The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, through its Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), has partnered with the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) for the conservation of the 11 most critically endangered native tree species in the Philippines.
The partnership was formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed by ERDB Director Henry Adornado and EDC Corporate Support Function Group Head and Assistant Vice President Regina Victoria Pascual.
Environment Sec. Roy A. Cimatu said that through the MOU with EDC, the DENR will be able to “more effectively conserve and propagate native tree species that are vital to sustaining biodiversity.”
Under the five-year MOU, the ERDB and EDC agreed to collaborate on strengthening the Binhi program, an initiative of EDC that focuses on native tree conservation and aims to rescue and ensure propagation of selected 96 premium Philippine threatened species across the country.
The ERDB-EDC collaboration zeroes in on 11 rarest and most critically endangered tree species, namely, kadalis narig, malayakal, Mindanao narek, pinulog, Palawan narig, narig laot, kanining peneras, Cagayan narek, pianga, mapilig, and Samar gisok.
ERDB and EDC will conduct in situ conservation or the conservation of species in their natural habitats. It is considered the most appropriate way of preserving biodiversity for it protects inhabitants and ensures the sustainability of the environment and ecosystem. – DENR release
May 3, 2024
