700-T trees planted during TreeVolution in Zampen

By JONG CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (Oct. 1, 2014-MPF-News) --- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) IX announces that Zamboanga Peninsula planted more or less 700,000 trees during the TreeVolution: Greening Minda-NOW conducted last September 26, 2014.

Partial and unofficial tally showed a total of 718,579 seedlings planted with 21,050 volunteer planters in a total area of 811.67 hectares across Region IX.

Regional Director Arleigh J. Adorable said, “The TreeVolution proved that Mindanao stands united in its reforestation efforts. It is very moving to see how Mindanaoans mobilized to answer the call of environmental conservation and restoration.”

 “This activity is a win-win situation for all of us,” said Regional Technical Director for Forest Management Services Carlito Tuballa. “Whether or not we can get the recognition from the Guinness World Book of Records, what is important is that we were able to plant trees, help achieve our National Greening Program (NGP) targets, and contribute to the fight against climate change,” he added.

The NGP is one of the major projects of the DENR that targets to plant some 1.5 billion trees in around 1.5 million hectares of public lands from 2011 to 2016. 

NGP Regional Focal Person Melvin Sarcauga said, “The TreeVolution in RIX included mangrove and upland areas. For the upland, we were able to plant rubber, cacao, coffee, narra, Tindalo, and Lumbayao.”

In Zamboanga del Norte, CENRO Dapitan City planted 42,350 seedlings with 1,694 planters in an area of 84.70 hectares. CENRO Dipolog City planted 48,455 seedlings with 2,402 planters in 100 hectares. CENRO Liloy planted 50,431 seedlings with 2,262 planters in 77.9 hectares. CENRO Siocon planted 45,600 seedlings with 1,098 planters in 91 hectares.

In Zamboanga del Sur, CENRO Pagadian City planted 51,000 seedlings with 2,550 planters in 104 hectares. CENRO Guipos planted 74,047 seedlings with 4,559 planters in 111.19 hectares.

In Zamboanga Sibugay, CENRO Ipil planted 53,156 seedlings with 1,523 planters in 90 hectares. CENRO Buug planted 41,288 seedlings with 1, 050 planters in 28 hectares.

In Zamboanga City, CENRO Zamboanga East planted 92,011 seedlings with 1,412 planters in 36.80 hectares. CENRO Zamboanga West planted 220,241 seedlings with 2,500 planters in 88.08 hectares.

Documentation and official tally of the TreeVolution will be sent to Guinness World Book of Records and will be subject to verification to determine whether or not Mindanao was able to break the record of India for most number of seedlings planted in different areas within one hour. The current record held by India is for 1,945,535 trees in 408 sites and 340,200 volunteers.