Plant Trees to Protect Watershed, Farmers Told

(PIA) – Farmers living near watershed areas in Central Visayas are urged to plant trees to help the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) in their campaign to conserve and protect the watersheds in the region.

A watershed is an area of land that drains rainwater into one location such as stream, lake or wetland.

These water bodies supply drinking water, water for agriculture and manufacturing, and provide habitat to numerous plants and animals.

Fedencio Carreon, Chief of the Technical Division of Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in Cebu, during the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO) – Philippine Information Agency (PIA-7) Forum, stressed that watersheds are important, as they are the source of water used by the public.

“Water enters the watershed areas will drench to the ground and replenish aquifers and gather in ponds and creeks that feed larger streams and rivers,” explained Carreon.

He added that Cebu will not be greatly affected by low water supply due to the presence of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL).

CCPL, under Republic Act No. 9486, covers a consolidated area of 28, 312 hectares consisting of Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve, Mananga Watershed Forest Reserve, Sudlon National Park, Central Cebu National Park and the Kotkot-Lusaran Watershed Forest Reserve located in the cities of Cebu, Talisay, Toledo and Danao and in the municipalities of Minglanilla, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela and Balamban.

The protection, conservation and management of CCPL are a collective and joint effort among local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), business sectors, and other stakeholders.

DENR-7 installed an office at Brgy. Cantipla in Cebu City to monitor the maintenance of watersheds with an annual budget of P930,000 for the implementation of various programs and projects.

CCPL Assistant Protected Area Superintendent Mercedita Espina said they are conducting activities such as the “dalaw turo” for barangays and schools, distribution of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials, and coordinate with other stakeholders to maintain and protect the CCPL.

Meanwhile, the department identified 11 biodiversity hotspots, namely: Tabunan Forest, Tabunan Cliffs, Udlom Forest, Cantipla Forest, Gaas Forest, Cabasiangan Cliff Forest, Manungal ridge, Gaas Peak, Hagnum Riverside, Sudlon Hill and Lagtang Forest due to the lack of trees in the areas and the presence of endangered species, namely: Cebu Black Shama, Cebu Flower Pecker and Cinnamon Tree.

“DENR-7 can only implement the programs and projects with the LGUs but the most important is the cooperation and participation of the people to sustain clean and healthy watersheds,” Carreon said. (rmn/hfg/PIA-7/AGIO-7)