Inventory of trees on to protect Busol watershed

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Inventory of trees in this watershed is on here at the critical Busol watershed as basis for protection and conservation plans of the city government for its few remaining forest reserves.
    City planning and development coordinator architect Donna Tabangin said this will become a major part of the ongoing preparation of the Busol forest management plan, updating of the comprehensive land use plan and urban regreening program, all crucial to the city's thrust to revitalize the environment and stop urban decay.
    The activity started April 27 and targeted for completion June 16 with an estimated number of 5,000 trees primarily of the Benguet Pine specie identified and tagged.
    Aside from her office, Tabangin said the activity is headed by the City Environment and Parks Management Office and barangays Ambiong, Brookspoint, East Bayan Park and Pacdal which are straddled by the watershed.
    Their representatives compose the tree inventory teams augmented by personnel of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office-Baguio, Baguio Water District and Public Order and Safety Division.
    The Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources-Watershed and Water Resources Research Development and Extension Center (DENR-WWRRDEC) provided assistance for the city to acquire skills on measurement standards and procedures in the conduct of inventory for standing trees based on Forest Management Bureau Technical Bulletin No. 3.
    Tabangin said for the trees' protection, the teams use water-based white latex paint on the lightly scraped surface of the tree trunks.
    The Busol forest reserve is the largest potable water source in the city making it one of the centerpoints of the city's environmental preservation programs.