Over the past three years, the Ayala-led North Luzon Renewable Energy Corporation (NLREC) which hosts an 81-megawatt wind farm in Barangay Caparispisan in Pagudpud town, has been growing forest trees as part of its greening program.

Local officials and residents witnessed the ceremonial planting of the 205,000th seedling within the 625-hectare wind farm in the said village.

In 2014, the NLREC started to plant indigenous trees in a once barren area where the towering windmills were installed.

“The first major goal of this effort was to produce 350,000 seedlings and plant 205,000 within three years,” said Maria Meliza Tuba-Principe, senior manager for Stakeholder Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility of the NLREC.

The reforestation program was launched as part of the company’s commitment to provide livelihood opportunities to the host communities and to advocate environment protection.

The NLREC hired a forester to directly supervise the setting up of tree nurseries and ensure that they grow healthy and robust.

Host communities are also hired as plant nursery staff, forest and forest-fire suppression guards, and reforestation workers.

At least 36 community partners were also trained to provide indigenous seedlings for the company.

Upon request, the NLREC also provides seedlings to other local government units and nearby communities in support of the national government’s expanded greening program.

Roman Miguel De Jesus, NLREC president, along with Pagudpud town officials led by Mayor Marlon Sales and some representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, participated in the tree planting activity — now on its third year — as an expression of commitment and continuing efforts to grow more trees within the Pagudpud wind farm’s 293-hectare reforestation program.

Based on NLREC’s corporate social responsibility program, the Ayala-led company is also developing a sanctuary for endemic flora and fauna in the next five or 10 years. (PNA)

 

 

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http://pageone.ph/pagudpud-wind-farm-grows-205k-trees-in-3-years/