Tuesday, May 01, 2007 1.2M trees to be planted in S. Mindanao vs global warming By Carlo P. Mallo
THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here has allocated more than P10 million for its reforestation program in Southern Mindanao.
In Monday's Kapehan sa Dabaw forum at SM City Davao, DENR Regional Director Ricardo Calderon said the threat of a global warming as one of the world's pressing concerns has brought the need to reforest the denuded areas in the region.
Calderon said they expect to plant more than 1.2 million seedlings all over the region before the end of the year.
He revealed that reforestation is the best way to avert the looming crisis of global warming.
Global warming has brought about climate change at an unprecedented rate. One of the greatest and irreversible effects of global warming is the rise of sea levels.
According to Calderon, small islands and low-lying areas in the region would be subject to sinking.
"One of the adverse effects of global warming is the rise of sea levels within the next 25 to 50 years," Calderon said.
He cited the abnormal current and wave movement last year that greatly affected coastal communities in Southern Mindanao as an example of what is possible effect that global warming has on the region.
He added that global warming will definitely affect the agriculture, economy, and health of the region. With the change in climate, Davao Region may not be anymore suitable for the present agriculture industries it caters to today.
Calderon also said there is a need to address the problem of global warming.
"Just as we have contributed to global warming in our own little way, we must also contribute in the solution of the problem," he said.
