DENR targets 309,000 hectares for reforestation

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has set a target to reforest 309,000 hectares in Western Visayas by 2028 under the Enhanced National Greening Program (ENGP).

Raul Lorilla, Officer-in-Charge and Regional Executive Director of DENR Region 6, presented these targets and accomplishments during Episode 8 of “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” on July 18.

He emphasized the need for both reforestation and forest protection, stating:

“We have a long way to go about reforestation. However, this cannot be addressed by planting trees alone. We have natural regeneration where forests, when effectively and well-protected, will regenerate. What is important is that our reforestation in NGP should be coupled with forest protection.”

Since the program’s inception in 2011, over 118,982 hectares have already been planted in the region.

The ENGP, the flagship initiative of the DENR, aims to reforest 7.1 million hectares of open, degraded, and denuded forests across the country.

In Western Visayas, the program has increased forest cover to 12.89 percent, although this is still below the ideal 32 percent of the region’s over two million hectares.

From 2022 to June 2024, DENR-6 produced 3,982,007 seedlings and planted 2,648,906 seedlings.

The agency has also patrolled 19,633.742 km with 284 patrollers under the LAWIN Forest and Biodiversity Protection System.

Moreover, the DENR has engaged 1,819 contractors through community-based forest management agreements (CBFMA), giving them the authority to manage their areas.

“We can really close the gap between open access areas and our reforestation efforts. Developing these areas is crucial to addressing climate change,” Lorilla added.

The agency also plans to implement Project Transform, enlisting support from private individuals, groups, and companies to bolster rehabilitation efforts.

In addition to reforestation, DENR-6 has strengthened wildlife protection and conservation efforts, maintaining two wildlife rescue centers at Camp Monteclaro in Miagao, Iloilo, and Barangay Jawili in Tangalan, Aklan.

Other initiatives include improved land administration and management, water resource management, identification of protected areas, and job generation.