DENR-13 seeks partnership with private groups to reforest 100,000 hectares

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 27 - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga regional executive director Nonito M. Tamayo on Wednesday has  asked  the support  of the private organizations in its reforestation program to reach the goal of 100,000 hectares tree -seedlings planted in the forest lands  and mangroves in coastal areas over the next three years.

Earlier, the DENR has already gained the support of other groups including the mining companies, the Community-Based Forest Management sector, the schools through the Department of Education (DepEd) , and selected barangay government units, according to  Director Nonito M. Tamayo.

"The private organizations and other associations can always manifest their  full support  in the  National Greening Program (NGP) of the  government," Tamayo said shortly after the ceremonial Signing of memorandum of partnership between the DENR and the Agusan National High School  (ANHS) Class 1990 program   at the DENR Conference Room in Barangay Ambago Butuan City .

He said the DENR has a goal of planting tree seedlings on 100,00 hectares timber and mangrove forest and coastal areas throughout  the region until 2016 since the program started in 2011 when President Benigno S. Aquino III had  sigendExecutive Order No. 26 otherwise called the establishment of the NGP all over the country.

The NGP is a massive forest rehabilitation of the government that seeks to grow 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million trees nationwide within a period of six years from 2011 to 2016.

Aside from being a reforestation initiative, the NGP is also seen as a climate mitigation strategy as it seeks to enhance the country's forest stock to absorb carbon dioxide, which is largely blamed for global warming.

The program is also designed to reduce poverty, providing alternative livelihood activities for marginalized upland and lowland households relating to seedling production and care and maintenance of newly –planted trees.

Director Tamayo has commended the officers of the ANHS Class 1990 headed by its President Cherry Mae G. Busa and 2013 Dangal ng Bayan Awardee Richard C. Recososa  for their initiative of planting mangrove on a 1-hectare lot site in Barangay Lumbocan, Butuan City as their contribution to the NGP.

Recososa  said everyone is responsible for caring the environment.

"We are great contributors to what our environment is today and we must take responsibility by doing activities that will protect and rehabilitate our denuded forest and coastal areas," he added.

Director Tamayo said the DENR expects more organization will step forward to participate in the NGP as the interest of the public to plant trees increase.

The ANHS Class 1990 members are set to conduct their mangrove tree planting activity on November 16, 2013 at “Isla Noah Island” in Barangay Lombocan, Butuan City. (DENR-13/PIA-Caraga)