Preservation of GSIS tree park pressed

STAKEHOLDERS and the local government of Baguio is urged to save what is left of the small forest patch of the GSIS tree park at the Baguio

Convention Center.

University of the Philippines Baguio College of Social Sciences on Monday presented two studies showing the current state of the 1.4hectare tree park.

UP Baguio Professor Corazon Abansi in her study Economic Value of the GSIS Tree Park seeks to address the market failure for urban park to challenge managers of the city or municipal park and natural systems to expand to public value perceptions of the urban citizens.

“Given that residents and stakeholders attach values to the GSIS tree park, the local government should be actively involved in its preservation,” says Abansi.

She added with the high cost of park management and preservation, the private sector needs to be more involved in urban park projects in partnerships with the local government and a strong policy support at the local level needed.

Fifty – eight percent the respondents belong to middle age and most of them resides in Military CutOff, DPS compound and Engineers Hill.

Abansi reveals all stakeholders should be an effective collaborators with LGUs involve in the urban park management and policy support addressing the GSIS Park.

UP Baguio Professor Zenaida Baoanan reveals the tree park is home to 544 pine trees and 21 Agoho trees, however, a reduction was noted since from 800 pine trees in 2012.

Aside from pine trees, 49 plants were documented with 35 invertebrate species, majority are insects and 24 bird species spotted in the tree park.

“These records came from 2012 to the recent reporting of the birds. Looking at the status of these birds, some of this species are endemic. They are only found here in Cordillera or in the Philippines. Some are resident and migrant. The GSIS tree park is part of the migratory pathway,” she added.

According to Baoanan, forest park act as microclimate mitigator, and trees trap carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.

The study added at least 559,719 kilograms of carbon dioxide can be trapped by the 544 pine trees within the park.

However, further threats are seen with more than 50 percent of trees in bad state and infested with fungal infection. Some people also utilize the area as comfort room and garbage dump site.

In a video presentation, Ricky Ullss, Forest Park Ranger said there is a need for the installation of fences to prevent people from urinating the defecating in the area.