LANAO DEL SUR — The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) and its Provincial ENRE Office officially opened on September 5, 2024, the first central tree nurseries in this province to boost environmental protection efforts in its communities.
The central nursery for the first district is situated in Barangay Papandayan Caniogan, Marawi City, and is managed by Community ENRE Officer (CENREO) Asnawi Dataman. Meanwhile, the nursery for the second district is located in Barangay Balintad, Municipality of Madamba, under the supervision of CENREO Ashawie Pangandaman. Each nursery houses around 25,000 seedlings and includes a multipurpose function room for community engagement and environmental dialogue.
“With this effort, I encourage everyone to help fulfill the purpose of this nursery, which is the protection and conservation of our environment and natural resources,” said MENRE Minister Akmad Brahim.
“This also aims to encourage our partners to continue planting trees, as this nursery will serve as a major source of seedlings for more organizations,” he added.
The nurseries, established with funding from the Special Development Fund (SDF) 2021, are currently stocked with mahogany and durian seedlings. With their opening, MENRE’s partner development agencies and stakeholders in the province now have a convenient source for acquiring seedlings to support their respective environmental initiatives.
In his message, Bangsamoro Director General for Environment and Natural Resources, Atty. Badr Salendab, who also leads the MENRE SDF Project Management Office, highlighted that the nurseries are not mere physical structures because these symbolize the Bangsamoro community’s collective commitment to safeguarding the region’s environment.
Local tree nurseries play a crucial role in environmental conservation efforts, particularly in the agricultural communities of Lanao del Sur, where reforestation and habitat restoration are essential. By providing a steady supply of native and adaptable tree seedlings, these nurseries support large-scale planting initiatives, help restore degraded landscapes and combat the adverse effects of deforestation and climate change. (Norjana Malawi/BIO with reports from MENRE)
