Group plants 450 trees in Shilan forest

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Tree planting is “in” these days.

Development of Ethnic Cultural Arts and Traditions (Decat) president Dean Cuanso led another tree planting activity in Shilan, enticing nature lover to participate.

Dubbed as “Our One nature, One Community 3” (Onoc 3), eco warriors were able to plant 400 pine tree seedlings and 35 tree saplings.

Cuanso said the seedlings were a combination of donations from the Lao family as well as from the Decat organization.

“We were also able to remove grass surrounding around 200 tree seedlings earlier planted by other groups,” he said.

Onoc 3 was conducted at the Shilan Communal Forest.

“The tree planting and grass weeding activity was spearheaded by Decat non-government organization and watwatworld online community,” he added.

Around 150 participants from different organizations and schools attended the event.

Cuanso said “Onoc 3 is the largest group so far who went to plant in the communal forest. Our youngest participant was a 7-month old baby. His parents planted a tree which will [allow it to] grow old together with the baby.”

In the past, Decat planted over 450 trees at the LongLong Communal Forest.

Decar is an organization aiming to develop ethnic culture, starting as online group morphing into an organization for culture and preservation. It is seeking accreditation here to correct wrong imaging and commercialization of culture.