FOR 1 Chapter 10

• Ethics in Forestry


  • Anchored on duties and responsibilities of humans as citizens of a sovereign state and as members of an ecological body
  • Premised on justice and equity concepts, covering interspecies and intergenerational concerns across habitats and communities
  • Justice demands reward for good acts; punishment and/or restoration for wrongdoings
• Code of Ethics of Filipino Foresters was approved by the President of the Republic on December 4, 1972
• Key points of the Code of Ethics of Filipino Foresters

  • Be loyal to the country, observe the Constitution and laws, respect duly constituted authority
  • Consider public welfare and human values as guiding principles, ensure long term social interest prevails over temporary individual benefits
  • Communicate with the public and develop national awareness of the social, political and economic aspects of forests, serve as agents of change in bringing about forest conservation consciousness
  • Develop and maintain high professional prestige, uphold the dignity and high standards of the forestry profession, put honesty, integrity, and moral values above material and pecuniary interest
  • Win the respect and confidence of other professions, respect their opinions, work with them with open but independent mind, maintain objectives, intellectual honesty and courage in putting forth the concepts of forest and environmental conservation and scientific forestry
  • Respect the interest and integrity of co-foresters, observe prudence in making comments on, or criticisms of the ideas of work of colleagues
  • Be fair and just in dealing with co-workers and subordinates, always work for their welfare, use and accept merit as the sole criterion for advancement and recognition
  • Provide exemplary service to employers, clients, and the public, be honest in all dealings and handle properly information classified as confidential
  • Contribute to forestry knowledge and share knowledge with other professionals, develop professionally and be informed and up-to-date on new developments in forestry
  • Strive to develop and derive the maximum potential benefits from the forest, always taking into account ecological values and the needs of society
• The Code of Conduct of Public Officials and Employees (RA 6713) is designed to promote a high standard of ethics in public service
• Key principles of the Code of Conduct of Public Officials and Employees

  • Commitment to public interest - uphold public interest over personal interest, use government resources efficiently, effectively, honestly, and economically
  • Professionalism - perform duties with highest degree of excellence, professionalism, intelligence, and skill, demonstrate utmost devotion and dedication to duty, discourage wrong perceptions of their roles
  • Justness and sincerity - be the peoples' ally, act with justness and sincerity, not discriminate anyone especially the poor and underprivileged, respect the rights of others, refrain from acts contrary to law, good morals, good customs, public policy, public order, public safety and public interest
  • Political neutrality - provide service to everyone without unfair discrimination and regardless of party affiliation or preference
  • Responsiveness to the public - extend prompt, courteous, and adequate service, provide information on duties and procedures in clear language, ensure openness of information, public consultations and hearing, encourage suggestions, simplify and systematize policy rules and procedures, avoid red tape, develop understanding of the social context
  • Nationalism and patriotism - be loyal to the Republic and the Filipino people, promote use of locally-produced goods, resources and technology, encourage appreciation and pride of country and people
  • Commitment to democracy - commit to democratic way of life and values, maintain principle of public accountability, manifest supremacy of civilian authority over the military
  • Simple living - lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income, not indulge in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth
• The Forestry Profession Act (RA 10690) defines a professional forester as a registered and licensed natural person who holds a valid certificate of registration and a valid professional identification card issued by the Professional Regulatory Board for Foresters and the PRC
• Scope of practice of forestry

  • Different aspects of actual or supervisory activities or services such as parametric classification of lands, inventory of forest or timber, reconnaissance and survey of road locations and quarry sites, planning and implementing of harvesting operations and timber improvement, scaling and grading of, and manifesting taxes on logs and derivative wood products, preparation of designs, plans and specifications of forest products processing plants, treatment of wood and other forest products, inspection and investigation of harvesting and processing plants, preparation, certification or authentication of log and lumber dealers, sawmill operators and other mill test reports, planning and implementation of forest nursery, afforestation, reforestation, industrial and community-based tree plantation, tree farm and agroforestry farm projects, planning and implementation of forest parks, wilderness areas, coastal areas and other protected area systems development, planning and implementation of forest protection systems, forest and soil resources conservation measures, conduct of environmental risk scoping and environmental impact assessment
  • Preparation and conduct of feasibility studies pertaining to natural forest and plantation forest management, watershed management, range or grazing land management, wildlife and biodiversity systems management, wood technology and timber engineering, wood products manufacturing and marketing management, and technical or management consultancy
  • Conduct of forest experiments, research and development, training and extension concerning forestry, and the teaching of forestry subjects in any accredited college or school of forestry
  • Government institutional activities or services wherein the principal policy and strategy is forestry, and the practice of professional forestry is essential, such as in the undertaking, supervision, or administration of studies, programs, stations, centers, community/provincial/regional offices, and such other activities or services that, by law, should be inherently exercised by professional foresters
  • Forestry activities and services required by local government units, private corporations, foundations, nongovernment organizations, and foreign assisted projects