PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija - The Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) in Central Luzon reported Monday that about 1.8 million
indigenous forest trees were planted in 1,515 hectares of protected watersheds,
agroforestry, mangrove and urban areas and along 274-kilometer stretch of
coastal areas in the region.
According to Rafael Otic, Provincial Environment and Natural
Resources Officer, DENR Regional Director Regidor de Leon cited the efforts that
involved the mobilization of around 25,000 people in a massive and sustained
planting activity in five months.
Reforested were some 65,520 hectares of the regions' denuded
forestlands through various schemes since 1994, topping the annual reforestation
average of 6,000 hectares.
Otic said De Leon also expressed optimism that environmental
cases filed in various courts will now be resolved quickly with the creation of
special "Green Courts" by the Supreme Court.
According to Perla Collado, public affairs chief of the DENR
regional office, last year's confiscations brought to three million board feet
the total volume of forest contraband already confiscated by the DENR since it
embarked on a massive campaign in 1995 to save the remaining forests in Central
Luzon.
Collado said in response to DENR Secretary Lito Atienza's
call for an intensified public awareness campaign, they have entered into a
top-level agreement with the 42,000-strong Department of Education (DepEd)
regional office.
She said more than 5,000 students have participated in 20
campus lectures organized in a five-month period, adding that students and
teachers could form a formidable front to help combat the effects of global
warming through various school and community-based environmental programs.
"Awareness is the beginning of action. Understanding the
environmental issues of the day leads to a better appreciation of the country's
environment and natural resources, and substantial participation in their
protection and conservation," she explained.
Last year's intensified biodiversity conservation and
protection campaign resulted in the recovery and voluntary surrender of at least
30 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and arachnids by pet and wildlife owners,
reported Rogelio Trinidad, deputy director for protected areas, wildlife and
coastal zone management.
The DENR wildlife officers also closely monitored important
wetland sites in Central Luzon, namely, Angat Dam in Bulacan, Pantabangan Dam
and Paitan Lake in Nueva Ecija, Candaba Swamp in Pampanga, Puerto Rivas in
Bataan, and Uacon Lake in Zambales.
Collado said they worked for the release of about 100 marine turtles back to
the sea, and have strengthened partnership with local governments as part of our
marine conservation efforts.
