Puerto Princesa City utilized iTree tools introduced by United States government to help in managing the city’s urban forest.
The iTree tools/software that provides extensive forest and individual tree analysis was introduced last year by U.S. Department of Agriculture-Forest Service (USDA-FS) as part of the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through Strengthening Urban Resilience through Growth with Equity (SURGE).
Atty. Carlo B. Gomez, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer, emphasized that it is very timely to push for the Urban Forestry Program through iTree tools to save the remaining trees and urban forest in the city.
“Puerto Princesa is losing its urban forest. Through iTree tools ay may data na tayong sarili (on urban forestry). Gaano kaya kalaki ang nawala na ecosystem benefit na nawawala sa mga pinuputol na kahoy?” he said.
He explained that Plaza Cuartel, near the city’s cathedral, and Balayong Park were initially piloted for the application of iTree tools, and their office intends to expand iTree tool application to include private resorts in the city. They started in one private resort located in Barangay San Pedro.
Plaza Cartel is home to the ruins of an old World War II garrison restored to become a tourist destination and national historical spot in Puerto Princesa. Balayong Park is a newly-established tree park within the city’s sports complex and planted with the endemic Balayong tree, also known as Palawan Cherry.
Zorina Arellano, forester of the city government, said that iTree tool has been very useful in the assessment of the urban forest and existing vegetation in the city.
The tool was applied in Plaza Cuartel for the tourists to appreciate the tour, and the trees, as well as its important role in the ecosystem. The software helps them measure the carbon sequestration and the reduction of surface runoff because of the presence of the trees.
Forest ranger Gerald Opiala said that among the 18 trees species found within Plaza Cuartel in their tree assessment were: Antsoan Dilaw, Banaba, Barok, Christmas Palm, Champagne, Fire Tree, Gmelina, Golden Shower, Indian Tree, jackfruit, malunggay, mango, MacArthur Palm, Narra, Song of Jamaica, Star Apple, Weeping Fig, and Yuca.
During the fourth quarter of last year, the city government through the City Environment and Natural Resources Office conducted a training to its personnel on the basic application of iTree-Eco.
The training aimed to quantify the ecological services provided by the trees in the area using the iTree tools, and to develop the knowledge and skills for conducting inventory and tree assessment.
Ed Queblatin, a Policy Consultant and a former employee of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said that the assessment plays a significantly role to properly manage the city’s forest resources, especially the urban forest.
“If you cannot measure, you cannot manage it. Kailangan na mag retain na ng greenbelt, kasi mabilis ang pagka ubos ng ating remnant forest. We have to act very fast to save our urban forest,” he said.