More than 1,200 bamboo culms were planted at a National Greening Program site at the Talaytay Protected Landscape in the Aurora town of Dinalungan as part of efforts to restore degraded forest areas.
In a statement on Thursday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Central Luzon said the planting activity led by its community office in Casiguran town was held in Barangay Dibaraybay in observance of Philippine Bamboo Month last September.
The Talaytay Protected Landscape covers about 3,526 hectares, straddling Dinalungan and Casiguran, and protects the Talaytay River watershed.
It was originally established as a watershed forest reserve in 1990 before it was declared a protected landscape in 2000 under Proclamation No. 283.
DENR-Casiguran community head Ariel Mendoza said the National Greening Program promotes bamboo propagation because the plant helps restore degraded lands, absorb carbon dioxide, and reduce soil erosion.
The activity drew more than 85 participants from the Dibaraybay barangay government, Talaytay Protected Landscape Occupants Association Inc., Bantay Kalikasan ng Dinalungan Aurora Inc., and the Casiguran municipal environment office