Greening program site catches fire

CEBU, Philippines - As mild El Niño brings hotter temperature, at least 120 hectares of the government’s National Greening Program plantation in Oslob caught fire, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“Of the 120 hectares or the whole mountain, about 90 hectares were intended for firewood to include Kakawati, Robles, and Ipil-ipil tree species, and 30 hectares were for timber to include Molave and Kakawati,” said Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Argao Flordelisa Geyrozaga in a statement.

DENR–7 said they have organized fire brigades in all critical NGP plantations to respond to alarms but Geyrozaga said it was difficult to put out the grass fire in Barangay Canangcaan, Oslob because of the steep terrain and lack of water. Damage was estimated at P285,000.

Considered critical or hotspot sites with large NGP and ‘old’ growth plantations include Argao and Oslob in Cebu; Ubay, Buenavista, Getafe, Pilar, and Talibon in Bohol; and Ayungon and Bindoy in Negros Oriental.

 Regional Director Isabelo Montejo also directed the community environment and natural resources officers to install fire lines, 10-meter wide vegetation-free strips that is usually established at the borders of the plantation and at given intervals inside the plantation, to contain a fire in case it breaks out.

“Greenbreaks or shelterbelts which are strips of vegetation composed of fire-resistant trees, shrubs and vines should also be established,” he said.

He said cooperation from the community is very important to prevent the occurrence of fire.

 “We need the communities to assist or support us in our continuing campaign against forest or grassland fire as we monitor our plantations,” Montejo said.

 Montejo said carelessness is a usual cause of fire and among the irresponsible activities of humans include throwing a lighted cigarette butt anywhere, failing to put out a campfire, and burning pasture lands to improve livestock grazing.

“Mopping up a forest fire that is all burning debris has to be extinguished thoroughly is an important component of fire suppression,” he explained.

 He said grasses and other vegetation dry up and become very flammable during summer or dry months. He suggested that these dried litters should be collected and removed from the site as they are potential source of fire.

 As prolonged dry spell increases risk of forest fire, he asked residents of upland areas and nature trekkers to exercise extra caution when performing activities that can potentially ignite fires.

 He also urged communities and the management boards of protected areas to adopt local ordinances or policies against smoking, open burning and bringing of flammable materials in forested areas.

 Forest fires affect the livelihood of upland communities, endanger the country’s wildlife and their habitat, and are set back to government’s reforestation. –/JMO (FREEMAN)