‘We hope that other departments of the government will follow the example of the DENR in reviving our forests with native trees.’
OF all activities related to saving the environment, tree-planting is often recommended because it is easy to do, can be done with minimal costs, and has the potential of giving back to the planter plenty of benefits directly or indirectly.
The advantages of planting trees are well known, and knowledge of these benefits have taken on more significance in the face of reports that thousands of people – adults and children from all over the world – are dying because of the very poor air quality in urban areas where unfortunately most of the people congregate. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution kills 8 million people every year — 4.2 million from outdoor air pollution, and 3.8 million from indoor air pollution caused by burning wood and charcoal. With more trees planted and cared for, more oxygen will be produced.
While treasured for their aesthetic value, trees are needed to remove and store carbon from the atmosphere, slow heavy rain and so reduce the risk of flooding, enhance air quality and improve the urban heat island effect by reflecting sunlight and providing shade. When in high enough numbers, trees have a strong climate change mitigation effect.
Other benefits accruing to organized and massive tree-planting are prevention of soil erosion, controlling the temperature, providing fruits and food for both humans and wildlife species, and healing the earth through natural processes.
It is not just planting trees but also checking out what trees to plant. We laud the project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), particularly in Region 4 or Calabarzon, of planting over 90,000 seedlings of native tree species. The activity was part of the department’s celebration of Arbor Day.
The country observes Philippine Arbor Day on June 25 every year under Presidential Proclamation No. 396 of 2003, directing the DENR to provide technical assistance to participants in the celebration, and Republic Act No. 10176 of 2012, requiring all able-bodied citizens of the Philippines who are at least 12 years old to plant one tree every year.
DENR Undersecretaries Jonas Leones and Marilou Erni, together with DENR Calabarzon Regional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria, led the tree-planting ceremonies in Tanay, Antipolo, Baras, San Mateo, and Rodriguez in Rizal, and were joined by over 1,500 volunteers.
Some 6,600 native tree seedlings of different varieties including narra, apitong, and molave, and fruit-bearing trees like guyabano (soursop or graviola) were planted during the activity.
In Rizal province alone, 13 hectares of protected areas were planted in the Kaliwa River Forest Reserve, Upper Marikina River Basin, and Marikina River Watershed.
Watersheds and forest reserves in Rizal act as natural protection against soil erosion and flood, while ensuring a steady stream of water supply for the greater Metro Manila area and nearby provinces.
The DENR reported that over 200 hectares of land in 205 sites nationwide were tapped for the tree-planting aimed at intensifying the country’s contribution to global efforts to fight climate change.
“The activity is part of the Philippines’ contribution to global efforts to reverse global warming caused by the increase in greenhouse gases due to deforestation, transportation, agriculture, burning of fossil fuels, and the manufacturing industry. It is also a major step toward re-greening the environment and promoting a healthy ecosystem,” the DENR said.
We hope that other departments of the government will follow the example of the DENR in reviving our forests with native trees. It is time to ask whatever happened to the order of Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan requiring all road construction contracts to include provisions for planting trees, whether or not trees were cut in the implementation of the projects?
