DENR-7 intends to reforest more than 8T hectares

By Hazel F. Gloria

CEBU CITY, Oct 29 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 7 plans to reforest some 8,143 hectares in four provinces in Central Visayas before November ends. This activity is part of the national greening program (NGP). 

DENR already reforested 3,911.20 hectares or 48 percent of its target in an effort to bring back the lost forest cover of the country. 

DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo Montejo said the remaining 52 percent or equivalent to 4,231.80 hectares will be completed by November 30. 

Of the total hectares already carried out as of October 22, Negros Oriental registered the highest with 56 percent of its 2,262-hectare target or 1,260 hectares; Cebu came in second with 1,864.30 hectares which is 48 percent of its 3,896-hectare goal; Bohol obtained 45 percent of this year’s target of 1,667 hectares or 757.10 hectares; and Siquijor with nine percent of 318 hectares. 

Montejo added the government is embarking on a massive greening program aimed at reducing poverty in the countryside while ensuring food security, biodiversity conservation and address climate change. 

Specifically, DENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje said the aim 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 for the past 25 years. 

With an average of 141 hectares to be covered per day until November 30, Montejo expressed confidence to finish the objective of reforesting 4,231.80 hectares by deploying and augmenting its personnel in the field. 

Meanwhile, Forest Management Services (FMS) Regional Technical Director Eduardo M. Inting said a catch up program has been defined to identify strategies and measures to achieve this year’s objective. 

Among the areas targeted for planting under the program are forestlands, mangrove and protected areas, ancestral domains, civil and military reservations, urban area under the greening plan of local government units, inactive and abandoned mines and other suitable lands. 

“We are engaging very actively with the various stakeholders so that we would be able to finish our target by seeking more partnerships and cooperation,” he said. 

In Executive Order No. 26 issued on February 24, 2011, President Aquino tasked the DENR to lead the implementation of NGP, with the members of the steering committee under the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-DENR Convergence Initiative to constitute the program’s Oversight Committee.(HFG/PIA-7/DENR-7)