Davao Council reduces green space requirement
DAVAO CITY — Developers of horizontal housing projects here will no longer be required to set aside 10% of the total land area, with a minimum of one hectare, as “green space”, following the city council’s approval of an amendment to the local law. Majority of the councilors voted last Tuesday in favor of the amendment to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) 2013-2022, which incorporates the 10% green space into the 30% open space intended for common facilities as well as roads and drainage facilities.
How to save water? Harvest rainwater
DAVAO CITY – An environmental group urges residents here to save water by harvesting rainwater and storing it for household chores. Mark Penalver policy advocacy specialist of the Interface Development Interventions (Idis) said “harvesting rainwater for domestic or industrial use will lessen our water utility bills since we won’t waste drinking water for flushing toilets, cleaning households or for watering gardens.” The local government passed a Davao City Rainwater Ordinance in 2009, mandating the establishment of rainwater catching systems (RCS) in newly built residences and buildings. The policy was formulated to promote the storage and usage of rainwater for non-potable use.
2015 Watershed Summit to review impact of reforestation efforts
This year’s Watershed Summit will highlight various reforestation initiatives in Davao City, from the uplands down to the coastal areas. “Over the years, there have been a lot of reforestation activities conducted by government, schools, and private organizations along the watersheds. Now, its time for us to view how far we’ve reached in terms of whether we have been able to reforest our uplands in order to protect our water sources,” said Watershed Management Council (WMC) member and IDIS executive director Ann Fuertes. Around 150 stakeholders will attend the summit, which will be hosted by the University of Mindanao, on June 26 and 27, 2015.
Organic farming zones pushed
DAVAO CITY – On the occasion of the worldwide Earth Day celebration this April 22, 2015, organic farming advocates are renewing their call for the city government to establish the city’s organic zones as mandated by the Davao City Organic Agriculture Ordinance of 2010. “Organic farms increase the fertility of soils and mitigate the negative impacts of climate change. Establishing organic farming zones all around the city will ensure Davao’s food security and make the city climate resilient.”, said Go Organic Davao City (GoDC) member Joy Enriquez. Davao’s Organic Agriculture Management Council (OAMC) had initially identified Barangay Sibulan in Toril District as one of the ideal sites for an organic farming zone due to the high number of organic farming practitioners in the areas. The area is home to the Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe which has adopted organic agriculture as a predominant way of farming life.
Environment group backs green spaces for kids
TO SHOW support for a campaign for more green spaces for schoolchildren, the Interface Development Interventions (Idis) will join the Tuburan Institute’s Family Adventure Fun Run on April 19. Idis Executive Director Mary Ann Fuertes said bringing children closer to nature can help nurture a lifelong passion for environment protection. “Not only is nature appreciation essential in the physical, emotional and spiritual development of children, it is also important in developing Davao’s next generation of environmental stewards,” she said in a statement sent to Sun.Star Davao.
Lunhaw Awardee calls for more tree growing activities in the watershed
DAVAO CITY – This year’s winner of the Lunhaw Awards for the Best Agro-Forestry Initiative called for an intensification of tree growing activities along the watershed to reverse the damage caused by widespread agriculture development in the area. “Today’s celebration of the International Day of Forests is an opportunity for us to emphasize the importance of forests and of trees outside our forests.”, said artist-teacher Ric Obenza. Obenza, together with the Kalapati group of artists, is famous for his art and ecology workshops which have spurred widespread community initiatives on tree planting and rainforestation projects in Baguio, Calinan, Marahan and Marilog districts. “Trees are essential in regenerating our watersheds. They absorb carbon dioxide and mitigate the impact of global warming brought about by excessive use of fossil fuels. They cool down our rivers and maintain water quality by preventing soil erosion”, he said. IDIS Executive Director Ann Fuertes credits Obenza’s tree planting initiatives as instrumental in creating pockets of mini-forests in a watershed that is being encroached by plantations. “His mini-rainforest parks have become buffer zones against banana and pineapple plantations, protecting communities from toxic pesticides and providing habitats for local wildlife to flourish.”, she said. The Lunhaw Awards recognized Obenza’s soil generation technique and innovative rainforestation methods which have stopped the desertification of upland areas previously cleared for logging and plantations. His use of native trees and organic methods of farming have revitalized the forest land , allowing local animals and plants to survive and providing a source of forest products for communities to economically benefit from. Worldwide, global deforestation continues at a frightening rate. The United Nations estimates that around 13 million hectares are destroyed annually, accounting for a 12 to 20 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change. In the Philippines, changing land use policies in recent decades have opened up forest land to industrial agriculture and urban migration. This has resulted to the decline of the dipterocarp forest cover in the watersheds – a situation that Obenza hopes to arrest by engaging more community stakeholders in rainforestation activities. “Our conscious turnaround from nature exploiter to environment steward is pivotal in reversing environmental degradation, habitat destruction and biodiveristy extinction. The call of the hour is to ‘Think globally, act locally’. Everyone should do their share by nurturing a tree.”, Obenza said. (MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR)