Sugarcane farm converted into a forest park

Did you know that in Victorias City where sugarcane is king, an enterprising lawyerbusinessman has transformed a 40-hectare sugarcane plantation into a man-made forest? Most of the trees are now full grown and some people are calling it a rainforest.

Responsible for converting the place into a forest park is lawyer Nordy Diploma, 80, who is not only a good legal practitioner but also a sharp businessman.

He learned from the history of Negros Occidental that the province used to be covered with thick forests which were cut to give way to sugarcane plantations. Commercial logging and pollution from the sugar centrals also contributed to the degradation of the environment.

In 1997, lawyer Nordy bought 60 hectares of sugarcane plantation to pursue what some people in Negros called a crazy idea – converting a productive sugar farm into a forest from which no immediate income could be derived.

Today, Atty. Nordy has the last laugh. He has developed a beautiful forest park with a lot of money-making possibilities. For now, he makes money by selling the trimmings from his trees to the sugar centrals. They use the trimmings as fuel.

Selective harvesting of the trees will make it possible to sustain the forest forever. As of now, a furniture maker has broached to Atty. Nordy the possibility of putting up a furniture factory in the vicinity of the park so he can make furniture for export from the man-made forest. It makes sense because the furniture buyers from Europe and elsewhere would not accept furniture made of wood cut from the mountains.

ACACIA – There are even bigger plans for the forest park. More areas are scheduled to be developed into agroforestry. One lot is being planted now into acacia as it has been observed that acacia grows very fast. The wood could eventually be harvested for making furniture and handicraft items. Thousands of acacia seedlings are being nurtured in the nursery.

NATURE TRAILS – Future plans also include the development of nature trails that will enable the visitors to the park to experience for themselves the wonders of a healthy eco-system.

One other vision is to make the

FOREST TREES ADVOCATE – Lawyer Nordy Diploma is all smiles during a gathering with his Sunshine friends in his home in Bacolod City. He had the foresight to convert a sugarcane plantation into a forest park that can become a sustainable source of...