The Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA), through its seven (7) member-companies, again boosted greening efforts with an ongoing rehabilitation and reforestation drives in their respective mining areas.
Indigenous and endemic tree and grass species have been successfully planted since the start of rehabilitation efforts.
Ensuring environmental and ecological sustainability in areas where nickel is mined, members of the Philippine nickel industry have planted an estimated 5.3 million trees to date in the Caraga region and in Palawan as part of its Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP). The number of trees planted has risen 27 percent since PNIA reported planting 4.2 million trees in June 2018.
“The nickel mining industry has real and continuing accomplishments in caring not only for our communities, but also of the environment. We contribute at least 3 to 5 percent of our operating cost to environmental protection and enhancement programs. No other industry is mandated to do this,” said PNIA Executive Director Charmaine Olea-Capili.
On top of reforestation efforts, mining companies are mandated to implement so-called temporary revegetation program. PNIA member companies have planted over 284 hectares of various vegetation and spent P45 million.
“We are required to plant 100 trees for every tree we cut down. Our industry has made continued efforts to rehabilitate the areas where we mine since we started operations. With the ongoing TRP, we can provide short term vegetation growth that can control soil erosion and assist communities during natural calamities,” Capili added.
Indigenous and endemic tree and grass species have been successfully planted since the start of rehabilitation efforts. These include fruit-bearing trees and cash crops.
PNIA’s bamboo reforestation effort also serves as a strategic complement to ongoing reforestation and rehabilitation programs. To date, more than 22,000 seedlings have been planted by PNIA member companies.
The nickel companies’ reforestation and revegetation programs not only facilitate ecological rehabilitation of mined-out areas but also provide employment to residents and to the indigenous community as well as create livelihood programs that are vital to strengthening the local economy.