Teak trees in Buhisan to be pruned

PRUNING of old exotic trees in the Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve is needed to prevent bush fires, an environment official said.

Protected Area Supervisor Ariel Rica of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) said he is recommending the cropping of teak tree branches after the Philippine Business for Social Progress raised concern over bush fires.

The issue on the recent series of bush fires at the Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve particularly in barangay Toong was raised during the PBSP-DENR partners meeting at the Casino Español.

Around 4.8 hectares of PBSP-maintained plantations were burned in two separate bush fires last April.

Rica’s recommendation however may need the permit from DENR-7 as indiscriminate pruning may damage the trees and may give illegal loggers an excuse to cut trees.

“We cannot do pruning right away. We have to check with the legalities since this was part of our reforestation project in the past where exotic and not native trees were planted,” he explained.

The CCPL covers 29,062 hectares of protected mountain and drainage basin covering Central Cebu National Park, Buhisan Dam, Mananga Watershed Forest Reserve, Kotkot-Lusuran Watershed Forest Reserve, and the Sudlon National Park.

PBSP maintains tree plantations and organizes community in the Buhisan Dam area under the Save the Buhisan Watershed Project to balance sustainable water supply alongside empowering residents while promoting eco-cultural tourism destination./correspondent Jessa J. Agua