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In support of the Marcos Jr. administration’s push to create livelihood opportunities through ecosystem protection and nature-based industries, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is expanding its rattan gene bank in Bukidnon to boost the supply of quality planting materials for the furniture and handicraft industries while easing pressure on wild rattan populations.
According to DENR secretary Juan Miguel Cuna, the initiative comes as the value of production index for wood, bamboo, cane and rattan products rose by 18.1 percent in April.
In a statement, Cuna pointed out that the project supports President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (PBBM)’s call to generate opportunities for livelihood that would be profitable and sustainable while promoting ecosystem protection through nature-based technologies.
The environment chief said the Bukidnon gene bank, which is located within the Malaybalay Experimental Forest and operated by the DENR’s Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), will produce planting materials for sustainable rattan plantations and help strengthen the industry’s supply of raw materials.
“The project includes the establishment of a permanent nursery and a 10-hectare rattan plantation. It will also train people’s organizations, local government units (LGUs), DENR field offices, indigenous communities and private stakeholders in seed collection, nursery management and plantation establishment,” Cuna spelled out.
Among the initiative’s beneficiaries is the Woodstock Forest Stewards Association in Bukidnon, whose members will be trained to propagate rattan wildlings and seedlings for sale to plantation developers, government greening programs and private buyers.
DENR officials cited that investments in science-based restoration and sustainable supply chains could help protect natural resources while generating long-term economic opportunities for communities.
