2 8 CENRO Digos Tree Planting 4Celebrating fifty-two (52) years of Wetland conservation through the ratification of the Ramsar Convention in February 2, 1971, CENRO Digos City initiates the conduct of a simultaneous Coastal Cleanup and Mangrove Tree Planting at Sitio Bacutan, Barangay Astorga, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur on February 3, 2023.

This year’s theme “It's time for wetland restoration” was embodied through the activities conducted in cooperation with the Municipal Government of Sta. Cruz through its Environment and Natural Resources Office, led by Ms. Marietta Durano Libre, the Astorga Mountaineering and Ecological Conservation Club (AMECC), with its president Mr. Ryan S. Adalid and a number of local residents.

The Coastal Cleanup and Mangrove Tree planting, spearheaded by CENR Officer Ruel D. Colong, emphasized the need to conserve and protect wetlands and raise global awareness on how critically important these ecosystems are for biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, world economies and more.

Unfortunately, the United Nations Environment Programme says that nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s, and is are rapidly closing to extinction three times faster than forests.

AMECC president Adalid shares that all year, the club engages itself to environmental protection and conservation activities in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, highlighting coral reef protection.

These actions were made more meaningful after children of Astorga joined the cleanup and planting and actively aided for the whole duration of the event. The office highly appreciates the kids' efforts to which CENRO Colong stressed that such is "something inspiring and elating to witness, as the future generation is being taught the importance of their environment, being environmental stewards at an early age.”

A total of 250 mangrove propagules were planted during the event and collected a total of ten (10) sacks of various garbage with an estimated weight of 130 kilograms, and shall be a continual effort for the AMECC, the local government unit and the DENR CENRO Digos. | via Cylle Marie S. Nadonza