is the embodiment of PNOC-EDC’s vision of achieving geothermal development while achieving environmental excellence. This entails expanding management objectives to promote the welfare of their immediate external environment and contributing significantly to national development. Specifically, these were manifested in its efforts to find long-term solution to forest denudation and help communities hosting its geothermal projects reinvent themselves and find new meaning in their lives.

The overall objectives of the NZ-PNOC Social Forestry Project are the following: (1) to ensure long term conservation of reservation ecosystems for the support of a wide range of forest goods and services including energy resources; b) to enhance social and economic capabilities of forest occupants on the reservations; c) to reforest denuded areas while satisfying the economic needs of forest occupants; and d) to commercialize the PNOC-EDC pilot plots to increase target beneficiaries.

The New Zealand Government, PNOC-EDC’s long-time partner in geothermal development generously provided the funds to jumpstart the project. With this assistance, PNOC-EDC was able to effectively mobilize the upland communities, design new and better planting modules and create more livelihood opportunities. This partnership also proved that geothermal projects can serve as potential breeding grounds for new environmental champions. This would later be affirmed by acclamations accorded by various institutions, among them the "Model for Environmental Sustainability" of the DENR and UNDP and "Model for Greening" of the NEDA. PNOC-EDC has already distinguished itself as a successful practitioner of social forestry. The farmers and their cooperatives also have their share of awards and are being regarded as model organizations in their respective regions.

basic info |  initiative  |   strategy  |  critical factors  |  other links  |   home