DENR-6 exceeds mangrove, beach forest target

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2421448253295/denr-6-exceeds-mangrove-beach-forest-target
• Monday, November 23, 2015

By Leonard T. Pineda I (JCM/DENR/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, November 23 (PIA) --- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-6 has exceeded by 2.6 percent its mangrove and beach forests plantation target in Western Visayas.

DENR-6 said it has achieved a total of 102.66 percent accomplishment in terms of plantation establishment or a total of 2,820 hectares from its target of 2,747 hectares under the Mangrove and Beach Forest Development Project (MBFDP).

The MBFDP is a component program under the National Greening Program (NGP) aimed at strengthening the coastal areas in the country.

The project is both a rehabilitation and reconstruction project for disaster launched in mid-2014 after super typhoon“Yolanda” hit the country on Nov. 8, 2013.

No less than President Benigno Aquino III has commissioned the project, who looks forward to a more Climate Change resilient Philippines in the future.

In Region 6, coastal areas in Northern Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, Aklan, portion of Guimaras and Negros Occidental were badly hit by Yolanda. DENR buildings and structures in the these provinces were also damaged by the typhoon.

The event highlighted the need to reforest thousands of hectares of denuded coastal and beach forests in the country.

“The guardians of the coasts – the mangroves and beach forests – have the strength to protect our coastal communities from the devastating effects of extreme weather events,” said DENR-6 Regional Director Jim O. Sampulna.

He added that after Yolanda, DENR-6 had acted first by assessing and validating the damages and afterwards, started identifying coastal sites to be rehabilitated by each province.

The following were the target areas for mangrove and beach forest development: Aklan – 319 hectares; Antique – 200 hectares, Capiz – 488 hectares; Guimaras – 350 hectares, Iloilo – 1,080 hectares; and Negros Occidental – 1,030 hectares.

DENR 6 is actively implementing both the NGP and MBFDP which help to reforest the upland, coastal, urban and mangrove areas in the region.