Writ of kalikasan cases up in Cordillera provinces

By Carlito Dar

BAGUIO CITY – “Writ of Kalikasan” cases filed in court is a proof that there is an increasing public awareness on the importance of protecting the  environment like forests in the Cordillera.

This was bared by new Department of Environment and Natural Resources Cordillera director Ralph Pablo during a media forum here last week.

He said reforestation in the Cordillera through the National Greening Program is gaining ground but with still 46 percent of the original 80 percent forest areas restored, public participation is important.

Under the NGP, Pablo said a total of 62,394 hectares were planted in the region including 24,159 hectares in 344 sites in 2014.

For this year, seedlings are being prepared in time for the rainy season for the planting of trees in 239 sites or a total target of 14,658 hectares in the different provinces of Cordillera.

Pablo reported that from around 80% forest areas (1,939,286 hectares) in the Cordillera, around 43 to 46% was restored as forest areas or around 13%  increase in forest cover since NGP’s implementation in 2010.  But much is still needed to be done, he stressed.

 “As what the Regional Development Council adopted as  Cordillera Month (July) celebration theme – “Preserving the Environment for a much greener Cordillera”, it is important that all stakeholders work together for the protection and preservation of the environment  especially with most of our areas being watersheds that supply water  not only for the region, but also to Regions 1 and 2 and parts of Region 3”, Pablo said.

‘Every person, every sector in Cordillera, even in their own little ways can help us in imparting importance of preserving the environment, as well as on being vigilant against those who are destroying or converting our forest reserves,” he added.