Visitors to the island province of Catanduanes can enjoy its natural allure, and at the same time make a meaningful share in nurturing Mother Earth.
This after the provincial government adopted a unique program that provides tourists the opportunity to plant trees during their stay.
Provincial tourism head Carmel Bonifacio-Garcia said the “One Tourist, One Tree” program encourages foreign and domestic tourists to plant a tree in areas identified by the provincial government.
She said the program was born in 2015 to help promote responsible and sustainable tourism in Catanduanes by incorporating the tree-planting activity into the itinerary of the guests, as well as for sporting events.
The undertaking also supports the programs of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources aimed at reforesting the archipelago to mitigate the impact of climate change, Garcia said. The province is listed by the DENR as among the country’s most important biodiversity areas.
For the past four years, some 1,280 trees have been planted at Mt. Cagmasoso in San Andres, Pag-Asa Radar Station in Bato, Puraran Beach and Balacay Point in Baras, Carangyan Beach in Pandan, Simamla Breeding Station, a government facility in the capital town of Virac.
In addition to the tree-planting effort, the province is also localizing environmental measures to ensure the carrying capacity and sustainability of the tourist spots.
Catanduanes takes pride in its 60,000 hectares of forests, considered as the largest green patch in the Bicol region, which includes the Watershed Forest Reserve—1,500 hectares of old- and second-growth forests—and vast abaca plantations that are home to various wildlife species.
It is also the Philippines’ top producer of the abaca fiber, and such bounty is celebrated in the annual Abaca Festival every summer.
Sitting east of the mainland Bicol peninsula, Catanduanes is a booming destination for its powdery beaches, unspoiled islands, enchanting waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints, marine sanctuaries, and surfing areas, topped by the iconic Puraran “Majestic” spot in Baras, which hosts international tournaments.