About 2,500 narra seedlings are set to be planted in San Felipe East in San Nicolas, Pangasinan as part of the Environment Month celebration, to help address rising environmental challenges.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Eastern Pangasinan administrative officer Arnel Florencio, in a statement Friday, said the tree-growing activity is timely with all the environmental concerns the world is currently facing.

“It so happened that the theme of the World Environment Day (June 5) is about drought resilience, desertification, and land restoration since our environment has been facing problems like the El Niño and then the threatening La Niña phenomena,” he said.

Florencia said the tree-growing activity is one of the highlights of the Environment Month celebration, which will be held on Arbor Day (June 25).

Narra is considered a critically endangered native tree species in the country.

DENR Assistant Secretary and Forest Management Bureau Director Arleigh Adorable recently said planting of seedlings of native trees is well-suited to local environmental conditions and plays a crucial role in providing ecosystem services, supporting local wildlife, and establishing green spaces in urban areas where a significant portion of the country’s population resides.

Aside from narra, the other popular native tree species in the country include Guijo (Shorea guiso), Kamagong (Diospyrus discolor), Red Lauan (Shorea negrosensis), White Lauan (Shorea contorta), Tindalo (Afzelia rhomboidea), Yakal (Shorea astylosa), and Molave (Vitex parviflora).

Florencio is encouraging the young people to join the different activities of DENR such as clean-up drives and forums to raise their awareness about the importance of preserving and sustaining the environment.

Also, the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office and the Philippine National Police Press Corps held a tree-planting activity at the Provincial Eco-Park in Bugallon town, Pangasinan on Friday as part of the Environment Month. (PNA)