721 trees in Infanta may be cut, pruned for wind project

Environmental groups have raised concern over the impending cutting and pruning of 721 trees along the road right-of-way from Barangay Dinahican to Barangay Magsaysay, Infanta, Quezon, for use as a transportation route for wind turbine generator (WTG) materials.

- By JEL SANTOS

In a joint statement, members of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP) and the Wild Bird Photographers of the Philippines (WBPP) warned that the trees surveyed along the Marilaque Highway - Narra, Karay, Uyok, Balete, and Hagimit - are ecologically important, with a rare Umbrella Tree (Heptapleurum oblongifolium) already cut down.

The groups noted that the marked trees host threatened orchids and serve as habitat for rare wildlife such as the Northern Rufous Hornbill, Flame-breasted Fruit Dove, Northern Philippine Hawk-eagle, Northern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat, fruit bats, Palm Civets, and the Philippine Eagle Owl.

Ronald Achacoso, the president of the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society, Inc. (PNPCSI), expressed outrage over the loss of native trees and said even ordinary roadside species play a vital role in supporting rarer plants and wildlife.