Mining forest program reforests 88% of disturbed mining areas

AS OF 2011, about 7,755ha of disturbed mining areas have been planted with 13.3 million assorted seedlings by 65 companies participating in the Mining Forest Program (MFP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – Mines and Geosciences Bureau. 

The planted area represents 88.7% of the 8,743 hectares total disturbed area.

The MFP, originally the Adopt-A-Tree, Adopt-A-Mining-Forest Program, was initiated in 1989 pursuant to DENR Administrative Order No 22 which requires the establishment of mining forests within specified areas. 

Priority areas are mined-out areas, waste dumps and other mining disturbed lands.  Other areas include those surrounding the mining area as well as other areas “adopted” by the companies.

Every year during the celebration of the Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC), recognitions are given to outstanding performers.  During the 58th ANMSEC held in Baguio City in November 2011, the Best Mining Forest awards were given for the following categories:  exploration, non-metallic and metallic mines.

The following companies received the Best Mining Forest award: FCF Minerals Corporation - Runruno Gold-Molybdenum Project (Exploration Category); Holcim Philippines, Inc. - La Union Plant (Non-metallic Category); and Philex Mining Corporation - Padcal Operations (Metallic Category). 

The National Executive Committee, created under DENR Special Order No. 293, series of 1989, and reconstituted through DENR Special Order No 184, series of 2004, manages the Program, sets the pertinent rules and regulations, formulates the criteria for the selection of the winners, and determines the winners based on set criteria. 

Under the MFP, mining companies are judged based on the following:  development plans, nursery operations, extent of planted area, maintenance and protection, biodiversity conservation and environmental factors.

Survival rate of the trees planted is 81.52% or around 11.83 million trees to date. – MGB,Mining Environment and Safety Division- DENR