By Emmanuel D. Taghoy
IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – In preparation for the forthcoming “TreeVolution: Greening MindaNow” activity on Sept. 26, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Zamboanga Sibugay conducted simultaneous briefings and meetings with participating groups since last week.
The 102nd (Igsoon) Brigade, 44th Infantry Battalion, and the 6th Special Forces of the 1st Tabak Division, Philippine Army (PA) will join the tree planting activity, together with the Philippine National Police (PNP), two schools, some national government agencies (NGAs), non-government organizations (NGOs), and local government units (LGUs).
TreeVolution: Greening MindaNow is a Mindanao-wide simultaneous tree planting activity that will attempt to break the Guinness World Record on the number of trees planted in one hour in established multiple locations. About 4.8 million trees will be planted to beat India’s current record of about 1.9 million trees planted for an hour.
Mr. Dionisio B. Rago, forestry specialist of DENR-Sibugay bared that about 35 thousand rubber tree seedlings for upland planting sites and 67,500 mangrove propagules for coastal areas in Zamboanga Sibugay will be planted during the TreeVolution: Greening MindaNow.
“Each planter will plant at least 20 rubber seedlings for the upland sites and 50 propagules (mangrove tree planting materials) for the coastal areas.”
Rago said monitoring would be conducted by their extension officers (EOs) through the use of Samsung Galaxy Tablets set in geocam mode for taking pictures and videos.
Elementary and high school teachers, who will act as stewards, will aid the Eos in the monitoring.
“One steward will monitor 50 planters during the said activity,” Rago said.
Last Aug. 29, DENR-Sibugay team held its dry-run planting activity in two-hectare area corresponding to 1,000 rubber seedlings at Barangay Balansag in Roseller T. Lim town.
Rago said they are optimistic that TreeVolution: Greening MindaNow will achieve its goal in beating India’s record. The result showed a positive result after the dry-run, as “planters were able to plant their share of 20 seedlings in 15 minutes during the dry-run.”
