El Verde Environmental Campaign-12 Million Trees by 2012 Project: Camarines Sur's Green Legacy to the World

Camarines Sur, hailed as the number one tourist haven in the Philippines, has added another big-time accomplishment; as its environmentalists outdated the previous record of India (50, 000 trees) in the Guinness Book of World Records; a world-breaking achievement of planting 64, 096 trees in the span of an hour by 6, 893 participants coming from the public and private organizations (DPWH, DepEd, Philippine Judges Association, Guardians, Girls Scouts, Boy Scouts, DILG, NFA, ComElec, DENR, DA, DOST, DSWD, GSIS, SSS, DBM, PNP, DTI, DOH, Red Cross, Globe Telecom, APO and other major agencies of the govenment and the religious sectors).

It happened last February 23, 2011with the nation's leader,His Excellency President Benigno C. Auqino III as the main supporter for the launching ceremonies at Sto. Nino, Pili.

This project is being spearheaded by the visionary leader of the province, Governor Luis Ray Villafuerte, who untiringly campaigns for bringing back the rainforests in the province and create viable and productive farm agriculture in harmony with nature. He quips,"If Camarines Sur can do it, so call all the other local government units."

The first and the biggest environmental conservation movement for the country, El Verde 12 Million Trees by 2012

was launched in two cities (Naga and Iriga ), 35 municipalities (including the capital town and major venue: Pili), and 1,036 barangays.

The targeted participants were 73, 710 people (574 trees in h\one hour) but the result sill outperformed the old Guinness Record holder (India). Not a bad campaign in just one hour and it was attested by an adjudicator of the Guinness coming from Turkey.

This is a timely activity as 2011 is the banner year for the forest conservation. We all know the effects of global warming and we have to act now before it consume our habitat. The launching of DENR's (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) National Greening Program is in support to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)'s Billion Tree Campaign.

If all countries in the world will participate, we can beat the 'hot' problems (pollutions, greenhouse effects, etc.) on Earth. Bringing back rainforests,stable and clean riverbanks, lakes, mangrove systems and beaches will draw inspiration to all people who believe that we can still save our planet.