NEWSFLASH

BICOL’S FORESTS THREATENED

Legazpi City, May 17, 2000 The Department of Natural Resources warns that the forest domain of Bicol region has reached the critical stage due to rising population and illegal cutting.

DENR regional director Oscar Hamada said that of the region’s 500,000 hectares forestland, only 130,000 hectares retains its forest cover.

He said that to sustain the region’s ecological balance, the ideal ratio between agricultural and forestland was 60-40, but the existing forestland was only 17 to 18 percent.

He blamed the region’s rapidly growing population that has reached some 4.7 million as the major factor that led to the fast deterioration of the environment. Other factors he cited were typhoons, floods, and landslides.

Bicol’s remaining forest protected areas are Mt. Mayon in Albay, Mt. Isarog and Mt. Asog in Camarines Sur, and Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon.