BAGUIO CITY– The Department of Environment and Natural Resources affirmed a better environment climate in Cordillera.
In a “Kapihan para sa Kalikasan” forum, DENR Regional Director Ralph Pablo reported that for the reforestation efforts under the National Greening Program from 2011 to 2016, almost 68,000 million trees have been planted in over 104,775 hectares of planting areas in different parts of the region, surpassing their target to plant around 63.8 million seedlings over 101,644 hectares of land.
For fiscal year 2017, Pablo said that they already attained 97.73 percent of their accomplishment with over 16 million seedlings planted all over the region. He is optimistic that they can surpass their target under the Enhanced NGP for this year.
On forest protection, Pablo informed that from 2011 to 2016, DENR through the provincial and city environment and natural resources offices apprehended around 487,644 board feet of lumber and confiscated around P273,459 board feet of illegally cut wood. There were also apprehension and confiscation of Illegally transported forest products such as furnitures/wood carvings, logs, rattan and charcoal. These are in line with Executive Order 23, series of 2011 declaring a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in natural or residual forests and creating the anti-illegal logging task force.
As to forest preservation, Pablo also reported that the DENR has Sustainable Integrated Area Development (SIAD) projects within the Chico River Basin’s subwatersheds of Nabuangan (Conner, Apayao), Pasil (Pasil and Lubuagan, Kalinga) and Palapal (Bauko, Mountain Province) and at Mt. Pulag National Park’s Ekip, Bashoy Eddet subwatershed in Bokod, Benguet.
SIAD projects include production and propagation of seedlings that include bamboo, coffee, rambutan, lanzones, cacao, pears, mountain tea, and citrus.
Under the Mt. Pulag National Park Ecotourism Project, Pablo also reported that they are training eco–tour guides and porters to synchronize them as rescuers, environmental stewards and companions for the conservation of the biodiversity while earning some income.
DENR-CAR will continue to propose and implement campaigns that adhere to the preservation of the Cordillera’s natural state due to climate change, natural disasters and human’s misuse of resources. Various activities are also set for the observance of Philippine Environment Month this June, Pablo added. **J. Esmel &, K. Valdres-PIA CAR/UC Interns
