BY: JENNIFER C. TILOS
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 20 (PIA) --- More than 8,000 forest trees species have been planted 2013 in over three hectares in different barangays the city.
With this, Dumaguete City Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) reported an increase of 2% of forest cover from previous 28% after three years.
According to Arestio Encabo of ENRO, the city has strengthened its greening program through massive tree planting and growing to further address climate phenomenal events.
Apart from institutionalizing the Urban Forestry Management and Development (UFMD) program component for 12 years since its inception in 2002, the program is also a climate change mitigation strategy that aims to increase the city’s forest cover to raise its capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, which is largely blamed for global warming.
Its institutionalization, Encabo said, is in pursuance to City Ordinance No. 20 and Ordinance No. 18 series of 2002 with an annual budget to ably carry out its different program component field activities.
Program implementation focuses on arresting the alarming problem of global warming and ensuring a sustainable supply of potable water for the city’s domestic consumption.
Encabo said the program component has an annual target of planting, caring and growing of 2,500 seedlings as part of the city’s corporate responsibility and contribution in arresting the alarming worldwide problem of global warming.
Global warming is a result of the rise in global temperature which brought climate changes such as flash floods, drought, typhoon surges and earthquakes, concrete manifestations of the interplay of the natural law of force and energy.
The UFMD projected an ideal forest cover for urban areas like Dumaguete City of 56% or more in order to obtain an ecologically-balanced environment and healthy atmosphere.
Encabo said this will "continue to improve its program implementation in the coming years to ensure and strengthen the establishment of windbreaks, sustainable source of potable water and enhance local wood industry.” (rmn/jct/PIA7-NegOr)
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