GLOBAL GOALS
DENR sustains watershed restoration, forest protection
Protecting existing watersheds is also essential to securing water supplies.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is mobilizing local communities, civil society organizations, indigenous cultural communities, and field personnel to maintain forest cover and strengthen the natural systems that support water security amid the very strong El Niño.
“Forests are our most powerful natural infrastructure for water retention,” DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said.
“While watershed restoration and forest protection efforts are not immediate solutions to the ongoing El Niño episode, such are critical long-term measures to strengthen ecosystems, improve water security, and help communities better withstand potential droughts and prolonged dry conditions,” he added.
El Niño is a climate phenomenon that occurs every two to seven years without a regular cycle and can lead to prolonged dry spells, reduced water supply and drought.
In Central Luzon, DENR Region 3 is carrying out forest restoration activities across critical watersheds in Aurora, Bataan, Nueva Ecija and Zambales. In Nueva Ecija, the Manila Bay Site Coordinating and Management Office is inspecting established narra plantations to assess seedling survival rates and soil moisture conditions under elevated heat indices. These inspections help determine what additional care plantations need as temperatures rise.
In the Bicol Region, DENR field offices are combining new tree-growing activities with measures to improve the survival of existing plantations.
In Masbate, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) partnered with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Bicol Chapter, local government units, and the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Mobo to plant more than 16,750 indigenous and mangrove seedlings across 50 hectares in the province’s second and third districts. The effort also included the planting of 1,200 mangrove propagules of Rhizophora sp. and Avicennia sp. at the Buntod Reef Marine Sanctuary and along RM Robredo Boulevard.
In Camarines Norte, DENR field officers require contractors under the Enhanced National Greening Program (ENGP) to establish plantations to replace dead seedlings and follow supplemental watering schedules to improve the tree survival under dry conditions.
In Mindanao, the DENR is focusing on the recovery of damaged ecosystems and the protection of forests that help sustain local water resources. In the Caraga Region (Region XIII), field units are prioritizing the rehabilitation of fire-affected peatlands, riverbanks and protected areas. Restoration teams are planting indigenous and wetland adapted tree species, including bangkal (Nauclea orientalis), lanipao (Terminalia copelandii), putat (Barringtonia racemosa), mambog (Mitragyna speciosa), and narra (Pterocarpus indicus), selected for their high moisture retention and drought resilience.
In the Davao Region (Region XI), DENR field personnel are intensifying LAWIN patrols against illegal logging while monitoring ENGP plantation sites for seedling survival, pest infestations and fire risks. These activities help protect recovering forests from further damage and identify threats that could undermine restoration work during the dry spell.
Protecting existing watersheds is also essential to securing water supplies. In Davao City, CENRO Davao City partnered with Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc. and the Obu-Manuvu Indigenous Cultural Community to conduct a comprehensive habitat assessment of the Panigan-Tamugan Sub-watershed, which serves as the city’s primary source of potable water. The assessment supports efforts to safeguard the watershed’s ecological condition and its role in supplying water to the city.
To sustain these interventions, the DENR continues to monitor ENGP sites weekly and provide logistical support to community-based forest management organizations for seedling maintenance and the establishment of protective firelines. These measures aim to reduce seedling losses, prevent forest fires, and help ensure that investments in reforestation translate into lasting forest cover.
As El Niño increases the risk of prolonged dry conditions, the DENR, along with communities and local partners, is working on watershed protection, forest law enforcement, plantation maintenance, and community partnerships to keep forests healthy and resilient.