5,000 hectares in R1 set for ‘greening’
SOME 5,000 hectares of land in Region 1are set to be planted with forest and fruit-bearing trees this year as the region’s share to the newly-launched National Greening Program (NGP).
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Executive Director Samuel Peñafiel said the 5,000 hectares comprise denuded lands and mountain sides in the region’s four provinces.
The target area covers 1,950 hectares in Pangasinan, 500 hectares in La Union, 1,200 hectares in Ilocos Sur and 1,350 hectares in Ilocos Norte.
NGP is provided for under Executive Order No. 26 signed by President Benigno Aquino III on February 24, 2011, where he tasked the DENR to lead in the implementation of the program.
NGP seeks to plant 1. 5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares of land nationwide over six years from 2011 to 2016.
The tree planting will be done by personnel of national government agencies, along with their partner agencies from civil society, the private sector and local government units.
Peñafiel said the locations of the open/denuded areas targeted to be planted have been identified and the availability of high quality planting materials and fruit trees for the participating agencies/individuals is determined.
LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES
Peñafiel said the NGP also assures livelihood opportunities through “convergence initiatives of DENR with Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, and other member agencies”.
Under Executive Order 26, the NGP beneficiary-communities shall be considered priority under the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Meanwhile, community-based forest management programs of People’s Organizations have also been recognized as partners of the DENR in seedling production, maintenance and the protection of established plantations.
Peñafiel said nurseries and other seedling producers of forest trees and fruit trees who wish to supply seedlings for the NGP are encouraged to apply for accreditation to the nearest Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices in their areas.–LM
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