BY: HAZEL F. GLORIA
CEBU CITY, April 16 (PIA) ---The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) has utilized the technology of geo-tagging in the implementation of the national greening program (NGP) in Central Visayas.
DENR 7 regional executive director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo said, we began to adopt the geo-tagging system in monitoring the progress of the NGP.
Montejo said this is to erase doubts in reporting the NGP accomplishments as it ensures the integrity and correctness of the report with special attention on the survival component of the program.
Geo-tagging is the process of attaching coordinates and other location-specific information to pictures and videos, usually with a handheld device such as a camera or mobile phone with enabled global positioning system or GPS.
The DENR has invested significant resources to purchase geo-tagging equipment and train forestry personnel on the use of the technology that utilizes GPS and web-based mapping to allow real-time monitoring of NGP locations, especially on getting accurate count of trees planted and their conditions.
“It been noted by DENR Secretary Paje that accurate maps of planted areas and their accessibility were two major elements lacking in past government reforestation programs.
Geo-tagging would also help in monitoring seedling growth and mortalities for replacement with new seedlings in NGP sites.
He said that with the technology, NGP accomplishments can now be easily tracked not only by the DENR management but also by the public who can access the program’s geo-tagging monitoring system through the agency’s website (http://ngp.denr.gov.ph).
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) required the submission of NGP reports with geo-tagged photographs and duly notarized before the release of the 2014 NGP budget.
The NGP is a massive forest rehabilitation program of the present administration established by virtue of Executive Order No. 26 issued in February 2011 by President Benigno S. Aquino III.
It seeks to grow 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares nationwide within a period of six years, from 2011 to 2016.
From 2011 to 2013, some 683,069 hectares of the NGP sites, or 46 per cent of the 1.5- million hectare target, have been planted, with more than 1.2 million jobs generated.
In Central Visayas, about 42,269.75 hectares have been covered as of December 2013.
Apart from being a reforestation initiative, the NGP is also 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.
The program is also designed to reduce poverty, providing alternative livelihood activities for marginalized upland and lowland households relating to seedling production and care and maintenance of newly-planted trees.
Likewise, the NGP also seeks to promote biodiversity conservation through the rehabilitation of the country’s forests, which serves as natural habitat for various species of plants and animals.(mbcn/HFG/PIA-7/DENR-7)