By Othel V. Campos

The Environment Department chalked up a 56-percent increase in reforestation rate covering 43,609 hectares of denuded lands, from 27,838 hectares last year.

Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza said yesterday the replanting of trees has been intensified in important river basins that are critical to the water supply of irrigation systems feeding agricultural plains.

These areas include the Pampanga River Basin, Bicol River Basin, Cagayan River Basin and the Laoag River Basin.

At least 27,752 hectares were reforested under the department?s regular reforestation activities while an additional 15,857 hectares were replanted with the help of the private sector, which contributed 14,746 hectares.

Holders of Environment Department-issued tenurial instruments such as timber licenses and industrial forest management agreements accounted for some 1,111 hectares, in compliance with their contracts to reforest denuded areas inside their concession areas.

?Our reforestation accomplishment has much to be desired and this should only give us more resolve to double our reforestation efforts this year to generate employment in the countryside and cushion the impact of the global economic downturn,? Atienza said.

From a low of 8,838 hectares in 2007, the department managed to triple its performance last year at 27,752 hectares in the agency?s regular reforestation activities. These were conducted in areas not covered by any tenurial instruments.

The reforestation of important river basins took the biggest share, accounting for 21,312 hectares, with 5,530 hectares covered by the Community-Based Forest Management Program.

CBFM is a reforestation scheme adopted by the department granting upland families to conduct forestry-based livelihood activities inside forest lands on a 25-year cycle, on condition that the beneficiaries restore the forest cover of denuded areas found within their respective CBFM areas.

Rehabilitation of mangrove areas contributed 1,236 hectares while a total of 2.1 hectares where reforested in urban areas, mostly located in public parks.