ARITAO, Nueva Vizcaya(PIA) - - A botanical garden will be built here by a partnership venture between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and a mine firm.
DENR Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan said a Memorandum of Agreement(MOA) has been signed recently between their agency and the FCF MInerals Corporation for the establishment of an Arboretum inside the Community environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in barangay Darapidap.
The MOA was signed by Bambalan and FCF Minerals Country Manager James Carmichael with Mines and Geosciences Bureau(MGB) Regional Director Mario Ancheta, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer(PENRO) Edgar Martin, Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) Officer Giovannie Magat, and Leopoldo Castro Jr. of FCF Minerals.
She said the FCF Minerals Corporation, a British-owned firm operating the Runruno Gold-Molybdenum Project in Quezon town, will provide 300,000 pesos per year for the establishment, protection and maintenance of the arboretum for five years.
“This will be a show window for the propagation and nurturing of endemic and indigenous tree species so various sectors can be aware and learn how to take care of them. Sooner, they can also request seedlings for tree planting activities in their respective communities,” she said.
Bambalan said the three-hectare provincial arboretum houses endemic and indigenous forest tree species such as Narra, Dao, Yakal, Molave, Kamagong, Kalumpit, Anilau, Panglomboien, Tuai and Philippine Teak.
The Arboretum will be established at the ongoing development of the Ecological Park and Training Center of the CENR office in Aritao, to serve as source of quality planting materials, an ecotourism site and educational laboratory.
Bambalan said the establishment of Arboretums has been encouraged by the DENR- Forest Management Bureau to enhance the implementation of the National Greening Program by planting endemic trees that best thrive in the region, province or municipality. (MDCT/BME/PIA Nueva Vizcaya)
