Restoring Damaged Forest

by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM

The Weekly Kapihan on September 10, 2011 discussed the topic, "State of our Environment and Natural Resources" at Smokehauz Resto & Bar. The guests were Mr. Ivene Reyes, PENRO, DENR, and Atty. Allen S. Quimpo, former Cong. and Exec. Dir. Aklan Rivers Development Council.

Mr. Reyes from Batan, assumed the CENRO post in January 2011. He gained experience in Palawan, Cebu, and Antique. He pledged to provide Aklan the optimum services and program compatible with local areas and resources.

He stated that Aklan has roughly 181,786 hectares total land area, 75,000 hectares of which are forest land. This is classified into closed forest, open forest, plantation, and mangroves. Aklan has the biggest forest conservation area in Panay Island. Notable are two watershed areas of 24,105 hectares located in municipalities of Libacao and Madalag managed by CENRO Kalibo. Ibajay (Panakuyan river) and Nabas (Laserna river) is covered by CENRO Boracay.

Altogether, the DENR Aklan has a personnel strength of 103. There are 17 forest rangers who cover 10,000 hectares each. Mr. Reyes admitted that their personnel are getting old and debilitated by diseases due to sheer exhaustion. Nevertheless, their men are performing their level best." Much as I would like to increase our forest conservation capability, the current government policy freezes the hiring of personnel," Mr. Reyes laments.

Presently, the DENR is implementing the National Tree Planting program that targets 1.5 million trees to plant and establish within 6 years. Eyed for possible tie-up are PO’s, NGO’s, and LGU’s to plant agro-forestry seedlings in critical watersheds and denuded areas. All planting materials of hardwood species and fruit trees especially jackfruit, duhat, and rambutan will be provided free in this nationwide program to mitigate disastrous effects of climate change.

"So far, our two CENRO Districts working in coordination with LGU, DepEd, NGO, and PO’s were able to plant 502 hectares last year out of the total target area of 3,000 hectares to be completed in 2016. Under the program, all government employees and students are enjoined to each plant a minimum of 10 trees per year in order to offset 2 percent annual forest losses due to illegal logging, kaingin, and fuel wood gathering", reported Reyes. (Mr. Reyes must also report the areas planted to trees by families on their private real estate property.)

Mr. Reyes appeals to civic organizations and concerned government agencies to "Adopt A Mountain", manage its available resources and enjoy its reward not only for now but far into the future. Open for priority adoption is the scenic Campo Verde straddling the towns of Tangalan and Ibajay. Legal restrictions are in place like EO 23 and 26 which prohibit cutting and transporting forest trees in all declared forest areas. Petron, a petrochemical company, responded first and pledged to plant trees on 24.0 hectares.

Atty. Quimpo said, "the newly formed sandbars in riverbeds of Bakhao Norte and Libtong, Estancia pose a renewed threat of flush floods. He bewails the spending spree of P100 million by DPWH for dredging activity that turned out to be an exercise in futility. The impact could have been substantial had that money was used to plant hedgerows of bamboo on both sides of the Aklan river in order to curb unabated erosion and siltation.

The former solon is batting to legalize wood charcoal briqueting. "Actually, in our mangrove Ecopark in New Buswang, we do not cut down trees but simply remove unnecessary branches to be processed into premium charcoal briquettes. With an area of 120 hectares, we can produce 400,000 kilograms of charcoal briquettes per year and provide sustainable livelihood to members of Kasama, an accredited NGO. Just recently, we turned over 3 units charcoal briqueting machines to Tangalan, Libacao, and Malinao as part of our advocacy for renewable energy. It is gratifying that several NGO’s and government agencies have expressed their interest to join in our mangrove reforestation project. The latest additional areas planted was assisted by the Rotary Clu of Tokyo, Juna – 10.0 hectares, ASU – 5.0 hectares, and Popcom – 1.8 hectares," reported Quimpo.

Our 1987 Constitution provides the policy on environment as Section 16, Article II states, "the State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature."

It is possible that 500 hectares per year could be planted to agro-forestry under the supervision of DENR. However, there is very low survival rate of less than 50 percent in most reforestation programs. This is exacerbated by the reality that 40 percent are fruit tree seedlings and therefore not predisposed to harsh environment of tall grasses and nutrient deficient soil. As a remedy, fertilizers must be generously applied and upland farmers who constitute 20 percent of the population be conscripted to active duty (food for work program) to nurture plants to maturity.

Due to poverty and high cost of LPG’s, approximately 70 percent of population use firewood and charcoal where consumption is 1-2 tons per person per year. Our energy problem is directed on inefficient use of fuel wood for cooking where 90 percent of the heat is dissipated in open fire stoves. Simply shifting from an open fire to a closed one or efficiently designed stoves could have the quantity of fuel used.

Data show that half of annual forest destruction is due to fuel wood gatherers. The best choice are hard wood species – mountain agoho and lawaan. In coastal areas, it is bakawan. It should be noted that Iloilo and Guimaras have enterprising farmers who engage in intensive plantings of ipil-ipil as intercrop of coffee, cacao, banana, and coconuts. Apparently, Aklanons have yet to know that a hectare of ipil-ipil could produce 208 to 312 cubic meters of wood per 3 year rotation or 12,000 to 24,000 kilograms of charcoal per year. For practical purposes, our uplands could be reforested with improved ipil-ipil that can be integrated with live-stock like cattle and goats on cut and carry basis.

Desirable human habitat is basically anchored on proper environment protection and conservation. It is disheartening that government funding to DENR is far from adequate. Participatory involvement of civic organizations and LGUs are indeed indispensable to the success in forest management.

Let us practice "Follow the leaders" trend. Family trees in Japan are individually named because they are part of themselves, source of life, inspiration and timeless beauty to behold. We may not go to extremes but bottom line is to plant trees now because we want to insure future survival as a nation and people. /MP