OLANGO ISLAND, Lapu-Lapu City – As part of its effort to ensure the preservation and protection of coastal resources here, the Kanepackage Group Inc. through its KP Green Earth project in collaboration with the Region 7 office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR 7) has planted more than 500,000 mangrove propagules or seedlings Friday in this island.

The KP Green Earth project of Kanepackage Group Inc. launched last November is part of the company’s program to mitigate and prevent the adverse impacts of climate change, where during the launching, nearly 85,000 mangroves were planted covering 4.5 hectares.

Meanwhile, DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Leonardo Sibbaluca said that the 500,000 mangroves planted Friday covered a huge portion of the island which has an area of 1,028 hectares.

“Activities like this are highly encouraged as it will help preserve the marine life which at the same time ensures the integrity of our coastal resources through mangrove planting that is one of the priority projects under the Green Movement Agenda of President Arroyo,” Sibbaluca said.

Sibbaluca explained that the Trees for Life project is also in support of President Arroyo’s Green Philippines Program (GPP).

Also, the DENR 7 director stressed that meaningful partnership with groups and individuals like the Kanepackage Group, Inc. through its “KP Green Earth” project is very important as it will help augment environment protection programs.

On the same occasion, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was also signed between DENR 7 and Kanepackage Group, Inc. which intends to protect the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Kanepackage Group Inc through its “KP Green Earth Project” intends to plant, maintain, and protect five million mangroves/trees in a span of five years that will cover an area of 45,326 square meters here.