The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Bicol supports the launching of the 2-hectare Energy Development Corporation (EDC) BINHI Arboretum within the Bacon-Manito Geothermal Reservation on November 21, 2024 in Manito, Albay.
This initiative in partnership with Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) is part of the project, “Forest Restoration Using Philippine Threatened and Endemic Tree Species (PTES) in the Bacon-Manito Geothermal Reservation” underscores the efforts to conserve native tree species and support the National Greening Program (NGP).
The launching was attended by key stakeholders, including AFoCO Vice Executive Director Jin Sunphil, AVP and Corporate Support Functions Head Atty. Allan V. Barcena and EDC BMGP Facility Head Marcel D. Rosario, DENR OIC, Assistant Secretary for Field Operations – Western Mindanao and Forest Management Bureau (FMB) Director Arleigh J. Adorable, represented by FMB Forest Resources Management Division Chief Ildefonso L. Quiloy and DENR Bicol Regional Executive Director (RED) Francisco E. Milla Jr. represented by OIC, Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services (ARD-TS) Atty. Ronnel C. Sopsop.
In his message, DENR Bicol ARD Sopsop emphasized the broader impact of the initiative. “We hope that this be replicated not only in the Philippines but also in other Asian countries where AFoCO has projects, to serve as a model for forest restoration and biodiversity conservation,” he said.
The arboretum will house twenty (20) endangered native plant species and will serve as a living repository of biodiversity. It also aims to help around 60 farmers from the Alliance of Bacman Farmers Association Incorporated Agricultural Cooperative (AlbaFAI) in Manito, Albay, through Public-Private Partnership initiatives.
Meanwhile, DENR Bicol RED Milla highlighted the importance of partnerships. “This collaborative effort is a testament on how partnerships can create impactful solutions to environmental challenges. We look forward to seeing how this arboretum will contribute to restore our forests and support our communities,” RED Milla said.
“Initiatives like the EDC BINHI Arboretum remind us that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility, and together, we can create a greener and more sustainable future for generations to come,” he added. ###
Source: DENR Bicol