ENRO gives 168,572 forest, tree seedlings

By Juliet B. Saley

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The provincial government here through the Environment and Natural Resources Office is propagating species of forest and fruit tree seedlings in its nine provincial nurseries in the province in support to the National Greening Program of the national government.

The ENRO has produced a total of 184,466 various forest and fruit tree seedlings for this year which are being distributed free to those who request for their tree planting activities.

Of the total seedlings, 168,572 are different forest tree seedlings with Benguet pine having the highest number of 99,587 produced seedlings followed by Gmelina with 22,283 seedlings and mahogany with 17,327 seedlings. Other forest tree seedlings propagated include acacia, acacia manguim, almaciga, alnus, cypress, dao, ipil-ipil, lapachekon, lumbang, molave, narra, oak and tuai.

Other seedlings propagated are 8,784 coffee seedlings and 5,110 various fruit tree seedlings which include cacao, assorted citrus fruits, guava, mangosteen, pears, rattan, tamarind and assorted fruits.

As of September, ENRO data showed 139,296 forest and fruit tree seedlings from the nine provincial nurseries were  distributed.

Soledad Kittong of ENRO said the seedlings were distributed to private individuals which they planted in their own lots, schools,  barangay and municipal local government units, non-government organizations, national government agencies, student organizations and peoples organization which they planted in designated areas, and other people’s organizations with contract on reforestation.