AKLAN – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 6 has extended its efforts to promote environmental conservation to far-flung communities through Project CoCo (Collect and Connect) Year 2, which ran from July 17-24, 2024, in Madalag, Aklan.
The initiative focused on educating upland youth on the value of biodiversity while providing them with essential school supplies in exchange for wild seedlings.
Led by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of Aklan, the program was rolled out in Agtughangin Integrated School (AIS) and Mananggad Primary School (MPS), both situated in Brgy. Panipiason, within the Aklan River Watershed Forest Reserve (ARWFR), a protected area.
These schools were chosen not only for their location within the watershed but also because students have limited access to school supplies due to the remoteness of their community.
PENRO Aklan, through its Youth Desk Office, kicked off the event with an orientation session attended by 187 students, teachers, and DENR personnel.
Over the following week, the participants collected wild seedlings and seeds, which they wrapped using the Mud Packing Technique to increase their survival rate.
The program culminated in the collection of 62,121 seedlings and seeds from 40 indigenous and fruit tree species.
A total of 212 students participated in the initiative, receiving school supplies—such as bags, lunch boxes, tumblers, crayons, and writing materials—in exchange for the seedlings they gathered.
“This project has come a long way, from being an experimental learning activity to the upland youths to being a successful endeavor of the Department, especially PENRO Aklan,” said Provincial ENR Officer Merlene P. Aborka.
DENR-6 OIC-Regional Executive Director Raul L. Lorilla emphasized the initiative’s impact, saying, “This initiative made significant progress, and we at the DENR believe this will attract more youths to take part in making a big step for the environment.”
Project CoCo aims to bridge the gap between promoting environmental education in remote areas and addressing the lack of essential school supplies. By encouraging students to collect wild seedlings, the project emphasizes the importance of biodiversity while fostering a deeper connection between youth and nature.
The DENR-PENRO Aklan plans to continue this effort, expanding the reach of Project CoCo in the coming years to involve more schools and communities in protected areas across the province.Top of FormBottom of Form (DENR-6)
