Deforestation in the Philippines, 1946–1995

This research note offers a glimpse of the thematic approach to the study of Philippine history in China in the period that Bao Maohong, in a commentary published in this issue of Philippine Studies, refers to as “the third wave.” Addressing deforestation at different levels from the perspective of environmental history, this essay argues that deforestation is not only a case of environmental degradation but also involves economic, political, and cultural factors in the modernization of the Philippines. It argues that the state’s one-sided development strategy is the primary cause of deforestation, and reforestation cannot recuperate the forest environment in the Philippines.