A field cleared of trees by Sun Asia Energy Inc. for a solar plant in barangay Talavera, Toledo City. Some trees were already bulldozed and covered with soil when DENR inspected the site.
Toledo City firm has no permit- DENR
Century-old Lamio forest tree chopped down to clear land
‘Largest case of illegal tree destruction’ in Cebu so far
A company in Toledo City was ordered to stop further cutting trees after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 said it had no permit for destroying almost 1,000 trees, including a century-old forest tree.
The cease-and-desist order was issued against Sun Asia Energy Incorporated (SAEI) which has been clearing an area for a solar project in barangay Talavera.
The stump of a large Lamio forest tree marked “x” was estimated to be over 100 years old.
At least 982 naturally grown and planted trees were illegally cut down, said the DENR 7.
This includes one Lamio tree with a five-meter-wide buttress or trunk indicating it was at least a hundred years old.
“It needs seven persons to surround the girth of the tree,” said DENR spokesman Eddie Llamedo.
“This is the biggest case so far in terms of number of trees cut. Most of them were premium and native tree species,” he told Cebu Daily News.
Lamio is a native tree species (scientific name Dracontomelon edule) that can grow up to 40 meters high. Its wood is used in furniture and cabinet making.
Llamedo said the DNR is coordinating with the Talavera barangay captain for the temporary safekeeping of the felled trees.
The October 28 cease and desist order (CDO) was signed by Raul Pasoc, community environment and natural resources officer in Cebu City.
It directed the priate company, through its project manager Jose Enrique Tolentino, to immediately stop the further cutting of trees.
DENR 7 Regional Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo instructed Pasoc to file a case against the developer based on forestry laws and regulations.
The total volume of trees cut was 2,190 cubic meters or 928,560 board feet with an estimated value of P18.5 million.
One board foot is computed at 20 pesos.
The private company has a an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) issued by the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) 7. The EMB 7 sent a notice of violation on November 4 for the tree cutting and is expected to schedule a technical conference with company representatives.
Toledo City’s environment and natural resources officer Lutheran Hernando reported to Pasoc that at least 982 naturally grown and planted trees were illegally cut.
Other tree species that were cut down include Tipolo, Pangantoon, Bangkal, Bagalunga, Lanutan, Acacia, Narra, Mahogany, and Gmelina. Gmelina and Mahogany are exotic species. The others are premium and native trees.
The cutting started in September.
Some felled trees were already bulldozed and covered with soil when a team from the environment office arrived.
It took four days for the team to account for all the trees cut down. Some trees were allegedly transported outside the property owned by a certain Gino Baltao.
SAEI developed the area to make way for a solar project within a 113-hectare site in barangay Talavera.
It failed to show a tree-cutting permit when inspectors from DENR 7’s enforcement division, Cenro Cebu City, and Environment and Natural Resources Office of Toledo City station asked for papers last October 26.