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A two hundred (200) square meter bamboo nursery demo farm that will showcase different bamboo species and propagation facilities shall soon rise at the CENRO Palo compound in Candahug, Palo, Leyte.

This, after the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office of Palo and the MacArthur Iron Projects Corporation (MIPC) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of the bamboo demo farm in support to DENR’s flagship reforestation initiative - Enhanced National Greening Program (ENGP).

As agreed, CENRO Palo shall provide the construction area, technical assistance, and administer the operations of the nursery. The MIPC shall provide funds for the establishment of the nursery, purchase of equipment and planting materials, and tap technical experts to assist in nursery operations.

Earlier, DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu expressed his aim to increase the production of bamboo to serve as an alternative for wood. It is considered to reduce the need for timber resources, help in carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and rehabilitation of degraded lands.

“Our bamboo nursery demo farm will serve as training ground for our upland farmers and ENGP partners in Region 8. Its presence will increase the awareness of the community about the numerous benefits of bamboo, especially as an alternative to wood to increase forest cover”, Crisostomo Badeo, CENR Officer of CENRO Palo said.

Considered as an important commodity under the Enhanced National Greening Program, the bamboo nursery is expected to help DENR Eastern Visayas in accomplishing its targeted bamboo plantation under ENGP. This year, DENR 8 is set to produce 39,768 seedlings of bamboo and establish a total of 195 hectares bamboo plantation.

DENR Regional Executive Director Tirso P. Parian, Jr. is grateful for the support of the MIPC in this endeavor. He said, “Our partnership with MIPC is true to our “Tayo ang Kalikasan” advocacy. This is one of the many ways in which the different organizations can contribute in our efforts to protect our environment and natural resources”.