25-hectare forest park seen to rise within upper Marikina river basin

A 25-HECTARE forest park will soon rise within the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMRBPL) to boost efforts to protect and conserve this environmentally critical area.

The Regional Development Council (RDC) Forest Park Project was launched on June 25, 2022, at Sitio San Ysiro, Barangay San Jose, Antipolo City, Rizal, as part of the celebration of the 159th Year of Philippine Forestry Service and Arbor Day.

During the event, 110 individuals from various government agencies and private sector representatives planted a total of 1,500 seedlings of Bani, Narra, Malaikmo, Lanete, Bitaog, and Batino.

“We hope that our Forest Park will be replicated in other areas, inside and outside Calabarzon, so we can contribute to the rehabilitation and conservation of our environment. We have to collectively help shift the intrusive mindset of the people from the destructive attitude towards our forest to rehabilitation and conservation, as well as encourage low-impact ecotourism, community-based non-timber enterprises, new research, and new and innovative forest products value-adding and facilitating market linkages, so our people will protect our forest rather than destroy it,” Engr. Ladislao Andal, co-chairperson of the RDC 4-A said.

The RDC Forest Park will be divided into 24 parcels to be adopted by member agencies of the RDC IV-A for its sustainable management in the next 5 to 10 years.

As per approved UMRBPL Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) Resolution No. 2 series of 2021, the forest park shall be established within the Multiple Use Zone of the Protected Area and necessary coordination with the stakeholders must be conducted while following the Expanded National Integrated Protected Area System (E-NIPAS) Act conditions.

The upland portion of the Forest Park will be planted with indigenous forest species while Dipterocarpaceae

species will be planted in the lowland areas. Other parcels of the Park will be planted with fruit trees such as Mango (Mangifera indica), Calamansi (Citrofortunella microcarpa), Lukban (Citrus maxima), Lipote (Syzygium polycephaloides), and Kasoy (Anacardium occidentale).

DENR Calabarzon Regional Executive Director, Nilo B. Tamoria highlighted the contribution of the RDC’S project for the environment and the critical role of UMRBPL as the water source of the neighboring region.