EDC Donates 5000 BINHI Seedlings To Sorsogon On Geo Day

Gov. Chiz Escudero & BGP Head Engr. Marcel Rosario

Planting and growing native trees are crucial not only in preserving the environment but also in recharging the geothermal resource that is abundant in our country.

To mark this year's Geothermal Day, Lopez-led Energy Development Corporation donated five thousand (5000) BINHI native tree seedlings to the province of Sorsogon to help restore the greenery that was damaged by Typhoon Tisoy in December 2019.

The province of Sorsogon has declared March 05 as Geothermal Day last year in recognition of this source of clean, renewable and reliable energy which is important in achieving a low carbon economy for the province as well as the contributions that geothermal leader EDC has made to empower communities surrounding its 150 megawatt Bacon-Manito Geothermal Project (BGPI) that straddles in between Albay and Sorsogon.

Seedlings of Kamagong, White Lauan, Tanguile and Narra were turned over to Sorsogon Governor Francis G. Escudero by the EDC team led by its BGP Head Marcel D. Rosario at the provincial capitol.

The initiative was undertaken in response to the Governor Chiz's request for fruit and forest tree seedlings to EDC.

"We responded positively to our Governor's request not only because we recognise him and the province of Sorsogon as valuable partner but also because it is align with our BINHI greening legacy and with our need to keep growing our forests to sustain our geothermal reservoir." Rosario said.

BINHI is EDC's over 10-year old forest restoration program that aims to bridge forest gaps and bring back to abundance 96 endangered Philippine native tree species. 

EDC has been able to reforest over 1,500 hectares within the BGP reservation apart from producing mother trees after 10 years of implementing BINHI in the area.

The program has gotten national and global recognition for its achievements in restoring our country's forests land.

Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), the world's largest plant conservation network and the secretariat of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has tapped EDC as the first and only local partner for its Global Tree Assessment (GTA) program.

Most recently, as part of BINHI's aim to upgrade the conservation status of 35 tree species, EDC submitted data on five endemic (xanthostemon) species to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and IUCN which paved the way for partnership.

EDC's Ed Jimenez with PENRO-LGU Head Engr. Maribeth Fruto

Other than the seedlings, EDC has also turned over a copy of its Wildlife Treasures coffee table book to Governor Escudero. 

The book contains the latest chronicles of wildlife that EDC has been nurturing for over 10 years.

EDC is a global pioneer in the geothermal energy industry and the world's largest vertically integrated geothermal developer generating 1,457.8 megawatts of clean, stable and truly sustainable energy for the country's demand.#