Negros island: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the Negros Island Region (DENR-NIR) targets to plant around 200,000 native trees this year, an official said on Thursday.

According to Philippines News Agency, DENR-NIR regional director Charlie Fabre shared in an interview that the tree-planting program will kick off as part of the Philippine Arbor Day celebration as mandated by the national government. 'We will hold simultaneous tree-planting activities across the region in celebration of Arbor Day, but this is just the beginning of a bigger target to plant more trees this year,' Fabre said. 'We are asking the local governments and agencies to participate in this nationwide movement'.

On Thursday, the DENR initiated tree-planting activities in lowlands, uplands, and mangrove areas across the region. 'Since this is an ongoing event until the end of the year, each local government unit (LGU) is asked to plant 3,100 seedlings of endemic and native species,' Fabre continued. He emphasized that no exotic species will be allowed in these efforts.

The DENR aims to plant 5 million trees nationwide this year, Fabre noted. The regions involved include Negros Oriental with six cities and 19 municipalities (25 LGUs), Negros Occidental with 12 component cities and 19 municipalities, and Siquijor with six municipalities.

To support the campaign, the DENR-NIR has prepared around 250,000 seedlings of endemic tree species, including almaciga, for distribution to LGUs that need planting materials to meet their targets.