BAGUIO Water District (BWD) will lead the first tree inventory in the city to ensure all trees in trees in watersheds will be accounted for.
Salvador Royeca, Baguio Water District general manager, said trees at the Busol, Camp 8, Buyog and Sto. Tomas watersheds will now be geotagged to provide inventories to the public as well as to safeguard the remaining forest covers in the city.
Royeca said an agreement has been inked with the University of Baguio for the project while other universities are on the process of being asked to participate in the endeavor.
The tree inventory can provide an accurate profile of the urban ecosystem in the community and can be used to formulate effective management plans for the protection and preservation of the remaining trees we have.
Royeca said the data gathered during the inventory will be able to supply authorities with information necessary to create an adequate budget for the care and maintenance of the forests.
Launching of the tree inventory will be set in the last quarter of the year with the BWD providing manpower and technical support and the schools pitching in efforts to aid in geotagging, making the project community driven and sustainable.
When the inventory is done, a data base for management, education and research will be laid down.
Royeca said flora and fauna in the watersheds will also be accounted for, giving the city a complete and accurate listing of existing resources.
The data base once done will also aid in the planning and making of sound decisions on strategy as well as management as well as the location of trees, flora and fauna needed when pruning or in the event of removal when in the road right of way if the public.
Survival rate of trees will also be included in the data base as well as areas where tree planting is needed, reducing the incidence of wasted tree planting activities.
