BALANGA CITY – The Environment and Natural Resources Officer (ENRO) of Bataan on Monday announced a two-pronged approach in aerial seeding of the province’s bald forests that Gov. Enrique Garcia said only ten percent can be considered as “virgin forest”.
Of the 65,430 hectares of forest lands in the province, only 6,543 hectares remained as intact and heavily forested. The forest lands represent 48 percent of the total land area of Bataan placed at 137,296 hectares.
ENRO Godofredo de Guzman said that as a first approach, 12 million seeds of ipil-ipil, kakawati, narra and akleng parang will be “broadcasted” in various areas of the Bataan mountains. These tree species are considered as fast-germinating with a survival rate estimated at two percent that can stop the growth of cogon and other grasses.
“After three years, we will implement our second approach and that is the aerial seeding of millions of hardwood species with estimated survival rate of five to ten percent,” de Guzman said.
The newly-purchased P21.5-million Robinsons helicopter owned by the provincial government will be tapped in the aerial seeding. Aside from the seeding of mountains, the helicopter will be used in pinpointing sites where illegal logging is in operation.
Garcia said that the deforestation of Bataan is alarming and needs immediate and quick solution. “Guarding of the forests and reforestation are the responsibilities of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources but we cannot just remain silent if the lives of our people are at stake as caused by destructive floods like those in Ormoc (Leyte) and recently in Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao,” he said.
“We do not want this to happen in the province so we have to act fast and implement our resolve to stop illegal cutting of trees and undertake reforestation projects the easiest way by aerial seeding,” Garcia added.
Lawyer Ricardo Lazaro, DENR Bataan chief, expressed full support to the programs of the provincial government.
De Guzman said that they have asked all barangay chairmen in 11 towns and one city to gather all available seeds of trees and to help stop charcoal-making and slash-and-burn farming (kaingin) in their respective areas.
The ENRO has made an inventory of sash factories in the production of wooden doors and windows and required the factories to source raw materials from licensed wood sellers only.
De Guzman said they have also stopped the issuance of licenses to hunters who allegedly resort to burning of forests in search of wild animals.
Since 1993, the provincial government has so far “broadcasted” 263 million out of its target of one billion forest seeds.
Of the 65,430 hectares of forest lands in the province, only 6,543 hectares remained as intact and heavily forested. The forest lands represent 48 percent of the total land area of Bataan placed at 137,296 hectares.
ENRO Godofredo de Guzman said that as a first approach, 12 million seeds of ipil-ipil, kakawati, narra and akleng parang will be “broadcasted” in various areas of the Bataan mountains. These tree species are considered as fast-germinating with a survival rate estimated at two percent that can stop the growth of cogon and other grasses.
“After three years, we will implement our second approach and that is the aerial seeding of millions of hardwood species with estimated survival rate of five to ten percent,” de Guzman said.
The newly-purchased P21.5-million Robinsons helicopter owned by the provincial government will be tapped in the aerial seeding. Aside from the seeding of mountains, the helicopter will be used in pinpointing sites where illegal logging is in operation.
Garcia said that the deforestation of Bataan is alarming and needs immediate and quick solution. “Guarding of the forests and reforestation are the responsibilities of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources but we cannot just remain silent if the lives of our people are at stake as caused by destructive floods like those in Ormoc (Leyte) and recently in Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao,” he said.
“We do not want this to happen in the province so we have to act fast and implement our resolve to stop illegal cutting of trees and undertake reforestation projects the easiest way by aerial seeding,” Garcia added.
Lawyer Ricardo Lazaro, DENR Bataan chief, expressed full support to the programs of the provincial government.
De Guzman said that they have asked all barangay chairmen in 11 towns and one city to gather all available seeds of trees and to help stop charcoal-making and slash-and-burn farming (kaingin) in their respective areas.
The ENRO has made an inventory of sash factories in the production of wooden doors and windows and required the factories to source raw materials from licensed wood sellers only.
De Guzman said they have also stopped the issuance of licenses to hunters who allegedly resort to burning of forests in search of wild animals.
Since 1993, the provincial government has so far “broadcasted” 263 million out of its target of one billion forest seeds.
