Aside from the economic benefits of the use of bamboo, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro)-Baguio is urging residents to plant more bamboo in open and denuded forests along with other seedling species especially in Benguet and other mountainous areas.
CENR Officer Leandro de Jesus said the environment department and other advocates have been pushing for the use of bamboo species in the rehabilitation of degraded forestlands.
De Jesus said aside from other plant species in various sites, the use of bamboo is good for erosion control and slope stabilization because its roots help control erosion as it makes a water barrier and it prevents crops and villages from washing ceaselessly.
Cenro Baguio Forester Jolly Aloda said one of the bamboo species recommended to be planted in high slopes is the Chinese bamboo that can help mitigate landslides especially in Benguet. She added that through the initiatives of their office, there were 1,020 bamboo propagules planted in Pito, Bokod, Benguet.
The DENR considers bamboo as the “green gold” because of its ecological benefits and variety of uses. It is highly recognized as the best alternative for wood and also helps in climate change mitigation by storing large amounts of carbon dioxide.
The regional office, Penro-Benguet, Department of Trade and Industry and Barangay Alno, La Trinidad recently planted 204 propagules in a one-hectare area at the Alno Communal Forest in La Trinidad.
DENR-Cordillera Regional Executive Director Ralph C. Pablo during the planting reiterated the potentials, opportunities, and various uses of bamboo products, same with the proper way of planting to ensure good performance and high survival of bamboo propagules.
Those who want to gain more knowledge of various bamboo species in the country, the Philippine Bambusetum located at Loakan, Baguio City is open for educational exploration purposes. – Ian Addatu
