‘Help Fight Climate Change’

●DENR 7 encourages everyone to plant one tree every month

●Says the two major disasters that struck the Visayas last year is a reminder for people to take care of the environment.

Officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)7 urged everyone to help fight climate change by simply planting one tree every month and contribute to government’s reforestation efforts.

DENR-7 Regional Technical Director for Forestry Eduardo Inting in a recent forum of the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO)7 said the two major disasters that struck the Visayas late last year is a reminder for people to take care of the environment.

In October 15, Bohol was hit by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake which also jolted Cebu and in November 8, the Visayas Region was severely slapped by super Typhoon Yolanda, the strongest storm that ever hit landfall in history.

“If only every person in this country will plant one tree every month which translates to 12 trees a year per individual and multiply that to over 90 million Filipinos,” then that is already a big help to combat climate change, Inting said.

He added that trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide, one of the chief greenhouse gases that destroy the earth’s ozone layer causing global warming which leads to climate change. Inting however, stressed that one should not just plant but must nurture the plant in order to survive.

“It should not just plainly be tree planting but tree caring and nurturing,” he said.

Al Orolfo, regional technical director of the DENR-7 Protected Area, Wildlife Conservation Zone and Management Services (PAWCZMS) also called on the public especially coastal residents to plant mangroves as the country celebrates the month of May as Ocean Month.

“Mangroves are very important. It helps lessen the impact of storm surges,” said Orolfo.

Orolfo said the National Government has allotted P10 billion for the rehabilitation of mangroves throughout the country.

Inting added the DENR-7 exceeded its NGP target last year reforesting around 24,872.49 hectares against its target of 24,361 hectares. Cebu posted the highest reforested area with 10,117 hectares followed by Negros Oriental with 9,533 hectares while third is Bohol with 5,036 hectares and lastly, Siquijor with 185 hectares.

Inting however, said the NGP target this year might be affected with the threat of El Niño which will hit the country next month until the first quarter of next year as reported. El Niño will bring severe dry spells causing drought that is why the government, as early as now, urged the public to conserve water.