A boost of nearly P370 million (USD 9 million) to the Philippines greening program in 2013 will be used to reforest 24,000 hectares.

The government is hopeful this funding will help it achieve the target of re-greening some 1.5 million hectares of the country’s denuded areas after six years, converting them “into vibrant new plantations of forest trees or agroforestry”.

The Philippine Information Agency reports on how the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) plans to distribute the funds between provinces.

Regional Executive Director of DENR 7, Dr Isabelo Montejo, says the greening effort is aimed at poverty reduction, food security, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The total forest cover of the Philippines is estimated at 7.168 million hectares or 24.27 percent of the country’s total land area.

Read the full story: DENR-7 allocates P370M for 2013 greening program