As the country’s leader in geothermal power with over 1,400 megawatts (MW) of capacity under its belt, Lopez-led power generation firm Energy Development Corp. (EDC) is pushing its renewable efforts further with its initiatives for the replenishment of streams.
In 2009, the company started BINHI, its flagship environmental program which serves as a nationwide greening and reforestation program of native and endemic trees.
EDC said since its geothermal operations are located in forested areas, there is great reliance on healthy watersheds as trees can help maintain geothermal reservoirs by holding water and releasing them deep into the earth.
As of 2018, the BINHI program has identified and rescued 96 species of prime and endangered Philippine hardwood, apart from raising 175,685 seedlings, distribution and planting of 3,214 hectares with the help of 173 partner organizations and 88 farmers associations.
It also managed to restore local forestlands with over 6.4 million of trees over thousands of hectares to preserve and propagate threatened native tree species and protect biodiversity as well as purify rainwater before being released into natural channels such as streams and groundwater reserves.
Under the BINHI program, EDC works with the academe to provide technical assistance, facilities, and training and capacity-building sessions.
The company recently partnered with the University of San Carlos in Cebu to grow and propagate premium Philippine native tree species such as Narra, Mangkono and Molave.
This is the company’s 11th arboretum since 2008.
As part of the agreement, the school will host a permanent designated area for the trees, supported by planting and promotional activities. EDC provided seedlings along with technical assistance for the protection and maintenance of the trees, including labeling and scientific monitoring.
Early last year, the company also adopted the 7.79-hectare Wetland No. 2 in Boracay island to turn it into an eco-tourism park by putting up another arboretum aside from walkway, view deck, visitor information center and other amenities that will be turned over to the government after three years.
