Slight increase in NegOr’s forest cover noted

By: Rachelle Nessia

(Dumaguete City, November 11, 2010) – The forest cover in the province rose slightly due to replanting efforts by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and non-government organizations here.

Records from DENR showed that forest cover rose slightly from 5.6% in 1987 to 6.85% in 2006.

Forest loss in the province has been on a steady decline from 1875 to 1992, said Leo Mamicpic of the Friends of the Environment in Negros Oriental during the Kapihan forum held by the Philippine Information Agency to mark the observation of Wildlife Conservation Month this November.

Mamicpic said the diminishing number of forest trees in the province is indirectly proportional to the swelling population. “As the population went up, the number of forest trees went down,” he said.

Mamicpic said that forest trees in the province started to diminish noticeably starting 1949 and more denudation was observed in 1970 until in 1992, only 5.6% remained.

He lauded DENR’s replanting efforts as it contributed to increasing the province’s forest cover however slightly. (PIA/rmn)
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