The provincial government of Negros Occidental recently spearheaded the planting of 300 endemic hardwood trees at Sitio Tambara, Barangay San Fernando in Talisay City, particularly on the denuded portions of the 62-hectare property of the province.

On the said property, the provincial government will start its watershed rehab project of the Malogo-Imbang Rivers, establish a forest and wildlife observatory and conservation center, start its bamboo plantation, and develop the bamboo industry with the community as partners.

The activity started with a memorandum of agreement signing followed by the tree growing activity led by Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, together with the employees of the Provincial Admin Office, Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO), CENRO, PENRO, University of St. La Salle, Tambara Settlers Association, USAID Safe Water Project, PhilBio, and Talisay City Government.

Seedlings were sourced from the nursery of PEMO and Nordson Forest Park.

The barangay officials of San Fernando also actively participated in the event, which was also part of the province’s Safe Water Program with USAID./WDJ