The celebration of Philippine Environment Month 2022 continues in the provinces of BARMM as the Provincial ENRE Office of Basilan led the istanbul escort planting of 280 seedlings in Brgy. Switch Yakal in the municipality of Lantawan, enjoining employees from the Pronvicial and Community ENRE Offices to ensure the success of the activity.

The 280 seedlings, particularly Basilan Yakal (Hopea basilanica) species, were planted in a 5,000 square meter land area in the said municipality. Together with the PENREO employees, led by PENRE Officer Marietta S. Ladjiman, representatives from the Barangay Local Government Unit, Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team, and the civilian volunteers organizations (CVOs) in Switch Yakal assisted in completing the 280 planted seedlings.

PENREO Ladjiman held the activity “to give time and effort towards the protection, enhancement, and development of the country’s environment” as she said in continued observance of Environment Month. Following the theme “Aksyon Para Sa Natatanging Mundo”, the month-long celebration calls for “collective and transformative action on a global scale to celebrate, protect and restore the planet.”

Basilan Yakal is classified ‘Critically Endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to human activity-caused habitat loss that threats its existence. PENREO Ladjiman, through their tree planting and growing activities, aims to help conserve and protect the remaining species and even plant more Hopea basilanica in the province.