In Pagudpud, clean energy goes a step further

ENDEMIC tree species in the mountainous part of Ilocos Norte are well taken care of at the nursery of NLREC in Barangay Caparispisan, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. LEILANIE ADRIANO/INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON

PAGUDPUD, Ilocos Norte—In the next five to 10 years, the mountainous village of Caparispisan in a town where clean and renewable wind energy blows, will also be a sanctuary for endemic flora and fauna.

The North Luzon Renewable Energy Corp. (NLREC) is developing a 293-hectare reforestation project within a 625-ha site covered by forest land use agreement where the power company maintains at least 27 units of wind turbines.

Miguel de Jesus, NLREC president, said the reforestation project was one way of giving back to the host communities.

NLREC will buy mature seedlings from 36 host communities, which would be trained by foresters to provide locally grown seedlings.

De Jesus said the project would not only show his company’s commitment to reforestation but also create jobs through a community-based seedling production program that would employ locals as plant nursery staffers, forest and forest-fire suppression guards and reforestation workers.

The project was initiated when the Pagudpud wind farm started commercial operations on Nov. 11, 2014.

Forester Eduardo Nagado said workers had already planted at least 100,000 seedlings in 2015, intending to grow Philippine agoho, narra, Acacia mangium, Eucalyptus, mahogany, talisay and other endemic fruit-bearing trees in Pagudpud.

The NLREC also established a community-response program involving residents of Barangay Caparispisan that taps the local knowledge and strength of people for a neighborhood support system. Leilanie Adriano, Inquirer Northern  Luzon