DENR 8 produces 2 million seedlings under Trees for Life Program

By PURIFICACION S. DALOOS
January 22, 2008

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Over 2 million seedlings were raised in 2007 with 48,957 seedlings planted covering an area of 983.48 hectares and an aggregate of 37.61 kilometer stretch in Eastern Visayas.

“This is our contribution to the Trees for Life Project implemented in 2007 which seeks to raise 20 million seedlings for planting and nurturing all over the country,” reveals Regional Executive Director Alfredo S. Pascual of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

RED Pascual likewise disclosed that most of these seedlings were produced and planted by volunteers from the different sectors of society including the military, other government agencies, academe, non-government organizations, local government units, church and civic groups. “These ‘adoptors’ not only helped us plant the trees, but they also pledged to nurture and maintain the planted seedlings,” RED Pascual added.

The planting of the trees followed a “thematic-based” approach involving simultaneous nationwide planting of seedlings in pre-identified planting areas. Under the thematic approach, planting was undertaken in protected areas, watersheds and open upland areas for the month of August; mangrove and coastal areas in September; agroforestry and fruit tree areas in October; and urban parks, school campuses, military camps and subdivisions in November.

In Eastern Visayas, tree planting in thematic areas was launched at the Samar Island Natural Park in Tenani, Samar as the identified protected area/watershed. Identified mangrove and coastal areas was the Biri-Larosa Seascape in Northern Samar which was planted with trees in September. Planting in agro-forestry areas and fruit trees was launched at the IFMA site of the Manobo Tribe in Tacloban City. Likewise, the planting in urban parks and school campuses was launched in Maasin City.

“The Trees for Life Project is one way of combating the effects of global warming,” RED Pascual says. “Growing trees serve as our legacy for the future generations. What we have started today should result in something good in the future,” RED Pascual adds.