DENR, EDC sign pact on saving endangered trees

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB) has partnered with the Energy Development Corp. (EDC) to conserve the 11 most critically endangered native tree species in the Philippines.

This was formalized after ERDB Director Henry Adornado and EDC Corporate Support Function Group head and Assistant Vice President Regina Victoria Pascual signed a five-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) on strengthening environmental protection amid coronavirus pandemic.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said that, through the MoU, the DENR would be able to “more effectively conserve and propagate native tree species that are vital to sustaining biodiversity.”

“Our mandate in the DENR does not stop even amid a health crisis. We can assure Filipinos that we will continue to partner with other institutions to safeguard the well-being of the environment,” he added.

Under the MoU, the ERDB and EDC will collaborate on strengthening the Binhi program, an initiative of the EDC that focuses on native tree conservation and aims to rescue and ensure the propagation of selected 96 premium threatened species in the country.

The partnership zeroes in on the 11 rarest and most critically endangered species: kadalis narig, malayakal, Mindanao narek, pinulog, Palawan narig, narig laot, kanining peneras, Cagayan narek, pianga, mapilig and Samar gisok.

ERDB and EDC will initiate in-site conservation or the conservation of species in their natural habitats, considered the most appropriate way of preserving biodiversity for it protects inhabitants and ensures sustainability of the environment and of the ecosystem.

The ERDB is tasked to coordinate with potential EDC partners for the identification of different tree species, provide assistance in sourcing and propagation of seedlings, and assist in technicalities and protocols for tree planting.

The “ERDB is very much willing to respond to the need to conserve our natural resources by providing full support in developing science-based propagation protocols or information on the selected tree species through our research, development and extension centers,” Adornado said.

Pascual said her company was looking forward to a successful partnership with ERDB to rescue and secure the country’s native tree species.

“All the outcomes of our five-year partnership with ERDB will not only enable us to capacitate local government units and other organizations to protect these species,” she said.

“It will result in more of these trees planted and grown and therefore, more carbon absorbed and cleaner air — a positive impact that we all need during this Covid-19 pandemic,” she added.

ERDB is the principal research and development unit of the DENR that formulates, implements, coordinates and evaluates integrated research, development and extension programs on environment and natural resources.

EDC is one of the leading renewable energy companies in the country. It has programs to conserve watershed and natural resources within its geothermal reservations.

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Article and Photo originally posted by The Manila Times last September 12, 2020 and written by Eireene Jairee Gomez..

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