Forests, trees, Ciudad dispute
-A A +ANews Sense
Monday, June 25, 2012
ONE variation of that quote asks if the fallen tree makes any sound, which suggests the fall must be heard by someone to matter.
How many trees were lost on prime 2.8-hectare land in Cebu City that Fifth Avenue Property Development Corp. and Capitol will jointly develop? After a recent heavy downpour that struck down some trees, did anyone see or hear it?
What people see are news media images of fallen trees--and those that a former city mayor said were cut.
It was fun, not ha-ha fun but oddly fun, how Ciudad project opposers and environment watchers bellowed over trees reported to have been cut but were still standing. News teams didn’t find evidence of assault on Ciudad trees.
Debaters, along with state regulators and media, could’ve helped the public understand the issue better if this were made clear: “no tree cutting” doesn’t mean every tree must be spared; there are trees for harvesting or have short life or little value.
Permits are given, which means they can be transferred or removed.
Balance
Public uproar tends to drown out the reality that conservation of forest must be balanced with demands of development.
It’s when developers dodge regulation or opposers are driven by hate or politics that value of trees is ignored or exaggerated.
Not seeing the forest for the trees? Not quite, for missing crucial details could also
blur over-all view.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on June 26, 2012.
Opinion
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