Bamboo as fence to prevent encroachment in forestland?

Participants of the recent training on bamboo production held in Puerto Princesa City last week discussed the possibility of establishing bamboo plantation in a bid to shield protection zones and prevent any encroachment within forestland in Palawan.

The idea of bio-fencing with the use of bamboo was discussed during the three-day training of trainers on carbon sequestration and bamboo production sponsored by the Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. through Turismo at Negosyo Dulot ng Ingat Kalikasan (TANDIKAN) project held last week.

The activity was participated by the local government units (LGUs), academe, people’s organization, and others.

Gerald Opiala, forest ranger of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, said that this is one of the ongoing activities of an organization engaged in community projects.

The participants were asked to comment and give their opinions about these activities and practices.

He explained that bio-fencing with the use of bamboo is one brilliant idea and a natural way of preventing any encroachment in protected zones, but proper spacing in the planting of bamboo should be observed since close-spacing or planting of bamboo in multi-layers, might result to possible changes within any specific area.

He also added that if not carefully studied it might cause disruption in the biodiversity that might affect the habitat and activities of the wildlife species present in the area.

He explained that the establishment of bamboo plantation in close spacing will prevent human encroachment, however, it might affect the wildlife habitats too.

“Kung biodiversity ang pag-uusapan ay dapat tignan ang magiging effects nya sa biodiversity. Ano ba ang impact o ang long term effects nito?. Kung magkakaroon ng changes sa isang area ay maaring magkakaroon ng habitat fragmentation,” he warned.

Habitat fragmentation is defined as the process during which a large expanse of habitat is transformed into a number of smaller patches of smaller total area isolated from each other by a matrix of habitats unlike the original, according to a researcher named Fahrig.

“Kailangan na mas laliman pa ng kaunti ang mga studies,” Opiala further said.

He said that these things should be considered especially in constructing concrete roads and opening new roads in the interior and upland barangays, especially in conserving the greenbelt or green corridor, and ensuring that the wildlife habitats are intact and undisrupted.