Students and faculty members of the Caraga Regional Science High School planted 1,700 indigenous tree seedlings at the rehabilitation area of Taganito Mining Corp. (TMC) as part of the Department of Education's (DepEd) One Million Trees Program for 2026.
The tree-planting activity aims to promote environmental conservation and climate action while supporting the restoration of mined-out areas through the use of native tree species.
Following the activity, the students toured TMC's rehabilitation and ecotourism sites, where they learned about the company's environmental restoration efforts, biodiversity conservation initiatives and responsible mining practices.
The visit also showcased how rehabilitated mine areas have been transformed into thriving ecosystems, providing students with firsthand knowledge of sustainable environmental management and the importance of partnerships among schools, communities and the mining industry in protecting natural resources.
TMC said the activity encouraged young people to become active stewards of the environment while reinforcing the value of ecological restoration.
Taganito Mining, a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corp., operates a nickel mine in Claver, Surigao del Norte. The company implements progressive mine rehabilitation alongside its mining operations, restoring disturbed areas with native vegetation and developing biodiversity conservation programs as part of its environmental management commitments.
Apart from mine rehabilitation, TMC supports education, livelihood, health and environmental protection programs in its host and neighboring communities through its Social Development and Management Program (SDMP), in line with the Philippine Mining Act and responsible mining standards.
The tree-planting activity forms part of DepEd's nationwide One Million Trees Program, which seeks to instill environmental awareness among students while contributing to forest restoration and climate resilience efforts across the country.
