GROW Mangrove Grow, a special ecotourism project of Silay City Government and Ikaw-Ako Japan-Negros Partnership for Environmental Protection will be held in Barangay Balaring on August 18 to 19.
A total of eight thousand pagatpat species will be planted at the shoreline of Barangay Balaring, with the participation of 23 Japanese environmentalists and local environment groups.
The participating groups were the Negros youth for the Environment, Junta Kinsman peace Organization, Rotaract East Bacolod City, Earth Guards USLS,
Ecotrekkers TUP Visayas, Green Alert Negros, Balangaw Mountaineering Assn., Christian Community Theater, Mapfree Asian Insurance Corporation, DMLMHS Boys and Girls Scouts, Castleson High Scxhool faculty and students, DADDJIS Faculty and students and Lantad Elementary School.
Other related activities include a five-kilometer coastal clean-up, mangrove specie identification and seedling gathering.
Mayor Jose L. Montelibano said that problems in the area will be tackled also in a forum like dynamite fishing, siltation, industrial pollution and human encroachment. Montelibano added that the present mangrove canopy in the shoreline of Silay is a big help in controlling air pollution and soil erosion and serves as a sanctuary for different species of marine life.
Silay mangrove area is the official entry of the city in the Search for Western Visayas Best Eco-Tourism Product.
