𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗼, 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀

To take action against global wetlands degradation, personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 2 and other volunteers planted over 600 bamboo and native tree seedlings today in celebration of World Wetlands Day.

 

With the celebration’s theme “It’s Time to Restore Our Wetlands,” the tree-growing activity served as response to revive the degrading wetlands globally as reported by Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.

 

Among the tree growing sites include the 14 legislated wetland areas in the region, as well as protected areas or forest reserves, and National Greening Program sites.

 

“Planting trees helps revive our wetland areas including the various flora and fauna thriving in these waterbodies,” said Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape Protected Area Superintendent Robert Rivera in a radio interview.

 

He cited that in the previous years, the water levels of some wetland areas have reduced due to siltation caused by soil erosions that are attributed to illegal forest activities such as kaingin.

 

“These wetlands are of great importance not only to biodiversity but also in mitigating the effects of climate change,” added Forester Rivera saying these wetland areas help in controlling global temperature.

 

In a separate radio interview, Senior Ecosystems Management Specialist Emerlyn Daliong of the provincial environment and natural resources office in Cagayan, emphasized the need to mainstream wetlands conservation to generate support from stakeholders and the public as a whole.

 

“We should speak for our wetlands and do something to conserve the remaining resources we have,” she added as she encouraged the public to practice simple conservation efforts such as proper solid waste management that is linked to making wetland areas free from pollution or contamination.

 

Aside from the tree growing, volunteers also conducted cleanup drives along wetlands and riverbanks. Around 30 sacks of plastic waste were collected.

 

To generate public support in preserving the wetlands, information, education, and communication campaigns were held in schools, and barangay and municipal local government units (LGUs).

 

Other field offices distributed over 300 native tree seedlings to commemorate the environmental celebration.

 

The celebration was joined by DENR officials and personnel, Department of Agriculture, Philippine National Police, LGUs, teachers and students, people’s organizations, and other partners.#