The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has built a new geo-mapping tool to address climate change and manage the country’s forestlands.
In a public briefing in Malacañang, DENR Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga said that the DENR’s Geospatial Database Office (GDO) was planned way back since her first meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. following her appointment.
This was also after the President on Monday urged Filipinos to protect the country’s forestland in addressing the problems caused by climate change.
Mr. Marcos stressed during the celebration of the 160th anniversary of the Philippine Forestry Service that taking care of the environment redounds to the benefit of the present and future generations.
The Environment chief said recommendations for the establishment of a physical baseline were made by environmental officials to ensure the proper management of natural resources.
“So, what this will do for us is it will allow us to identify where we should prioritize in terms of forestation, reforestation, or where should the water systems and infrastructure be in order to reach the most populations in need,” Yulo-Loyzaga explained.
According to the Environment chief, the geospatial database will use satellite imagery and other tools to monitor the available natural resources.
Moreover, she said the mapping tool could be also used to aid in climate change mitigation, carbon dioxide sequestration from the atmosphere, flood management, and soil erosion control.
She also said GDO can help initiate and sustain existing community-based livelihoods as a way of managing the country’s resources.
With the assistance of the Philippine Space Agency, through the use of their satellites and surveillance, GDO is operating without the use of an additional budget, she said.
She said the government plans to reforest one to two million hectares for biodiversity.
The country has a total of 15 million hectares of forest land.
“We have prioritized the first million, and we are looking at two million hectares that we would like to reforest once again,” she said.
“One million is our modest target. Two million is our reach,” she added.
The reforestation program is likely to start in Cagayan Valley and other parts of Mindanao, she said.
She said DENR is in need of partners to be able to complete its reforestation targets.
