Reflecting on the 2004 Infanta-Real-General Nakar Tragedy...
In November 2004, landslides and flash floods killed at least 1,500 people in the towns of Infanta, Real, and General Nakar in the Province of Quezon, Philippines. On that day, flood water rose quickly, reaching a depth of 4 - 6m (13 - 20 ft) in just a span of 3 hours. Turbulent waters flowed with debris, including mud and logs, destroying everything in their path. The 3 towns were isolated from the rest of the country for almost a week, as landslides blocked the only road that leads into the area. Access through the coastline was likewise blocked by tons of logs, which had been carried down the hills by turbulent flow of water.
People blamed illegal logging as the cause of the tragedy. Common sentiment was that deforestation had reduced the water-holding capacity of the watershed. Since then, much has been said about implementing reforestation programs and putting an end to logging.
Today is year 2021. More than 16 years have passed since that tragic event. Still, however, people are wondering whether enough measures have been carried out to prevent such disaster from happening again.
A recent series of rainstorms once again caused flooding in the town of Infanta. The flood left deposits of sediments on the ground, covering a large area of town. Obviously, soil erosion has not stopped. But since then, erosion occurs whenever there is a downpour in the area.
Pictures of mud-covered roads and paving have spread on social media, with some netizens commenting and urging the need for construction of concrete dikes along riverbanks.
How about the government's reforestation programs? How have they been going these last 16 years? According to a report written by Danilo C. Israel and Jeffrey H. Lintag, the reforestation program of DENR "has only partially attained its replanting targets" and that it has "become relatively inefficient in the conduct of replanting activities over the years" (Assessment of the Efficiency and Effectiveness of the Reforestation Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippine Institute for Developmental Studies (PIDS) Discussion Paper Series No. 2013-22).
Apparently, not enough measures have been done since the 2004 tragedy.
Reforestation efforts, which involve planting mangroves in coastal areas have been carried out in Infanta. Mangroves help in the fight against climate change, serve as buffers against tsunami and storm surge, as well as provide means of livelihood to local communities. However, since they are planted in coastal areas, they do nothing to prevent upland soil erosion and surface water runoff.
Water normally come rushing down, from mountains and hills within the watershed. They naturally find their way to streams and rivers, which eventually carry them to the sea. In order to prevent recurrence of flash floods, reforestation should be carried out uphill, within the watershed area.
Roots of trees and vegetation absorb water. They allow more water to penetrate the soil, recharging the aquifer faster, raising the water table, and increasing the capacity of the soil to store water. In the process, they minimize and slow down surface runoff, resulting in a steadier flow of water in rivers and streams.
In the absence of trees and vegetation, soil percolation is slower, water table goes down, rivers and streams dry up, and surface water during downpours flows more rapidly, increasing the risk of landslides, soil erosion, and flooding.
Reforestation programs must be carried out with a sense of urgency. Trees take time to grow and mature. Tropical hardwoods, for instance, usually require 50 to 100 years to reach maturity. The risk of tragedy, such as was in 2004, continues to loom over if there are not enough trees and vegetation in the watershed. Who knows when the next storm, which could cause as much (if not more) damage, will hit?
With these considerations, bamboo could prove to be a very suitable candidate plant for the reforestation projects. The Chinese moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) holds the world record for the fastest growing plant. Another bamboo species, with incredible fast growth rates, is Madake bamboo (Phyllostachys bambusoides).
The Chinese moso bamboo is also known as the hardest bamboo species in the world. It reaches its maximum height in a few months and takes only 4 - 5 years to reach maturity, while tropical hardwoods require 50 - 100 years.
Besides being a fast grower, bamboo is a grass that continues to grow and multiply indefinitely. Four to five-year-old bamboo stems can be harvested on an annual basis, while new shoots continue to emerge from the ground. They don't need to be re-planted after harvest.
Bamboo can be used for erosion control, soil stabilization, windbreaks, wildlife protection, environmental remediation, and CO2 sequestration, just to name a few among thousands of other uses.
by Cyril Maza
13 фев 2021
