BAGUIO CITY , Philippines – The highland Cordillera forests, considered as Northern Luzon’s watershed cradle, is balding very fast, the environment department admitted, as almost half of its forests are needing rehabilitation.
From the 85-percent of its total land area identified as forest cover, the actual remaining forest is now only about 40 percent, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources -Cordil-lera Autonomous Region (DENR-CAR) Forest Management Service said.
Regional Technical Director Augusto Lagon admitted that originally, 85 percent of CAR’s land area is classified as forest cover while the remaining 15 percent is classified as agricultural lands, alienable and disposable lands.
More than one half of the identified forest lands are now either grasslands, open areas or converted to agricultural lands.
This, as local government units, non-government agencies and the other concerned stakeholders need to join hands in helping the rehabilitation of the denuded areas and in the protection of the remaining forests in the region.
On June 25, Environment Month and Philippine Arbor Day was commemorated as the DENR embarked on a massive advocacy of reforestation through tree planting activities. “Our tree planting activities this month is only a reminder of a continuing advocacy to plant trees, forest trees and fruit trees as well, every rainy season. Aside from the economic benefits that it could give, we could also help in mitigating the effects of climate change and to preserve our environment, air quality and water resources for future generations,” Lagon said.