What’s in a tree? Well, trees clean the air of carbon dioxide and provide the earth with clean, pure oxygen to sustain it.
No wonder forests are considered the lungs of the earth. Trees in forests also act as natural carbon sinks which help cool the earth and thereby act like the planet’s air conditioning system. Forests are also the natural habitats for endangered animal species.
In celebration of Environment Month in June 2022, a Nationwide Simultaneous Tree Planting Activity was conducted last June 8. In Western Visayas, a total of 6,997 tree seedlings and bamboo culms have been planted.
In the province of Iloilo, the activity was done at Brgy. Lanit, Jaro, Iloilo City with 300 bamboo culms of Kawayan Kiling planted. The area is part of the 3-hectare Tree Park which the Iloilo City government is preparing to also become a Bambusetum (a garden with collection of bamboo plants) in the near future.
The bamboo culms planted during the activity was sourced out from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 6’s provincial bamboo nursery in Pavia, Iloilo as requested by the city government.
The activity was graced by DENR key officials led by Undersecretary for Finance, Information Systems and Climate Change Analiza Rebuelta–Teh along with Assistant Secretary for Indigenous Peoples Affairs Jose B. Ong, Tayo Ang Kalikasan (TAK) Executive Director Maria Matilda A. Gaddi, DENR 6 Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Raul L. Lorilla, Engr. Neil Ravena of Iloilo City LGU and other DENR key officials.
Another 1,000 seedlings of Phil-ash and Bignai were planted at the School Reservation Area of West Visayas State University – College of Agriculture and Forestry (WVSU-CAF) in Lambunao, Iloilo.
Nine hundred (900) tree seedlings of Narra and Mountain Agoho were planted in the province of Aklan in Brgy. Cabugao, Ibajay. Meanwhile, a total of 1,557 seedlings of Narra, Palawan Cherry and Kamagong were planted in Antique province in San Remigio and Sebaste municipalities. Both the Palawan Cherry and the Kamagong seedlings were sourced out from PENRO Aklan Mechanized Nursery.
Seven hundred seventy (770) seedlings of Acacia, Narra, Teak and fruit trees were planted in Catao Dam in Ivisan, Capiz province while Mahogany and bamboo culms were planted in Brgy. Caidquid, Mambusao. Moreover, in Guimaras province, a total of 570 mangrove seedlings of Bungalon and potted propagules of Bacauan were planted in the 2014 BUB-NGP Site on Tumalintinan Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Suclaran, San Lorenzo.
In the province of Negros Occidental, a total of 1,700 seedlings of Acacia mangium were planted at So. Don Jose, Brgy. Manlucahoc in Sipalay City. Another 200 seedlings of Udling were planted at Purok Pacul, Brgy. Celestino Villacin, Cadiz City.
“As a country which is more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, it would do us good to plant trees in feasible areas. Not only do we create wider carbon sinks to clean the air, we are also preparing resilient communities that could adapt to the impacts of the ever changing climate while ensuring sustainable livelihood for our people as well,” said Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran. (DENR-6)
