The Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is searching for suspected timber smugglers in their continuing anti-illegal logging campaign in Caraga Region.
Caraga DENR Regional Executive Director (RED) Benjamin T. Tumaliuan placed this initiative on top of the agenda of DENR Secretary Angelo T. Reyes in this region, particularly the protection of the environment and the conservation of natural resources.
In his first management conference for the year 2007 with his top forestry officials in the region, province and city held at the regional conference here, Tumaliuan also issued instructions to his senior forestry officers to identify the persons behind illegal logging activities in their areas to check their movements.
In line with this, Tumaliuan instructed the four PENROs and 13 CENROs assigned at various areas in the region to continue with out let-up their tree planting activities.
"Environment preservation and forest protection must join together and this must be continued without let up," he said.
He also directed field senior foresters to let various groups, including local government units, non-government agencies, private organizations, the academe, religious sectors, transport sectors, employees of the national government, join in environmental preservation and forest protection efforts.
The DENR in this region is eyeing an estimated 400,000 hectares for tree plantation.
Tumaliuan likewise ordered field personnel to locate and identify those behind the timber poaching.
He said the DENR has already coordinated with the law enforcement units, especially the Environment Protection Commission, which was created by Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes to run after violators of the environment and forestry laws.Asia Pulse via Yahoo News
