Century trees to be protected

JAIL time faces those who cut trees in this city.

Councilor Leandro Yangot, in a proposed measure eyes the protection of 100 year old trees and filing of criminal, administrative or civil cases be filed to violators.

“Trees have become the symbol of environmental movement and distinctly, our city’s lo- cal pride grows even stronger for we are known as the City of Pines. By hosting and nursing century trees, our historical tools are also preserved from tales of local exploration and progress, solidarity, remembrance, adversity and resiliency as witnessed by these silent but living century witnesses,” Yangot said.

Under the law, trees declared to be under the heritage law will not be subjected to cut- ting or destruction except for medical, pubic emergency, public safety and botanical reasons and be preserved and maintained in its natural state.

If approved, the City Environment and Parks Management Office will maintain a database of heritage tree and conduct an annual review and inspection to maintain the trees.

The ordinance also extends to tree species which have not reached 100 but are considered ecological, historically and culturally valuable or belonging to a rare species or are near a water source, spring or well and whose cutting or destruction will disrupt or destroy the water source, shall be declared as “heritage trees” and shall receive the same protection.

A special technical committee shall be made to evaluate, determine and approve the declaration of century old trees.

Villages in the city will have to submit listing of trees in their area they believe fits the standards of the new law to be validated.

When the trees have been validated and declared century trees, they will now bear an identity plate with the name of the tree, date of declaration, the approximate age, tree registry number and the location of the tree.

The tree will also bear this inscription on its plate “The City government of Baguio declares this tree as a heritage tree and all citizens are enjoined to protect and preserve this tree as part of our natural treasure and patrimony.”