DUMAGUETE CITY, Oct. 7 (PIA) – Energy Development Corporation (EDC) will gather hundreds of institutions and individuals in a launching ceremony of ‘10M in 10 for a Greener Negros’ on October 10 at 10am at St. Paul University, this city. The ‘10M in 10’ will be the first and biggest forest restoration movement in Negros Island to plant, grow, and protect ten million trees in ten years, said EDC business unit head James Arnold Villaroman. Villaroman said the movement will gather partners all over Negros to collaborate in an island-wide greening effort under a long-term partnership movement. In a launching, former Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) head Ricky Carandang and now chief of EDC’s corporate communication office is expected to grace the occasion. It is noted that Negros Island suffers habitat loss of various endemic species of flora and fauna due to forest degradation and denudation. Of the 478,402 hectares of forestlands in the island, only 16 percent or 74,958 hectares is covered with forest as of 2010. With this, the movement aims to restore the indigenous forests of Negros Island, strengthen socio-ecological resiliency of communities against climate change, said Villaroman. This is also to ensure sustainable source of ecosystem as potential source of income and business for the communities. Hence, EDC, a company engaged in the exploration and development of geothermal for power generation in Negros, led the movement to arrest forest degradation and contribute to climate change mitigation, among others. The launching includes video showing, presentation of partners, signing of partnership commitment, and ceremonial tree planting in the venue. (rmn/jct/PIA7-Negros Oriental) - See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view...-10-for-a-greener-negros#sthash.Hsrvdvo8.dpuf
Confused here. If there is only 74,958 hectares on the island covered in forest then they don't have 478,402 hectares of forestlands.....they have 74,958 hectares of forestlands. Wouldn't everything else not covered in forest just be....land?
Hope this helps to create jobs for folks. Wonder if this will work similar to the Depression-era, US Conservation Corps. Young men planted millions and millions of trees, built 100's of miles of hiking trails, and all sorts of recreational camping areas, many complete with covered picnic areas & benches, fire pits, etc. Today, the work that was done by these men (and women) back in the 1930's are still very much in use today. And the replanted land is filled with mature trees, creating a renewal/reemergence of the local flora/fauna . People (families) can now get back into these reclamated forest areas on walking trails and really enjoy the beauty of Nature. I hope this new project is backed with genuine intent because over time, something like this can really be beneficial for everyone on all levels. V/R, nwlivewire
