DUMAGUETE CITY (PNA) — The province of Negros Oriental has improved its forest cover from six percent to 10 percent, according to the assessment of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO).

PENRO Oscar Magallones said the four percent growth of forest cover in Negros Oriental can be attributed to the continuous reforestation efforts of the local government units (LGUs) and the non-government organizations who are supporting the environmental rehabilitation and protection program.

The 10 percent increase is equivalent to the reforestation of 54,000 hectares of natural and man-made forests.

Magallones said there is a total of 28,000 hectares of natural forest left in Negros Oriental which can be found in the mountains of Ayungon, Sibulan, Bindoy, Tayasan and portions of Santa Catalina and Valencia.

The man-made forest includes the 23,000 hectares of integrated social forestry, 16,000 hectares from contract growing, more than 1,000 hectares for the upland forestry development program and 300 hectares for mangrove forests.

Meanwhile, Governor Degamo has allocated P5.570 million for the establishment of pocket forests in every barangay of the province. The province has a total of 557 barangays which will entitle each barangay to receive P10,000 for the pocket forest program, said Degamo.

The governor encourages every barangay to plant endemic and fruit trees.

The Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) of the provincial government is tasked to conduct regular monitoring and evaluation of the pocket forest program in order to ensure its success, Degamo added.