The tree milestone

 

Young trees … the replanting of denuded mangrove areas in the coastal baranggays of Mambulao, CamNorte, is in full swing. Already, the tree-planting program has reached the first milestone – 100,000 young trees, most of them mangrove species, in just one month since the initiative was launched last July 21. The re-growing of bakawan trees is vital in attracting marine life to make the reinvigorated mangrove areas its habitat and a breeding place about five years from now, when the trees have grown wild and lush. Photo shows recently planted at Baranggay Pag-asa, where the One Million Trees program was launched. -- Photo courtesy of NOE CHRISTIAN S NOLASCO

Mangroveland-grabbers … land development along the mangrove sea-river in Mambulao, CamNorte has seen the gradual disappearance of the mangrove riverbanks. Houses on both sides of the banks have encroached on the space where the river flows. The chocking of the river had also contributed to the recent floods in Parang and Plaridel. Mambulao Councilor Artem Andaya told MWBuzz that residential areas have encroached on the “pakatan” land, including the nipa palm areas, that replanting them with bakawan has become impossible. He said: “Kinain na po ng mga bakuran ang dating mangrove areas … pati na ang sasahan … ang ilog ay makipot na rin…” Picture shows a row of houses on the Plaridel side of the mangrove river, opposite the Parang side. -- MWBuzzpic by AP HERNANDEZ