BCDA plants 500 endemic trees in New Clark City, nearing 2025 goal of 1,000 trees

BCDA officers and employees, and the Task Force Nursery and Arboretum at the “Thousand Trees for One Clark” tree planting initiative at Sapa Kawayan, One Clark Boulevard, New Clark City. BCDA photo

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) planted 500 more native and endemic trees, reforesting one hectare of land along One Clark Boulevard, New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac. This brings the agency closer to its goal of planting 1,000 trees by the end of 2025, as part of its bold commitment to sustainable urban development and global climate action goals.

Since January, BCDA and its public and private sector partners have planted a total of 811 native and endemic trees under this initiative.

On Thursday, 10 July 2025, BCDA employees, led by President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua M. Bingcang, took part in planting a variety of native species, including Amugis, Dao, Salingogon, Kamagong, and Banaba. These species were carefully selected for their ability to thrive in the region’s environment while enhancing biodiversity, preventing soil erosion, stabilizing land near rivers, and acting as natural carbon sinks.

“This initiative underscores our dedication to building infrastructure that nurtures both progress and the environment. It’s about creating spaces that foster well-being, recreation, and a connection with nature,” said Engr. Bingcang.

With an impressive 80% survival rate from last year’s planting efforts, BCDA aims to continue its reforestation work by planting an additional 1,000 trees this year. These actions are a direct contribution to several United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), Climate Action (SDG 13), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).

Since 2019, BCDA has spearheaded various tree-planting initiatives, underlining its dedication to the environment and sustainable growth. Key past initiatives include the “100 Trees for 100 Days” campaign ahead of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, and a partnership with the Abacan River and Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council Inc. in 2022, which saw the planting of 500 trees for BCDA’s 30th anniversary.

Most recently, BCDA held tree planting activities on June 10 and 22, 2025, in partnership with the Youth Ministry of Catholics for Life and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), respectively. The former resulted in the planting of 90 trees, while the latter event added 171 native trees, including Banaba, Molave, Lipote, Kalumpit, Narra, and Malabulak.

These efforts highlight BCDA’s leadership in integrating environmental stewardship with urban development, setting a powerful example of how public sector projects can drive progress in achieving the UN SDGs. Through sustainable practices, BCDA continues to build cities that are resilient, smart, and harmonious with the environment, ensuring that growth is both responsible and regenerative. ###