DENR-Abra checks charcoal makers for environment violations

By Maritess B. Beñas

BANGUED, Abra – Provincial Environment officials are now monitoring activities of charcoal makers and have started a program for those involved in the livelihood to ensure they are not destroying nature.

“For every one tree cut by the charcoal makers, they are required to plant ten trees as replacement to sustain their livelihood,” said Ernesto Aton provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer.

           

Charcoal making is main source of livelihood of  people in areas of Abra like barangays of Salnec and Layugan in Bucay, Sta. Rosa in Peñarrubia and Sagap of Bangued.
           

Aton said foresters are monitoring charcoal makers in said areas to ensure policies set in the permit issued to charcoal makers are being followed particularly cutting of trees for charcoal making purposes only in private lands.
           

Aton said only charcoal makers from Layugan in Bucay were issued a permit to cut Gmelina trees but, also, only those trees that are planted in their own private lands, and never trees that are planted on public and communal lands.
           

Aside from the prohibition on cutting of Gmelina trees for charcoal making, Aton also urged charcoal makers to plant and use kakawate or the locally known Madre de cacao because this was the most appropriate species for charcoal making.
           

The issue had been raised by some concerned citizens here who have observed some charcoal makers using Gmelina trees as charcoal.
           

Charcoal making is an environment unfriendly economic activity.

           

However, Aton said, we cannot deprive those engaged in the said activity as their livelihood, so the PENRO implemented the national greening program in the three areas in order to balance the ecosystem without jeopardizing the livelihood of the people since they form part of the environment.

           

Initially, Layugan had been granted a 40-hectare plantation project under the NGP.
           

“We allow the people to harvest what they have planted, provided they do not cut in the forest lands. And the activities of the charcoal makers are strictly monitored with the use of the certificate of verification to determine how they are complying with policies set in their utilization permit.” Aton said.