Manila, June 26 -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has unveiled nearly 1.2 million hectares of forest land across the country as Potential Investment Areas (PIAs) under a new and streamlined agreement aimed at boosting the productivity of the country's forest lands and attracting sustainable investments.

At the Forest For Life: Sustainable Forest Land Management Agreement (SFLMA) launch on Thursday in Pasay City, Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla said the initiative, along with the 5M Trees by 2028 program, is part of the key components of the Marcos administration's sustainable development agenda.

"These lands are outside protected areas and have been thoroughly mapped, assessed, and cleared for productiv...