VISITORS to the island province of Catanduanes can enjoy its natural allure and, at the same time, do their share in caring for Mother Earth. This, after the provincial government adopted a unique program which gives tourists the opportunity to plant trees during their stay.
Dubbed “One Tourist, One Tree,” the drive encourages foreign and local tourists to plant a tree in areas identified by the Provincial Tourism Office. According to Catanduanes Gov. Araceli Wong, the program was conceived based on suggestions by foreign tourists who were impressed by the province’s forest cover.
It takes pride in its 60,000 hectares of forests considered as the largest green patch in the Bicol region, which includes the 26,010-hectare Watershed Forest Reserve, the 1,500 hectares of old- and second-growth forests and vast abaca plantations, which are home to various wildlife species.
Wong said the campaign also intends to help the National Greening Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that is aimed at reforesting the archipelago to mitigate the impact of climate change.
The Philippines’s top producer of abaca fiber, Catanduanes is listed by the DENR as among the country’s most important biodiversity areas.
Wong added that a plant nursery at the Capitol Complex has been set up where tree seedlings are propagated to make the environmental initiative sustainable.
So far, 88 Taiwanese and seven Americans have registered in the program since its launch late last month.
The Taiwanese, who are volunteers of an international environmental foundation, planted trees in Caramoran town, while the Americans, who are members of the International Service Corps Asia, planted in San Andres town.
The number is expected to grow with the holding of the Mount Lantad Tramping (Trek and Camping) set on April 10 and 11 in Bato town, the Reef Break surfing tournament in May and regional events hosted by the province.
Situated east of the Bicol peninsula, Catanduanes is a promising destination for its dive sites, fine-sand beaches, enchanting waterfalls, and its iconic Puraran “Majestic” surfing spot in Baras. It was once called the “Land of Howling Wind” because of its location along the path of typhoons in the Pacific Ocean seaboard.