Monday, August 11, 2008 State school hosts tree-planting
FORESTRY teachers and students of the Cebu State College of Science and Technology (CSCST), Argao led an enrichment planting project in Canbantug, Argao, Cebu for biodiversity conservation.
The tree-planting project, a joint effort of CSCST-Argao and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Argao, aims to enrich the existing vegetation in the area.
DENR and CSCST-Argao signed a memorandum of agreement recently entrusting the responsibility to the college to conserve, protect and develop a specific area in Canbantug to provide the students with practical skills in forestry.
“This enrichment planting project will help improve the environmental condition of the area and also to help the people understand that protecting our environment is a need,” said Moreno Tagra, officer-in-charge of Argao Community Environment and Natural Resources.
Ecosystem
Teachers and students usually plant fruit trees to get more birds and bats to return to the area and improve their natural habitat.
“These birds and bats have a big role in our ecosystem that’s why we planted more trees and we already developed almost two hectares of the land area in Canbantug, Argao,” said forester Steve Alcazar of CSCST-Argao.
The project does not only help balance the ecosystem but also facilitates the people’s need for a supply of water through flowing water sustained by the trees. The water is used for the irrigation system of farmers and homes and for industrial consumption.
Forestry students agree that planting of trees is not just complying with their course requirement but to actually help the environment.
John Lloyd Patalinghug, president of the forestry students, said enrichment planting is not just for the sake of his course requirement but also his way of helping the environment.
He said they still continued the activity even if it was raining so hard.
The project opened the minds of the people in Canbantug as to how important trees are.
“The tree planting project is good because it’s a big help to our small barangay,” said Cabantug Barangay Captain Felix Famat.
The project is being maintained and monitored by the forestry teachers. (Jazzel O. Bajenting, UP Masscom)
