After the volcanic smog of Taal, new plants began to emerge

By Thiago Santos The greener Taal Volcano Island stands as a testament to the regenerative power of the Earth, reminding us of the beauty th...

By Thiago Santos

The greener Taal Volcano Island stands as a testament to the regenerative power of the Earth, reminding us of the beauty that can arise from destruction. (Photo from DENR Calabarzon)

CALACA, Batangas - Three years after Taal Volcano began to smog, the landscape surrounding it started to show signs of recovery. Lush greenery and vibrant flowers started to bloom, indicating the resilience of nature to overcome adversity.

With the help of Lawin Patrol members of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources—Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO) Calaca Enforcement and Monitoring, the green volcano was spotted recently at 9.19km along Barangay Alas-as and Barangay Pulang Bato in San Nicolas, Batangas.



Apart from the plants, several waterbirds, such as the Gray Heron, Black Crowned Night Heron, Purple Heron, Little Egret, Crow, Brahminy Kite, and Plover, were also witnessed circling the volcano. These waterbirds are known to thrive in habitats near bodies of water, indicating the presence of a nearby water source. Their presence suggests that the green volcano may have an active or dormant crater lake, which could potentially pose risks to the surrounding ecosystem if any volcanic activity were to occur.

It can be remembered that in January 2020, activities began in the Taal Volcano that brought thick ash to a large part of Taal and destroyed the ecological processes of the Taal Protected Area. This caused significant damage to the surrounding ecosystem, including the destruction of habitats and disruption of ecological processes.

According to the DENR-CENRO, although life is returning to Taal Volcano, it still takes a long time to reach complete healing or a complete return to the beauty of Taal Volcano. The recovery efforts have been ongoing, with measures being taken to restore the affected areas and rehabilitate the damaged ecosystems.

DENR CALABARZON reminds the public that entering the area, especially the Main Crater, without permission from the Coast Guard, local government, Philippine National Police, and DENR-Protected Area Management Office of TVPL, or Taal Volcano Protected Landscape, is strictly prohibited. (with reports from DENR Calabarzon)