Bush fire reported in watershed

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - 7 has recommended the continued monitoring within the 630-hectare Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve (BWFR) after less than a hectare was affected by a forest or bush fire in Barangay Toong last Friday.

The fire was first reported by a staff member of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) to the DENR and was contained and controlled after almost two hours.

A team composed of Forester Florentino Supino Jr. together with Forest Rangers Antonio Carreon and Magdalino Lugod with four casual forest guards and Police Officer 3 Virgilio Bug-atan responded to the alarm and conducted a site assessment last April 13.

The team noted after a survey using a global positioning system (GPS) that 800 square meters of mostly shrubs under the old Teak or Tectona grandis tree plantation was engulfed by a bush fire.

DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Maximo O. Dichoso in a statement furnished to The Freeman said the cooperation of the community is a very important factor as they live near the tree plantations and they would be of help to the DENR if they would also extend assistance by monitoring.

According to unverified reports, the fire also burned a number of indigenous tree species at its sapling stage introduced by the PBSP.  The intense heat with the presence of many large dried leaves of Teak tree species may have contributed to the fire.

Forester Ariel N. Rica of the Protected Areas, Wildlife, Conservation Zone and Management Services (PAWCZMS) said the office could not determine as of this writing if the fire was accidental or deliberate as the investigation is still in progress.

Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve is a component of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL) under Republic Act No. 9486 which was approved on June 7, 2007 that covers a consolidated area of 28,312 hectares.

Dichoso added that vigilance against forest fires should be observed not just by the surrounding communities but also by the local officials.

Every year, an average of 10 to 15 hectares, mostly shrubs, are affected by forest fires within the Buhisan watershed area. - Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JPM

 Aside from BWFR, the Mananga Watershed Forest Reserve, Sudlon National Park, Central Cebu National Park and the Kotkot-Lusaran Watershed Forest Reserve located in the cities of Cebu, Talisay, Toledo and Danao, and in the municipalities of Minglanilla, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, and Balamban are also inside the CCPL.- (FREEMAN)