MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is optimistic it will exceed its target to plant trees on 1.5 hectares of forest lands by 2016 under the National Greening Program (NGP).
DENR Secretary Ramon Paje noted that as of Dec. 16, they have planted trees on a total of 994,415 hectares compared to their original target of 900,000.
Paje said they expect to cover 1.7 to 1.8 million hectares by 2016.
Aside from a reforestation initiative, the NGP is seen as a climate change mitigation strategy as it seeks to enhance the country’s forest stock to absorb carbon dioxide, which is largely blamed for global warming. It is also a poverty alleviating measure, providing alternative livelihood for upland and lowland households.
The DENR said mangrove and protected areas, ancestral domain, civil and military reservation, urban greening areas as well as inactive and abandoned mine sites are the other areas for planting under the program.