by Theresa Arlene A. Gambe
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-10 shared their current national and regional environmental initiatives in celebration of Earth Month 2023 with the theme “Invest in Our Planet” during the Talakayan sa PIA at SM Uptown CDO, April 19.
Forrester Mercedita Barbarona, Conservation and Development Division Deputy Chief of DENR-10, reiterated the department’s goal for the National Greening Program to plant 1.5 billion trees on 1.5 million hectares.
“The reason why we invest in this is that we want to mitigate the impact of climate change, we want to reforest our denuded forest lands. We want to provide an alternative source of livelihood for the forest community, even in the coastal areas,” Barbarona said.
Barbona elaborated that DENR has targets this year for the reforestation of Northern Mindanao’s denuded forest lands.
“In almost all things, humans have been very successful, but perhaps left behind is the protection of the environment. We have sacrificed so much for progress; we have sacrificed the environment in the name of moneymaking. This is why the government wants us to be aware of this,” DENR-10 Legal Division Chief Attorney Ban Mikhael Pacuribot said.
Through Executive Order No. 193, the National Greening Program has been extended up to the year 2028. (TAAG/PIA-10)
####
