With the damages of Typhoons ONDOY and PEPENG, came the floods which most of our environmentalists also attribute to loss of trees and frests in our country.
It's time we help in preventing this from happening again....for our children's sake.
Give the Gift of Trees
PhP150 plants two seedlings. Be part of the solution.
With every tree planted, the beat of life continues.
Global problems may be big but they can be tackled by individual actions. Each of us can do something about climate change through tree planting of native tree species. The decisions you make— from turning on a light switch to riding a car or plane— here and now may have
an effect far away and long into the future.
The good news is that through tree planting of native trees we are bringing back the natural sequesters of CO2, and the impacts of climate change are abated. Revival of our rainforests is vital to our survival and ensures water supply for agriculture, energy and our household needs.
For any occasion, when you give a gift to plant native trees, you’ll delight your loved ones. A gift that endures a lifetime and helps make a lasting difference now and for future generations.
Your gift directly benefits Haribon’s ROAD to 2020, a campaign that aims to plant native trees to restore 1 million hectares of forests in the Philippines by year 2020.
For a minimum of two seedlings for PhP75 each, you can support our forest restoration activities in Caliraya Watershed in Laguna and denuded forests around the country. You are welcome to plant your seedlings with us.
For more details, click here.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR THE
ADOPT-A-SEEDLING PROGRAM
ADOPT-A-SEEDLING PROGRAM
1. Why adopt a seedling?
Our forest is the life support system to millions of Filipinos all over the country. We depend on our forests for food, medicine and shelter. Our forests and watershed areas provide us water for our everyday use.
Fewer trees mean less carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (emitted by fossil-based fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas) sequestered thus they remain in the atmosphere. High concentration of these gases causes sever changes in the climate and weather patterns that we have witnessed and will continue to manifest itself as: flash floods; droughts; increase burden from malnutrition, diarrheal, cardio respiratory and infectious diseases; and affecting crops, animal feeding habits and behavior.
The overriding goal of planting back native trees in our forests is to promote a positive effort to address forest denudation and climate change. Adopt-A-Seedling program believes that people are nature’s stewards. As humans, we are the only ones gifted with the capacity to make use of our intellect and we have also been given the responsibility to conserve and protect nature, which is our source of sustenance and existence.
The average Filipino household emits 0.93 tons of carbon dioxide annually from using electrical appliances such as the refrigerator, television and washing machine. We can help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide we emit by planting at least four native tree species.
2. Why should I feel proud and act to revive Filipino trees?
Red Lauan, Apitong, Hagakhak, Gisok, Mayapis, Tanguile and Bagtikan are among the world’s highly prized timber trees, but these trees that are native to the Philippines no longer shroud the country’s forests like they used to. They can grow up to 70-100 meters (210-300 ft.) high and are supported by magnificent buttresses. Indigenous to the Philippines are 49 species of these hardwood trees, of which nearly half are found nowhere else in the world. All were once common in their habitats but have now almost entirely disappeared.
3. What is the importance of native tree species?
Native trees species help to bring back the original biodiversity (e.g plants, animals, etc) of a given area. Biodiversity enhances the pollination of plant species. Native trees have a longer lifespan on their range compared to introduced species. They help absorb more carbon dioxide compared to introduced tree species. Put simply, there are no substitutes to Philippine native trees and their importance in our lives: clean water, air, steady supply of food and energy, and its beauty
4. How much forest cover did the Philippines originally have and how much do we have left?
In the 1600s, almost 97 percent of the country’s total area of 30 million hectares (ha) was covered with old growth forest. In 1960, we had 20 million ha and by 2000, the old growth natural forest has dwindled to only three percent. As of 2003, the forest cover is estimated to be 5.8 million ha or merely 18 percent of the country’s total land area. Of this, about 75 percent is production forest while 25 percent is protection forest. Production forests are forest lands used for the production of timber and other forest products. Protection forests are forests on fragile lands and those protected for plant and animal biodiversity conservation.
5. Why restore our forests?
The Philippines has only less than 10% cover (1 million hectares) of pristine natural forests left. Our forest lands (denuded and forested) have been reforested with non-native or introduced species such as Gmelina, Mahogany, Jatropha and Falcata tree species which were planted because they grow faster and could be harvested sooner than native hardwood trees. Past and present “reforestation” activities, whose intention were primarily market driven rather than conservation, have replaced the original trees and resulted in a monoculture and decline of plant and animal diversity. Pests and diseases invade these exotic tree plantations and may eventually wipe out our entire reforested areas. This will cause nutrient imbalances within soil and in plants.
Farmers in the Kalinga and Leyte Provinces noticed that crops planted near Gmelina trees were dying. Eventually they found out that these trees caused the soil to become acidic. In some cases creeks and rivers have dried up because these exotic trees consume rather than store water.
6. How will we restore our forests?
Haribon advocates rainforestation by using native tree species to restore the original biodiversity of our forests. Rainforestation provides ecological benefits, which are linked to human survival. This was first adopted and proved to be successful in Leyte. It is now being adopted in other provinces such as Antique, Bukidnon, Mindoro,Surigao and Camarines Sur. Adopt-A-Seedling is supported by nurseries established near identified priority areas for restoration (i.e., Geo-hazard areas, watershed areas like the National Power Corporation-Caliraya watershed) where most of the seedlings will be planted.
7. What is the ROAD to 2020?
The Rainforest Organizations and Advocates (ROAD) to 2020 is an environmental conservation movement to restore one million hectares of Philippine rainforests using native tree species by the year 2020. The movement aims to plant native tree species in order to recover and conserve biodiversity, optimize our supply of forest benefits and ecosystem services, reduce the risks of natural hazards such as landslides, and enhance options for sustainable livelihood. Adopt-A-Seedling is a program to support this campaign.
Haribon works with different groups all over the country, which are composed of local government unites, other non profit organizations, People’s Organizations, academic institutions, government agencies, and individuals who are committed to rainforestation. We will ensure that ecological benefits from forests are enjoyed by both Filipinos of today and tomorrow, and that our wildlife – our natural heritage will live on.
8. Where are the forest sites to be restored?
The areas where Haribon will conduct rainforestation are located in Luzon and Mindanao. There are five sites in Luzon. These are the municipalities of Kalayaan, Laguna (where the Caliraya Watershed is located); Palauig, Zambales; Mangatarem, Pangasinan; Gen. Nakar, Quezon; and Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. In the island of n Mindanao, these are the municipalities of Lanuza, Cortes and Cagwait and Tandag City in the Province of Surigao del Sur.
9. Who will be involved in forest restoration?
The Haribon Foundation and its partner communities (e.g local government units, People’s Organizations, other non-profit organizations, academe, development sectors such as women, youth and indigenous peoples) will be involved in the rainforestation. Volunteers who are willing to join the forest restoration activities are welcome.
10. How will we monitor and ensure the survival the seedlings?
Haribon continually involves local communities and partners in the planting and maintenance of the seedlings planted. For quarterly updates of trees planted, this will be provided on the Haribon website at www.haribon.org.ph. The update includes the list and number of native tree species and the size of the area (in hectares) planted indicated in a map.
11. Where will my money go and how will it be spent?
The proceeds will go to the protection, maintenance and monitoring of the native trees and nursery by our community partners. The donations also help sustain restoration and conservation activities related to ROAD to 2020.
12. Can I join in the tree planting activities and how often does it take place?
Yes, this is an encouraged option, since nothing beats actual experience of planting life back into the earth. It is also an option to request for Haribon to plant your donated seedlings with the help of Haribon members, volunteers and partners.
The weather most conducive to tree planting differs across the forest sites being restored to ensure the best survival rates for the tree seedlings planted. Haribon follows the recommended schedule below at least once a month at the Caliraya Watershed in Laguna. For sites outside Metro Manila, tree planting trips per individual/group from Manila may be arranged with Haribon but would require a lead time of at least a month to provide sufficient coordination time with the local communities and partners. Participants shall shoulder incidental, transportation, accommodation (if applicable) costs to and from the sites (van/ car rental, airfare) and encouraged to pack/pay for their own meals.
• Caliraya: June-February
• Mts. Irid-Angelo in General Nakar Quezon: June- February
• Zambales Mountains: June to November
• Mt. Siburan and its adjacent forests areas in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro: June- February
• Mt. Diwata and Mt.Hilong-hilong in Surigao del Sur: All year round
Kindly check the website for tree planting announcements or write to: act@haribon.org.ph for more information or inquiries
If you have time on Sunday, November 22, please join.
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