DENR-Kalinga partners with POs in reforestation projects

By Peter A. Balocnit

Tuesday 17th of July 2012

TABUK CITY, Kalinga, July 17 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) established partnership with 63 peoples organizations (POs) including barangay local government units in implementing its reforestation projects.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Severino Dalutag said partnering with organized POs and barangays, composed mostly of upland farmers, will help stop forest denudation.

“This is an effective way of discouraging upland farmers from practicing slash and burn farming which destroys the whole forest if 'kaingiros' occupy a mountain,” he said, adding that aside from being paid of their contract services, they also earn income from forest products.

DENR reported that the province of Kalinga has a remaining forest cover of 90,939 hectares from a total of 267,552 hectares of forest land that they are trying to protect from denudation. Slash and burn (kaingin system) method of agriculture production is the number one cause of forest denudation.

Dalutag said that DENR-Kalinga has so far planted 7,841 hectares and under this year’s national greening program. The office is targeting to plant 1,435 hectares to recover lost forests.

“We have to fast track the implementation of reforestation projects to replace lost forests,” he said. (JDP/PAB-PIA CAR,Kalinga)