Drive to enliven Cebu hillylands revived

Angelie Yulo-Millan (above photo, right), Philippine Business for Social Progress Visayas manager, briefs participants of the 2017 Cebu Hillylands Reforestation Caravan at the Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve. Right photo shows Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, one of the 300 volunteers who joined yesterday’s activity, plant a Cebu cinnamon tree (locally known as kaningag).

PBSP-LED REFORESTATION PROJECT

It was a gloomy Saturday morning in Barangay Buhisan after a rainy night that left the road and mountain slopes wet and slippery.

But the enthusiasm of more than 300 volunteers of the 2017 Cebu Hillylands Reforestation Caravan brought warmth and joy to the residents living within the Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve (BWFR), home to the Buhisan Dam, Metro Cebu’s main water source.

The mission that morning: Plant 12,500 seedlings of native tree species such as kamagong, bogo, narra, lauan, alagau and kaningag.

Social development foundation Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) is in the forefront of this reforestation effort that aims to enliven the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL).

“Part of CCPL are critical stakeholders working to protect, enhance and nurture the Cebu Hillylands. PBSP recognizes that environment protection is directly link to poverty reduction,” said PBSP executive director Reynaldo Antonio Laguda.

PBSP became part of this advocacy through the Cebu Hillyland Development Program in 1988.

In 1992, the organization started reforestation efforts in the watersheds and national parks.

Protected area

On June 7, 2007, Congress approved Republic Act 9486 or the Central Cebu Protected Landscape Act of 2007.

This is an act that established the BWFR, Mananga Watershed Forest Reserve, Sudlon National Park, Central Cebu National Park and Kotkot Lusaran Watershed Forest Reserve into one protected area called CCPL, covering 29,062 hectares.

The CCPL covers the cities of Cebu, Talisay, Toledo and Danao, and the municipalities of Minglanilla, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela and Balamban.

Yesterday’s kickoff event also marks the 10th anniversary of the approval of RA 9486, which created the Protected Area Management Board composed of different stakeholders in the government and civil society posts.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma attended the event and planted a kaningag tree. The kaningag is also known as Cebu cinnamon tree, an endemic tree species that can only be found in Cebu.

“We are from different affiliations. We wear different colors signifying the many ways we exist in this world. But we are here in the spirit of good will as brothers and sisters in our joint and collaborative effort work to ensure that we will have continuous supply of water,” said Palma.

The CCPL is home to Cebu’s endangered and endemic bird and tree species.

The Cebu Hawl Owl, the Cebu Black Shama (siloy) and Cebu Flowerpecker are residents of the CCPL and cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Buhisan Barangay Captain Gremar Barete said the entry of civil society organizations such as PBSP helped his fellow villagers in diverting their attention from cutting trees which they turn into charcoal.

“We have been trained in different skills such as welding, masonry, tour guiding and catering so those who cut trees can have alternative livelihood,” said Barete.

Tree huggers

PBSP Visayas manager Angelie Yulo-Millan also introduced to volunteers the nationwide social media campaign of PBSP, HUG ME #CertifiedTreeHugger, anchored on PBSP’s advocacy of protecting Philippine watersheds through tree planting activities.

The reforestation caravan stopped for three years, from 2014 to 2016, as PBSP channeled efforts to help in relief efforts after the October 8 earthquake and Super Typhoon Yolanda in November 15, 2013.

There were, however, sporadic tree planting activities in the last three years.

But they were not as massive as the collective reforestation effort led by PBSP in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural

Resources and Metro Cebu Water District along with PBSP member companies and independent companies willing to give financial assistance in support of the advocacy.

“We are now reviving and renewing the reforestation project. What we do here are milestones that impact our future – the environment and our children,” said Laguda.

Laguda said PBSP’s reforestation project resulted to the planting of more than a million trees in 1,000 hectares within CCPL, benefiting 500 families.