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6.26.2007 900 Cloned Dipterocarp Seedlings planted at the Forest Botanical Garden and Nature Park
 In consonance with the celebration of the Environment Month, a tree planting activity was held on June 22 at the Forest Botanical Garden and Nature Park in Sitio New Loon, Barangay Mintal, Davao City.A total of 900 cloned dipterocarp seedlings composed of assorted species were planted in the area by about 300 personnel of DENR-XI Regional Office and CENRO Davao City-West (Bangkal). Regional Executive Director Ricardo L. Calderon, RTD Bonifacio Apura of ERDS, RTD Hardinado Patnugot, Jr. of FMS and CENR Officer Napoleon Paje of CENRO Bangkal led the tree planters during the activity. The Forest Botanical Garden and Nature Park is a five-hectare forest bio-diversity conservation park that was established by the Ecosystem Research and Development Service (ERDS) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in 1997 as a Demonstration Plantation for cloned dipterocarp planting materials. This forest botanical garden and nature park host diverse species of forest trees planted during the reforestation administration way back in 1950's.  More than one hectare of the area is covered with planted cloned dipterocarp forest tree species such as White lauan (Shorea contorta), Almon (Shorea almon), Mangasinoro (Shorea philippinensis), and Mayapis (Shorea palosapis). Other forest species found flourishing are Teak (Tectona grandis L.) Agoho (Casuarina equisetifolia), Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), Molave (Vitex paviflora Juss.), Bagras (Eucalyptus deglupta), African Tulip (Spathodea campanulata beauv.) and prickly Narra (Pterocarpus indicus willd.). Apart from various large tree species, the park is also rich in other plant species, fruiting shrubs, climbers, creepers and palms.About 25 kilometers away from Davao City proper, the park is easily accessible by public transport. This is the only existing ten-year old cloned dipterocarp demonstration area in Southern Mindanao. The park has high potential value for recreation, research and educational purpose. The park has yet to be officially opened to the public.
posted by Webmaster @ 9:56 AM
6.01.2007 Environment Month reels off today
 June is here, and with it comes the celebration of “Philippine Environment Month” by virtue Presidential Proclamation No. 237 signed by then President Corazon C. Aquino in 1998. This year the theme is “Beat the Heat: Let Us Work Towards A Safer Climate” focuses on the importance of taking a unified action to help address the worldwide problem on climate change. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo T. Reyes, in his speech delivered during the Earth Day celebration at the Quezon Memorial circle on April 22, 2007 called everyone’s attention to the precarious state that we are putting our world in. He stressed that beyond the DENR’s 12-point priority agenda, the Department recognizes the need to devote special effort and attention to what is considered as the biggest and most threatening environmental issue, the issue of climate change and global warming, hence the theme. “There is no longer any doubt of the insidious effects of climate change and global warming. Virtually everyone is now fully aware that human activities have played a significant role in climate change and in the gradual but persistent rise in global temperature. We already know that global warming has been caused by the increase in the greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide that man himself spews out into the atmosphere” Reyes added. Throughout the month of June, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will spearhead various environmental activities in the country. In Region XI, Regional Executive Director Ricardo L. Calderon disclosed that DENR will conduct the following activities for the environment month: massive information campaign on various DENR programs, projects and activities; Adopt A Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) Project through immersion; Motorcade in line with the Philippine Eagle Week Celebration; Mt. Apo Trek; Signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with different schools and Local Government Units (LGUs) on Green Philippine Program; Tree planting and Mangrove planting; Distribution of land titles through the Handog Titulo Program Lectures on Biodiversity Conservation, Beach clean-up; Bantay Tambutso ( Roadside Inspection) in line with RA 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999; Mine visit; Conduct of advanced course for Pollution Control Officers (PCOs); Private Emission Testing Center (PETC) monitoring and Recyclable Collection Event, among others. Calderon further said that environment friendly activities and practices geared to protect, conserve and manage the environment should not only be done during the environment month, rather it should already become part of our system. “We need to focus our goals as well as interest in protecting, managing and cleaning up the environment for our good and for the next generations to come. We must realize that when we protect the environment, we also protect ourselves”, he added. Moreover, The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) will also spearhead the celebration of World Environment Day on June 5, 2007 with the theme “Melting ice- A Hot Topic” which will be held in Tromso, Norway. UNEP stressed that climate change is an issue for everyone and that any of us can make a choice to become part of the solution instead of becoming part of the problem by consuming less energy and making climate friendly choices in our lives. (Bing Sison-DENR XI).
posted by Webmaster @ 4:34 PM
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