Forest Destruction in Philippines Due to Mining
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Forest Destruction in Philippines Due to Mining - Cordillera NGO
davaotoday.com
Published: April 17, 2007 | Email · Share · Digg |
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Introducing the new PinoyPress. For the latest Philippine breaking
news, reports, commentary, analysis, special reports, blogs, etc.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) blames the
expansion of agricultural lands for the decrease of forest cover while
the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) points to large-scale mining as
the major cause of forest destruction in the region.
BY MA. LEONEZA B. RIGONAN
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat
BAGUIO CITY - Who is telling the truth?
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) blames the
expansion of agricultural lands for the decrease of forest cover while
the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) points to large-scale mining as
the major cause of forest destruction in the region.
DENR Director Augusto D. Lagun admitted that the Cordillera region,
known as the watershed cradle of the north, is threatened by the
decrease of forest cover in the area. He said that land use
conversion, which transforms forest areas into agricultural land is
the major cause of the decrease in the region's forest cover. He added
that forest fires and natural removals or illegal logging are also
among the causes.
DENR data showed that the region's remaining forest cover about
665,603 hectares (has.) out of the 1,553,599 has. total forest land
area. The same data showed that Abra forest covers 98,790 has. of the
308,522 has. total forest land area; Apayao, 232,199 has. out of
343,627 has.; Benguet, 100,977 has. out of 214,523 has.; Ifugao 72,955
has. out of 224,695; Kalinga, 84,949 has. out of 267,550 has.; and Mt.
Province 75,733 has. out of 194,683 has.
However, CPA Vice Chair for Internal Affairs Xavier Akien stressed
that mining operations and not the expansion of agricultural land is
the major cause of decrease in the region's forest cover. He said that
large-scale mining operations have irreversible effects like
dislocation and devastation of agricultural lands, deforestation and
even loss of livelihood.
He said that there is a 60-percent decrease in the region's rice
production due to air and water pollution and total devastation of
major river systems brought about by mining operations. He cited the
Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation's operations that, he said,
polluted the Abra River, one of the major river systems in the region
with pollutants reaching as far as the China Sea.
The CPA has staged several forms of protest against destructive mining
and actively campaigns for the total removal of mining companies from
the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Alyansa Dagiti Pesante Ti Taeng Kordillera (Apit Tako, Peasant
Alliance in the Cordillera Homeland) research coordinator Fernando
Bagyan said agricultural expansion contributes to the decrease in
forest cover but is not the major cause. He said that uma (swidden
farming), an indigenous way of farming in the Cordillera is
environment-friendly. "(Indigenous peoples) do not cut big trees, they
look for open areas," he explained.
Akien said the DENR should not blame farmers for the decrease of
forest cover but instead should point to mining operations, which
affect the lives of indigenous people.
"The number of mining applications increased because of the huge
resources available in the region. There are even foreign mining
companies that are operating locally." Engr. Alfredo Genetiano, Mining
Engineer IV of Mine Management Division said.
Akien said that 66 percent or 1.2 million has. of the 1.8 million has.
total land area of the Cordillera region is covered with mining
applications. He said Benguet hosts two large-scale mining operations,
the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation (LCMC) in Mankayan and
Philex Mining Corporation in Itogon and in Tuba. Northern Dispatch /
Posted by Bulatlat
davaotoday.com
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Possible related stories:
Philippines: DENR Discovers Forest Destruction in Kidapawan
Philippines: Cordillera Day 2007 to Uphold People's Rights, Politics
of Change
$1-billion mining investment eyed in Mati
1995 Mining Act Must Be Repealed, Nationalist Mining Policy Pursued
Philippines: Mining for the people, not for profit!
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davaotoday.com
Published: April 17, 2007 | Email · Share · Digg |
Print SUBCRIBE
Via RSS Feed
Via email
Introducing the new PinoyPress. For the latest Philippine breaking
news, reports, commentary, analysis, special reports, blogs, etc.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) blames the
expansion of agricultural lands for the decrease of forest cover while
the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) points to large-scale mining as
the major cause of forest destruction in the region.
BY MA. LEONEZA B. RIGONAN
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat
BAGUIO CITY - Who is telling the truth?
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) blames the
expansion of agricultural lands for the decrease of forest cover while
the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) points to large-scale mining as
the major cause of forest destruction in the region.
DENR Director Augusto D. Lagun admitted that the Cordillera region,
known as the watershed cradle of the north, is threatened by the
decrease of forest cover in the area. He said that land use
conversion, which transforms forest areas into agricultural land is
the major cause of the decrease in the region's forest cover. He added
that forest fires and natural removals or illegal logging are also
among the causes.
DENR data showed that the region's remaining forest cover about
665,603 hectares (has.) out of the 1,553,599 has. total forest land
area. The same data showed that Abra forest covers 98,790 has. of the
308,522 has. total forest land area; Apayao, 232,199 has. out of
343,627 has.; Benguet, 100,977 has. out of 214,523 has.; Ifugao 72,955
has. out of 224,695; Kalinga, 84,949 has. out of 267,550 has.; and Mt.
Province 75,733 has. out of 194,683 has.
However, CPA Vice Chair for Internal Affairs Xavier Akien stressed
that mining operations and not the expansion of agricultural land is
the major cause of decrease in the region's forest cover. He said that
large-scale mining operations have irreversible effects like
dislocation and devastation of agricultural lands, deforestation and
even loss of livelihood.
He said that there is a 60-percent decrease in the region's rice
production due to air and water pollution and total devastation of
major river systems brought about by mining operations. He cited the
Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation's operations that, he said,
polluted the Abra River, one of the major river systems in the region
with pollutants reaching as far as the China Sea.
The CPA has staged several forms of protest against destructive mining
and actively campaigns for the total removal of mining companies from
the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Alyansa Dagiti Pesante Ti Taeng Kordillera (Apit Tako, Peasant
Alliance in the Cordillera Homeland) research coordinator Fernando
Bagyan said agricultural expansion contributes to the decrease in
forest cover but is not the major cause. He said that uma (swidden
farming), an indigenous way of farming in the Cordillera is
environment-friendly. "(Indigenous peoples) do not cut big trees, they
look for open areas," he explained.
Akien said the DENR should not blame farmers for the decrease of
forest cover but instead should point to mining operations, which
affect the lives of indigenous people.
"The number of mining applications increased because of the huge
resources available in the region. There are even foreign mining
companies that are operating locally." Engr. Alfredo Genetiano, Mining
Engineer IV of Mine Management Division said.
Akien said that 66 percent or 1.2 million has. of the 1.8 million has.
total land area of the Cordillera region is covered with mining
applications. He said Benguet hosts two large-scale mining operations,
the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation (LCMC) in Mankayan and
Philex Mining Corporation in Itogon and in Tuba. Northern Dispatch /
Posted by Bulatlat
davaotoday.com
Did you like what you just read? Subscribe to Davao Today via RSS or
via email.
Possible related stories:
Philippines: DENR Discovers Forest Destruction in Kidapawan
Philippines: Cordillera Day 2007 to Uphold People's Rights, Politics
of Change
$1-billion mining investment eyed in Mati
1995 Mining Act Must Be Repealed, Nationalist Mining Policy Pursued
Philippines: Mining for the people, not for profit!
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