Tree inventory on at Busol Watershed

A tree inventory initiative is in progress at the critical Busol watershed to be used as the basis for the protection and conservation plans, strategies and policies of the city for its few remaining forest reserves.

City Planning and Development Coordinator Arch. Donna Tabangin said this will become a major part of the ongoing preparation of the  Busol Forest Management Plan, the updating of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and the Urban Regreening Program, all crucial to the city’s thrust to revitalize the environment and arrest urban decay.

The activity started last April 27 and is expected to be completed on June 16, 2022 with an estimated number of 5,000 trees primarily of the Benguet Pine species identified and tagged.

Aside from her office, Tabangin said the activity is spearheaded by the City Environment and Parks Management Office and barangays Ambiong, Brookspoint, East Bayan Park and Pacdal which are straddled by the watershed.

Their representatives compose the tree inventory teams augmented by personnel of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office-Baguio, Baguio Water District and Public Order and Safety Division.

The Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources-Watershed and Water Resources Research Development and Extension Center (DENR-WWRRDEC) provided assistance for the city to acquire skills on measurement standards and procedures in the conduct of inventory for standing trees based on Forest Management Bureau Technical Bulletin No. 3.

Tabangin said that for the trees’ protection, the teams use water-based white latex paint on the lightly scraped surface of the tree trunks.

The Busol Forest Reserve is the largest potable water source in the city making it one of the centerpoints of the city’s environmental preservation programs. – Aileen P. Refuerzo