Planting Trees at Camp Utopia-Nalseb Mountain

PLANTING TREES IN THE MOUNTAINSIDES

In the mighty mountains of Camp Utopia down to the waterfalls and streams of Nalseb in the Municipality of Kapangan was once the headquarters of the 66^th Guerilla Infantry Regiment during the 2nd WW. Tall Pine Trees provided shade and covered the Guerillas from enemy spy planes. The environs also provided food and fresh water to the guerillas and the people thereat.

Manpey-as Water falls coming from Camp Utopia

But just after the war, the trees ended in the reconstructions and to the nearby mines being developed. The mountains were left to reforest by it s own. Trees were cut but replanting was not done. Although some inhabitants and landowners were replanting pine trees, most of the mountains went bald.

The Mountainside to be reforested From Camp Utopia down to Nalseb area

The Camp Utopia Mountain is home to the Benguet or Baguio Pine Trees .This mountain top overlooks the Pacific Ocean and the Ilocos region.  This plateau is cool and is good for mountain hiking, camping and for refreshing. A three hectare land was donated to the Boyscouts and Girlscouts, the Veterans Kapangan Post and to the Tourism Council of Kapangan which could be developed into a camping site.  Although some areas are being converted to gardening, this former Guerilla Headquarters’ should be preserved and reforested. The Boyscouts and some concerned organizations had programs of planting trees in the area but it did not mature due to poor maintenance.

Transporting  tree seedlings from Tadayan to Nalseb, a trek of about one hour 

Down the Nalseb and Toplac area, the community and landowners started planting seeds at the nurseries near the planting site. The project was programmed by the Department of Agriculture with its project overseer, the CHARM 2-Cordillera Highland Agriculture Resources Management Project 2. While a fund was allotted to undertake this project, it may not sustain the whole extent of the project so that the community and landowners involvement and support is needed significantly. It is foreseen that its maintenance and protection will be very crucial thus the implementers program should be a long term one in order that the project be successful.

One of the water falls along the way to Nalseb

Planting of trees started on the month of June 2012. The planting materials were taken from cuttings of the Kakawate, tagumbao, mulberry and other fire suppressing trees from neighbors and friends.Fruit tree seedlings were taken from backyards that grew from bird’s droppings or from the left over’s of fruits eaten.

The National Greening Program with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources informed our group that they will provide tree seedlings ready for planting for the month of June 2012. 

But as the tree planting season came, these agencies informed us that they were short of tree seedlings or were not able to sustain their task. As always the case, they failed in their mission.

Tree planting is a delight for us. Although it involves money and a good labor, it is enjoyable, a good relaxation and a good hobby too rather than that classy habit. 

Clearing of the mountainside for planting