Bookmark with:

              

Value of a tree

This program started in March 22, 1989 through the DENR Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 22, Series of 1989 which provides for the Guidelines for the Implementation of the Adopt-A-Tree, Adopt-A-Mining Forest Movement and thereafter a Special Order 293 for the Creation of the National Executive Committee (NEC) was issued. This later on became the Adopt-A-Mountain, Adopt-A-Mining Forest Program on March 11, 1999 per NEC Resolution 99-01 in support to the Adopt-A-Mountain Program of the DENR . Membership to the program was then mandatory to all mining companies pursuant to R.A. 7942, Philippine Mining Act of 1995. However, on October 26, 2005, through a Resolution No. 2005-02 passed by NEC, the program was finally changed to the Mining Forest Program to make it separate and distinct from the Adopt-A-Mountain Program of the Department.

The objective of the program, among others, are:

• To reforest/rehabilitate open and mined-out areas;
• To increase awareness on the value of vegetation/vegetative cover;
• To conserve the environment as natural resources within mining areas;
• Biodiversity conservation;
• Soil & water conservation; and
• Climate change mitigation.

Reforestation by mining companies is unique in the sense that this is done on a progressive manner due to the nature of activities involved in mining. An area is already suitable for reforestation when this has been declared as mined-out areas or has no potential economic viability. But for the moment that there is no declared mined-out areas ,mining companies immediately start reforestation activities in open spaces, buffer zones, nearby communities, roadside and other denuded areas within their areas of jurisdiction.

Per experience by mining companies in the region, a very limited species are said to thrive on mineral-rich areas that is why Agoho, Acacia Mangium , Magkuno, some fruit trees and other endemic species in the area are the common planting materials used for the reforestation activity of the companies.

This program is integrated in the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program of the mining companies with fund support for the entire duration of the life of the mine. And in order to further encourage best practices among the mining companies relative hereto, an annual award was launched called the Best Mining Forest where Caraga Region mining companies has been a consistent finalist.

To date, most of the mining companies in the region are actively pursuing the Mining Forest Program and collectively, a total of 637.95 hectares were already planted with trees which numbered to 50,708 pieces.

As published in New York Times, “a mature tree removes 48 pounds of carbon dioxide (C02) per year from the air. One (1) acre of trees (0.4046 has.) annually consumes the amount of carbon dioxide equivalent to that produced by driving an average car for 26,000 miles. That same acre of trees also produces enough oxygen for 18 people to breathe for a year.”

***Amount of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) removed from air annually (lbs)
**Number of people supported with oxygen annually.

Based on this study, from the number of trees planted by the mining companies, a total of 30,621.48 lbs. carbon will be cleaned from the air thus, benefiting 28,380 people of oxygen all year round, which is free of carbon that will be harmful to the health of many. And since the program is a continuing activity of mining companies, more trees would mean more clean oxygen for more thousands of people.

Click thumbnails to enlarge: