DENR targets to plant 5M trees in E. Visayas

published April 30, 2011 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) aims to plant over five million trees in Eastern Visayas starting this year under the national greening program.

Primitivo C. Galinato, DENR regional executive director, said the program will cover 10,000 hectares of denuded forest land in the region over the next five years. A budget of P102 million has been allotted for the region.

"The program will prioritize open and denuded forest land, mangrove and protected areas, and upland areas occupied by people’s organizations," Mr. Galinato told BusinessWorld.

Other target sites for tree planting under the program are ancestral domains, civil and military reservations, urban areas under the Greening Plan of local government units, inactive and abandoned mines and other suitable land.

This massive reforestation initiative will involve the planting of fast-growing trees in open areas and fruit-bearing trees in agro-forestry sites.

"This replanting is primarily aimed at reducing poverty in the countryside while ensuring food security and biodiversity conservation as well as addressing climate change," he added.

National Greening Program regional coordinator Elmer B. Labaclado said that out of the five million seedlings targeted for planting in Eastern Visayas, 963,500 will be planted in Leyte province; 329,333 in Biliran; 931,166 in Southern Leyte; 754,500 in Samar; 641,000 in Eastern Samar; 1,225,334 in Northern Samar; and 207,667 will be planted by the regional office in various other sites.

"Actual planting will start in June this year after the ongoing land preparation activities," Mr. Labaclado said, adding that meetings are set next month to ensure that the program will be carried out effectively in the region.

Nationwide, the goal is to plant 1.5 billion trees in some 1.5 million hectares from 2011 to 2016, which is more than twice the government’s accomplishment of 730,000 hectares in the past 25 years.

Under Executive Order No. 26 issued in February this year, the program is implemented by the DENR in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Department of Agrarian Reform. The DENR is also mandated to set up partnerships with all national government agencies, LGUs, government-owned and -controlled corporations, including state colleges and universities. -- Sarwell Q. Meniano