A growing clamor to halt the planned cutting of 192 trees within the Provincial Capitol complex in Lingayen has gained strong online support, with over 1,100 verified signatures gathered less than 24 hours after the launch through Facebook of a petition at change.org.

The campaign, titled “Save the 192 Trees of Provincial Capitol, Pangasinan!”, was spearheaded by Celso Salazar, president and founder of Pangasinan Native Trees Enthusiasts Inc.

Salazar urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the provincial government to suspend the tree-cutting permit, hold public consultations, and explore alternatives such as transplanting native trees or redesigning the project to spare them.

“While we cannot prevent destruction in the pursuit of development, we can always mitigate the negative impact,” he said on his Facebook post. “Replace the removed exotic species with fully grown native trees (6-8 feet high) for immediate foliage retention — just like what Ayala has been doing, creating an instant forest.”

Salazar, a retired DENR employee, also criticized the decades-old reforestation approach that has yielded low survival rates, calling instead for the adoption of “instant forest” strategies using larger planting materials of native species and allocating substantial funds for nurturing and protection to ensure long-term survival.

Organizers of the petition warned that removing mature trees will worsen flooding, raise temperatures in the Capitol area, destroy wildlife habitats, and reduce air quality.  They emphasized that protecting the trees is part of the constitutional right to a balanced and healthful ecology.

The petition partly reads: These trees are more than just wood and leaves — they are our natural shields against climate change, floods, and extreme heat. They provide clean air, shade, and habitats for wildlife.

The Provincial Government earlier defended the project as part of its plan to transform the Capitol grounds into a “community park of cultural substance,” complete with a reflecting pool and interactive fountain. Officials said the cutting of 64 trees earlier this year was duly approved by DENR, and as compensation, 3,200 seedlings will be planted in different locations.

The administration also highlighted its ongoing “Pangasinan Green Canopy” program, which has planted over 150,000 seedlings province-wide to reaffirm its commitment to environmental preservation.

Provincial Resolution No. 1057-2023, passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on December 11, 2023, formally endorsed and expressed no objection to the redevelopment of the Provincial Capitol Complex. (Eva Visperas)

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