Monday, September 17, 2007

Rotary to plant one million mangroves for Cebu

Cebu, Philippines (12 September) – Rotary district 3860 hopes to plant one million Mangroves for Cebu within the Rotary year July 2007-June 2008 with a kick off planting of 5000 propagules and seedlings on September 15 at Cotcot, Liloan, Cebu to coincide with the celebration of Cleanup the World Weekend.

In a press release, District Governor Michael Joseph “Yumi” Espina said, “Rotarians recognize the importance of mangroves in our islands’ marine ecosystem. In Cebu where the rate of depletion and degradation is very high, Rotary will be working with DENR, and the local government units in the province to establish and sustain mangrove nurseries and their management.”

Each Rotary club in Cebu will have a designated “adopted area” in the province where they will plant mangrove seedlings and propagules. Rotary will help generate funds for propagule collection, nursery and seedling maintenance and protection activities of the various local government units and people’s organizations that will help the Rotarians in this project.

The project is in partnership with the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation (CCEF), Department of Environment and Natural Resources, municipality of Liloan, Clean Up the Philippines and the Office of the Provincial Governor.

A written commitment to support the Rotary district’s Mangrove Reforestation program was inked on August 17 between Rotary District 3860 and the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation Inc.

Plans are already afoot for another mangrove planting activities in the towns of San Remegio and Ronda. (PIA-Cebu/MBCN with Lilu Aliño)

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