The Masungi Georeserve has recorded forest fires raging at the unprotected mountain areas around Antipolo and Tanay in Rizal according to a Facebook post shared Monday, April 6.
“Last night, our team recorded forest fires around the Antipolo and Tanay areas,” the post reads. “The call for vigilance for our forests extends not only to threats of quarrying and illegal logging, but also of forest fires as we enter the dry season.”
The Masungi Georeserve suspects that the forest fire was cause by humans either intentionally (for kaingin or charcoal production) or unintentionally (through negligence or carelessness).
“Many times, burned forests and degraded lands pave the way for land grabbing, conversion and unsustainable development when people say that “burned lands are no longer forest lands.” But this should never be the norm, as restoring degraded lands represents one of the most effective ways to combat climate change,” they added.
“At the frontlines of forest protection, we continue to defend Masungi and surrounding areas against fires and attempts of quarrying amid the lockdown. Now is the time to heighten forest protection all over the country.”
(ALSO READ: Benguet Wildfire Destroys 1,000 Hectares of forest and more than 165,000 trees)
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