"Tarp-to-Tree" launched to mark world water day

CEBU, Philippines - To mark World Water Day, around three hundred representatives from local government units, national government agencies, and other sectors nationwide took part in yesterday's launch of "Tarp-to-Tree" project and community tree planting in Barangay Inagayan, Naga City, Cebu.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7), Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., and barangay Inayagan officials signed yesterday a memorandum of agreement pledging to plant trees, develop and maintain a five-hectare tree plantation in the area.

DENR-7 regional executive director Maximo Dichoso said a concentrated effort is needed in mitigating and coping with the impacts of climate change by increasing the capacity of forests to absorb carbon dioxide through enhanced vegetation cover.

The "Tarp-to-Tree" project collects used tarpaulin in exchange for saplings of tree species.

Dichoso said forests could absorb carbon as it regulates climate and provide clean air and water for a greener and healthier environment.

This program is still part of the government's massive greening project aimed at reducing poverty in the rural areas while ensuring food security, biodiversity conservation, and addressing climate change.  

 "Our partnership with Aboitiz and barangay Inayagan is supportive to the National Greening Program which is a priority of President Aquino in an effort to bring back the lost forest cover of the country," Dichoso said.

He said the goal is to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares from 2011 to 2016 more than the government's accomplishment of 730, 000 hectares for the past 25 years.

For Central Visayas, a total of 2.816 million seedlings will be planted this year to cover 7, 499 hectares.

The international observance of the World Water Day is an initiative that grew of the1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro.

The United General Assembly designated 22nd of March of each year as World Day for water by adopting a resolution. 

 This world day for water started in 1993 following the full recommendation of United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

"Water quality is improved as trees take up nutrients and pollutants as they grow and water tables are recharged as they allow rainwater to seep down to the aquifers," Dichoso said.

"It has been the mandate of the government to ensure the rehabilitation, protection and conservation of the environment and natural resources through the restoration of scared and degraded mountains as well as forest lands and protection areas involving various stakeholders" he said.  

This year's World Water Day is "Water for Cities: Responding to the Urban Challenge."