Cordi forest cover down to 37 percent: DENR exec

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY– The Cordillera office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources here has admitted that the region’s watersheds are now in a critical state thereby posing a serious threat to the food and energy self-sufficiency of Northern Luzon.

Based on recent studies done on the state of Cordillera forests, the agency found out that only 37 percent of the total 1.8 million hectares land area remains forested, which is way below the supposed average level at more or less 50 percent forested areas.
Clarence Baguilat, DENR-Cordillera regional director, said there is urgency to rehabilitate and manage properly rapidly deteriorating watersheds to bring back forest cover which was removed due to man-made activities that led to barren mountains.

As part of the effort to bring back the greenery of the region’s forests, the DENR has tapped the services of government and private sectors around the region to help in planting at least 3.4 million assorted trees in identified critical watersheds which will be the region’s contribution in the ambitious national regreening program whereby at least 1.5 billion assorted trees will be planted nationwide in the next five years.

The Cordillera has been branded the watershed cradle of Northern Luzon because it serves as the source of water flowing into the 13 major river systems that spill over in the lowland communities where lucrative agriculture and energy activities are being undertaken.

Baguilat admitted that despite being the third forested region in the country, the Cordillera lacks appropriate zoning of its areas, adding that forested zones, buffer zones and multi-use zones need to be established in order to prevent the massive invasion of the watersheds.

Region 4-B is the country’s most forested region because of the vast tracks of forests in the Palawan area while Region 2 or the Cagayan valley comes in second because of the existence of the Sierra Madre mountain ranges.

However, Baguilat claimed planting trees alone will not help in restoring the region’s rapidly deteriorating forests but taking care of the planted trees should also be made part of the obligation of those participating in the tree-planting activities to make sure that the trees will survive and will make the program successful.

Because Cordillerans are the ones making the lowland agriculture and energy sectors productive by sustaining the forest cover of the mountains amidst massive degradation activities, the DENR-CAR official said lowland communities must also share the burden in the preservation and protection of the forests by significantly contributing in the number of trees to be planted or whatever available assistance so that efforts to spare the remaining forest cover from being ravaged by unscrupulous individuals will be prevented.

Considering that people in the region have already felt the effects of climate change, many of them have committed to support the planting of trees and nurturing the same for the benefit of the future generation of Cordillerans.

Meanwhile in Lagawe, Ifugao, the representative of the lone district of this world heritage province endorsed for funding and approval by the Department of Energy the construction of five minihydro projects in the different parts of the province, saying this will benefit remote communities.

Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr. said he has endorsed the Ibulao 1 River minihydro project which is located at Barangay Bokiawan; Ibulao 2 River at Barangay Hucab; Hungduan River in Barangay Bokiawan and Asin River, all in Kiangan town and the Lamut River in Barangay Jolowon in Lamut. He said the projects will serve as an added source of power for the province.