UICLA conducts tree planting

October 7, 2019 Provincial

ITOGON, Benguet – Smallscale miners of Ucab Indigenous Community Livelihood Association (UICLA) initially planted over 3,000 different species as the group sustained its reforestation activity in line with their group and town’s environmental program.
Marzan Lubante, UICLA president, who led the regreening activity held last Saturday (Sept. 14), said the trees were planted within the five-hectare lot inside the patented mining claim area of Benguet Corporation, located at Sitio Poded Baayan, Barangay Ucab here.
It is also within the 20-hectare lot applied for a Small- Scale Mining Contract (SSMC), a portion of which is being applied by UICLA covered by a Minahang Bayan (MB) application of the Benguet Federation of Small-Scale Miners, Inc. (BFSSMI). Lubante added the tree planting activity which is under their group’s three-year reforestation program is supported by Benguet Corporation.
He further said it aimed at growing thousands of trees under the company’s environmental management program, which is in consonance with the government’s current thrust for environmental protection. Ricardo Canipas, vice president of UICLA who also participated in the tree planting activity together with other officials and members of the association, said the tree species that were planted included Benguet pine, mahogany and fruit bearing trees that have high survival rate.
Canipas added that fruit bearing trees were planted surrounding mining portals owned by indigenous peoples in the areas which dates back for decades.
 
Primo Agatep/ABN