The Cordillera office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-CAR) will be producing around one hundred eighty thousand assorted tree seedlings annually to help in the government’s aggressive reforestation program to mitigate the effects of the denudation of the various watersheds and forests in the different parts of the region.
DENR-CAR regional director Engr. Ralph Pablo said that each of the 12 Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs) in the region have been required to produce at least 15,000 assorted tree seedlings that will be distributed to the agency’s tree planting partners that will be planted in identified tree planting sites.
He added that even private individuals can request for a certain number of tree seedlings which they could plant in their private properties as part of their contribution in the ongoing efforts to reforest denuded mountains to mitigate the occurrence of erosion during the onslaught of heavy rains.
The DENR-CAR official claimed that there is a need to sustain the planting of assorted tree seedlings during the tree planting season as part of the overall efforts to bring back the greenery of the denuded mountains and contribute in the implementation of strategic measures to combat the effects of climate change to humanity.
Pablo stated that individuals and groups wanting to actively participate in the government’s reforestation program could get in touch with the nearest CENRO in their area for the provision of the needed assorted tree seedlings and for the agency’s monitoring requirements.
According to him, the agency’s partners should ensure the survival of the seedings that they have planted in their identified plantation sites through the conduct of regular weeding and caring activities to guarantee the success of the reforestation program.
The DENR-CAR regional director emphasized that the people must be conscious on the current state of the environment by being actively involved in reforestation and regreening efforts to be able to pass on to future generations a well preserved and protected environment for them to be able to enjoy the good state of the environment which the current generation inherited from their ancestors.
Further, Pablo asserted that the Cordillera should also sustain its identity as the watershed cradle of North Luzon by ensuring that denuded mountains are planted with assorted tree species that will help in bringing back the greenery of the slopes to help in reducing the occurrence of landslides that pose a serious threat to life and limb.
He also encouraged the youth to be part of the efforts of the government to reforest and regreen the barren mountains because they will be the ones that will reap the fruits of a well preserved and well protected environment and for them to be able to pass on the same to the future generations to come.
The tree planting season has been slated from June to September when there is abundant rainfall that will help in starting the growth of the planted tree species in the identified plantation sites in the different parts of the region.
Moreover, tree planting has been one of the major activities lined up for the celebration of the environment month in June.
