EDITORIAL - Reyes et al climbing up wrong tree

Okay, so the so-called environmentalists win. The DENR, mindful of the bad publicity generated by the cutting of old acacia trees along the Cebu south road, has recalled all permits to cut them. This will allow the old trees to grow older and rot until they topple over. When they do, let us just hope they do not cause any damage to property, as they already have on two occasions, or worse, result in the loss of lives.

We say so-called environmentalists because people like Robert Reyes are only in it for the publicity. True environmentalists have a larger view of the issue. They do not pull stunts like climbing individual trees to stop their cutting. They raise hell over the continued and wanton illegal logging that is going on right now even as Reyes was climbing down his single tree in Carcar.

The DENR, which apparently wants its share of the publicity by recalling the permits, has not done enough to stop illegal logging. Why, it did not even know that the giant balete tree on M. Velez was gone until the sudden disappearance got reported in media. Then it promptly went through the motions of looking for the tree. That tree was destined to be cut because it was in the way of a road project. But neither the DENR nor other so-called environmentalist cared until it disappeared.

And then they all suddenly cared, just as they also cared for the hundred plus trees that got cut from the center island of S. Osmeña Road to give way to yet another project. That project was reported in media extensively prior to the actual undertaking. But nobody among the so-called environmentalists and the DENR ever asked whether any of the trees might be in any danger. You see, as always, environmentalism only surfaces when publicity demands its presence.

Those acacia trees in the south cannot stay there forever. Not even the strongest environmental advocacy can prolong their life. Saving them now will not make them live eternally. They will have to go eventually. And when that time comes, it might be good to ask the so-called environmentalists what meaningful gain has been achieved by delaying the inevitable.

And while waiting for the inevitable, those very old trees continue to pose danger to people. They also get in the way of projects that are intended to serve the greater good. Any benefit that may be derived from the postponement can only be as short and as temporary as the temporary lease on life that these trees have managed to win.

And that is because so-called environmentalists are myopic. Pardon the pun, but they only see a few trees but not the forest. The forest is what they should promote and protect. It is in the forest where Robert Reyes and his ilk should live so that he can take over the job of the DENR, which has been inutile in protecting the integrity of our dwindling forest.

If we truly need to protect the environment, let us do it on a scale large enough to make a difference. Let us not bother with a few trees that are bound to die soon anyway. The future of trees is in a forest protected well enough to serve the needs of people as well as its own. But for as long as illegal logging continues, and forests are cleared by human encroachment, we will eventually be doomed. That is where Reyes and his ilk should exhibit their vigilance.