BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
ARITAO, Nueva Vizcaya (August 7)—A pact to conserve and boost the reproduction of native plant species in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) was forged between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and a London-based mining firm FCF Minerals Corp.
The memorandum of agreement (MoA) was signed last July 30 at the Community Environment and Natural Resources in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya for the establishment of an arboretum in the province, according to Corie Corpuz, DENR-Region 2 information officer.
Corpuz said the three-hectare provincial arboretum will house endemic and indigenous forest tree species such as narra, dao, yakal, molave, kamagong, kalumpit, anilau, panglomboien, tuai and Philippine teak.
During the signing of the MoA, the DENR was represented by Region 2 Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan while the FCF Minerals was represented by country manager James Carmichael.
According to Corpuz, FCF Minerals will provide P1.5 million for the establishment, protection and maintenance of the arboretum for five years.
FCF Minerals operates in Runruno village, Quezon town in Nueva Vizcaya its gold-molybdenum project under a financial or technical assistant agreement or FTAA with the Philippine government.
Corpuz said FCF Minerals will conduct monitoring activities and attend meetings to assess the development of the arboretum. For its part, the DENR shall be responsible for site preparation, planting and maintenance and protection of the arboretum, she added.
“The arboretum will serve as a source of quality planting materials, an ecotourism site and educational laboratory,” Corpuz said.