Mountaineers push ‘no tree, no climb’
For these mountaineers, they do not just climb mountains just for the fun of it, but because there are trees to be planted.
“No Tree, No Climb,” is the new mantra of these mountaineering enthusiasts as they launched here in Cebu City, a national campaign to plant trees during their climb.
The campaign is led by the National Coalition to Save Trees, in partnership with two umbrella organizations of mountaineers in Cebu – the Inter Mountaineering Society (IMS) and the Cebu Mountaineering Alliance (CMA).
The “No Tree, No Climb” is related to the Takbundukan campaign started by “Running Priest” Fr. Robert Reyes in June 2011. Unlike previous Takbundukans, the ‘No tree, No climb’ aims on promoting tree planting among mountain climbers.
“Most mountains have trees only at the foot. As you go beyond the 18-degree slope, there are no more trees since it gets difficult to plant. But mountaineers have that skill and training. They also have the love for environment,” Reyes said.
The same campaign is also set to be launched in Dumaguete next week. Reyes said they will also go around the country starting with Baguio, Laguna, Tagaytay and Pangasinan to promote the cause.
Reyes said the campaign was a concept born in Carcar, Cebu last Aug. 20 when 70 Cebuanos biked, ran and joined a caravan from the City of Naga to San Fernando town and Carcar City to protest the cutting of heritage trees along the Naga – Carcar highway.
Yesterday’s launching at the Magellan’s Cross in Cebu City was attended by Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office for Special Concerns Director Billy Ragos.
Ragos said both the DENR Central and the regional office will be providing technical assistance, tree seedlings and planting locations to interested mountain climbers.
He said the initiative is also part of the DENR’s National Greening Program.
According to Dondon Dimpas, a member of the IMS, they are planning to conduct a climb by the end of the month in barangay Taptap, Cebu City as part of the Takbundukan campaign.
The mountainous barangay is a watershed area and is located at the Central Cebu National Park.
“We are encouraging all mountaineers and mountain climbing enthusiasts to also plant trees when they climb,” Dimpas said.
Around 20, members of IMS and CMA attended yesterday’s launching.
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