ORMOC CITY — Some 45,000 native tree seedlings will be planted over three years to restore 60 hectares of degraded forestland in Capoocan, Leyte, under a partnership among the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 8 and a local farmers’ group.
The three groups signed a memorandum of agreement on Aug. 26 for the forest restoration project covering parts of Barangays Visares and Sto. Niño.
The project supports the DENR’s Forests for Life: 5 Million Trees by 2028 Program, which seeks to promote forest restoration through partnerships among government agencies, the private sector and local communities.
EDC, a First Gen company, will support the production, planting and maintenance of 45,000 seedlings through its BINHI program, which focuses on biodiversity conservation, forest restoration, native tree protection and community partnerships.
The project will prioritize native Philippine tree species, including hindang (Ficus callosa), yakal (Shorea astylosa) and lauan (Shorea spp.).
EDC Assistant Vice President and Head of Corporate Support Functions Atty. Allan Barcena said the initiative would go beyond planting trees by ensuring their long-term survival and growth.
The restoration sites include grassland, brushland and open-canopy forest areas. Areas where indigenous trees are already naturally regenerating will be managed through assisted natural regeneration to protect and encourage their growth.
A site assessment identified illegal tree cutting, kaingin or slash-and-burn farming, and soil erosion as some of the threats to the forest areas.
The Visares and Sto. Niño Farmers Association (VISFA) will help produce and plant the seedlings and undertake maintenance and forest protection activities.
Preparations for the project have started, including coordination with municipal and barangay officials, community orientations and ground surveys. A satellite nursery near the project area is also being planned to raise seedlings before they are planted.
The partners will carry out replacement planting, weeding, fireline establishment, site patrols and community-based forest protection. They will also monitor pests and diseases, seedling survival and growth, and carbon stocks.
The project is expected to increase forest cover, improve biodiversity, enhance carbon storage and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for communities involved in the restoration effort.
The agreement was signed by DENR Region 8 Regional Executive Director Arturo Salazar, EDC’s Barcena and VISFA Chairman Christian Mercoleta.
For the duration of the three-year agreement, the DENR, EDC, VISFA and concerned local government units will jointly monitor and evaluate the project and work toward the long-term protection of the restored forestland.
Barcena said the partnership reflects EDC’s science- and community-based approach to forest restoration, which places emphasis not only on the number of trees planted but also on developing healthy and resilient forests.
(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)
