Pursuant to RA 7160, this office is mandated to:

a. Develop plans and strategies on environment and natural resources programs and projects and implement them upon approval thereof by the governor or mayor, as the case may be;

• b. Establish, maintain, protect and preserve communal forests, watersheds, tree parks, mangroves greenbelts, and similar forest projects and commercial forest, like industrial tree farms and agro- forestry projects;
•  

• c. Provide extension services to beneficiaries of forest development projects and technical, financial, and infrastructure assistance;
•  
• • d. Manage and maintain seed banks and produce seedlings for forest and tree parks;
  •  
  • e. Provide extension services to beneficiaries of forest development projects and render assistance to natural resources related conservation and utilization activities consistent with ecological balance;
  • f. Promote small-scale mining and utilization of mineral resources, particularly mining of gold;
  • g. Coordinate with government agencies and NGOS in the implementation of measures to prevent and control land, air and water pollution with the assistance of the DENR;
  •  
  • h. Be in the frontline of the delivery of services concerning the environment and natural resources, particularly in the renewal and rehabilitation of the environment during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural calamities and disasters;
  •  
  • i. Recommend to the Sanggunian and advise the governor or mayor, as the case may be, on all matters relative to the protection, conservation, maximum utilization, application of appropriate technology, and other matters elated to the environment and natural resources; and
  •  
  • j. Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.