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DENR plants 230 bamboo seedlings along Bamban River

BAMBOO PLANTING Department of Environment and Natural Resources personnel and volunteers take part in a bamboo-planting activity along the Bamban River in Tarlac. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

By Jerry Hernandez, Manila Times

BAMBAN, Tarlac: To boost reforestation in the province of Tarlac, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) planted about 230 bamboo seedlings along Bamban River.

A total 3,600-square meter portion of Bamban River was covered in the tree-planting undertaking.

The department noted that several activities were conducted in preparation for the activity.

"The DENR has regularly conducted clean-up activities in collaboration with partner agencies and the 40 estero rangers deployed in the area who collected an average of about 14,500 kilos of waste daily," Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office head Celia Esteban said.

The clean-up activities conducted in the region this year have yielded 140,000 tons of waste materials.

13,404 Migratory Birds Counted

A total numberof 13,404 migratory birds were recently counted by the three teams of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Division (PAWD) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-XI (DENR-XI).

The 7-day bird watching/bird counting activity was done in Malalag Bay, Davao del Sur; Carmen, Davao del Norte and Banaybanay, Davao Oriental in line with the Annual Asian Waterfowl Census (AWC) for migratory birds.

There were 3,738 birds found in Malalag, Davao del Sur, 3,914 birds in La Paz, Carmen, Davao del Norte and 5,752 birds in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental.

These municipalities are the only three identified temporary habitats of migratory birds in the month of January after crossing the continents.

DENR-XI Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus E. Fragada said that bird watching/bird counting activity aims to obtain information on the population of migratory birds at wetlands in the region as well as to monitor on an annual basis the status and condition of wetlands. This year, most of the migratory birds that were counted are Black-winged Stilt, Little Egret, Common Tern and Whiskered Tern among others.

Last year, a total number of 7,836 migratory birds were counted on the same areas and these were composed of species like Godwit, Sand Plover, Common Greenshank and Black-winged Stilt to name a few.

AWC is an annual event which takes place during the second and third weeks of January. The census was initiated in 1987 in the Indian subcontinent and has grown rapidly to cover over 32 countries.

According to the National Wetlands Program, many species of water birds fly in droves during winter to go to warmer and more hospitable tropics. After winter following weeks of hoping from one country to another, waterbirds go back the same way feeding on marine species of animals and plants found along the shores. (DENR-XI PR)

THANK YOU VERY MUCH DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES REGION XI FOR PROVIDING ME WITH YOUR PRESS RELEASE.

Missing Blindfish of Mayayahay Cave

Compostela Valley - Ever heard or seen a blind fish? Chances are you will not see again in Mahayahay cave in the village of Taboran, unless you are fortune.

The cave is less then a ten minutes walk from the military camp of the 72nd Infantry battalion at camp Manuel T. yan, Sr., headquarters of the 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army - 12 km 

away from Tagum City in Davao del Norte.

Efren Tagorda, representative from the Regional Office of the Department of Environment and National Resources - Protected Area Wildlife Division confirmed the "very slim" chance inside the cave of seeing this species of fish.

The unchecked and unregulated caving activities in the past have contributed to the disappearance of the blindfish.

(My grateful thanks to Christine T. Dompor, MPA, Provincial Tourism Officer for sharing this!)

 

Zamboanga City moves To Protect Tarsiers

Following the discovery of tarsiers in some places here in Zamboanga City, the city council has adopted two resolutions calling for the protection of tarsiers and their natural habitats.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has disclosed that tarsiers, locally known as "Chonggo Magu", can be found in Baluno, Bungiao, Dulian, La Paz, Lumayang, Pasonaca, and Tolosa.

Two tarsiers, one of them wounded, were found several weeks ago at a populated area in La Paz. The DENR has said that the tarsiers are coming down to populated areas because of the rampant cutting of trees up in the mountains. 

The resolutions sponsored by Councilor Rogelio Valesco (Kudos to your, Sir!), were unanimously approved during the regular Tuesday's session. Valesco is also chair of the city's council's committee on tourism.

The first resolution prohibits people to hunt, kill and capture tarsiers for private keeping and the second is for the DENR, as well as the stakeholders in the barangays, to protect the tarsiers and their natural habitats.

Valesco said, he authored the two resolutions citing that tarsiers are endangered species and that Zamboanguenos should feel fortunate that the little primates exist in this city.

Very well said, Sir! Salamat po!