EDC, DENR establish Philippines’ 1st arboretum in NegOr
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Dec. 5 (PIA) Energy Development Corporation (EDC), the geothermal leader spearheads the establishment of a seed bank and arboretum using 96 endangered Philippines tree species in sitio Panhilakan, barangay Puhagan, Valencia, this province.
With EDC along with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the municipality of Valencia signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) recently to set up a 9.35 hectare arboretum where a collection of different rare and endemic prime trees be propagated, according to EDC public relations supervisor, Toni Nieva.
DENR Region 7 Executive Director Maxino Dichoso and EDC Senior Vice-President Agnes de Jesus endorsed the MOA to pave the way for the establishment of the arboretum.
Nieva said the arboretum serves as learning and training facility for students, faculty, plant enthusiasts, ecotourists and other people of various walks of life. It will also serve as a research laboratory for biological and environmental scientists.
The EDC Arboretum to host the 96 species belonging to Dipterocarp and non-Dipterocarp families. These species are categorized into threatened, vulnerable, rare and endangered status based on the rules of DENR and the International Union of Conservation of Nature.
Dichoso lauded EDC for another groundbreaking green initiative. “This is the first arboretum initiated by the private sector that will focus on the genetic conservation of 96 endangered premium native species. It is a major effort that is consistent with the National Greening Program.”
Based on the MOA, EDC provides the concept and design as well as the budget for the establishment of the arboretum while DENR undertakes site identification, survey and assessment of 10 hectares of forestland suitable for an arboretum within the Southern Negros Geothermal Production Field (SNGPF).
The EDC official said this project is a component of EDC’s landmark greening project BINHI which aims to help restore the country’s forest cover, enhance forest ecosystems, and contribute in rescuing and securing the gene pool of endangered premium Philippine timber species.
“Together with the DENR, our reforestation efforts have led to the increase in the forest cover of SNGPF by 14%. Now that the forest is protected, we are expanding the area and preserving biodiversity for climate change adaptation through BINHI,” de Jesus explained.
BINHI is aligned with the government’s National Greening Program (NGP). The arboretum project is part of the MOA on NGP. One of BINHI’s primary targets is to educate the general public about the importance of planting not just any tree but especially those that are most precious to the Filipinos’ sustainable development and national identity. Ultimately, BINHI seeks to empower the target publics so they may go the extra green mile individually or collectively. (PIA/JCT)