09 November 2019, Laguna Quezon Land Grant (LQLG) Protected Forest, Siniloan, Laguna.

“K” Line Logistics (Phils.), Inc. (KLLP) helped reforest the Sierra Madre Mountain range last 9th of November 2019, adding  240 Philippine native upland rainforest species endemic to the area. They aren’t just growing more trees but growing more jobs for the local community upland residents who help propagate seedings, prepare the site and monitor and maintain trees planted to ensure up to 90% upwards survival.

KLLP’s report out right after the planting was apt: “Through this wonderful partnership, contributed in a great way to FEED to continue our mandate to ‘support sustainable education & tree-nurturing, aiming to inclusively grow, preserve and protect Philippine biodiversity – marine and terrestrial – flora through integrated social forestry programs, community development initiatives, and scientific and practical research (scholarships) into agricultural, environmental, farming, forestry, fisheries and sustainability studies.’

This specific CSR activity also made it possible for “K”LINE LOGISTICS (PHILS.), INC. and very happy and tired 24 of their own employees and some of their dependents to fulfill PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1153. REQUIRING THE PLANTING OF ONE TREE EVERY MONTH FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE YEARS BY EVERY CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES in their own special way.

“K”LINE LOGISTICS (PHILS.), INC. with the full support of their employees and leadership continue to foster partnerships and meaningful cooperation with various stakeholders in nation building and sustaining the environment for OUR future generations.”

The seeds of this Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project were sown by Ms. Tess Serano, who helped design the custom program for “K” Line’s 22 Earth Warriors, who arrived at 7:30 AM to receive a Climate Change Action and Status of Philippine Forests welcome by Forester Reynaldo E. Lorida, Field Manager of the 9,000 hectare plus LQLG, under the stewardship of FEED’s first longest and longest LIVING LEGACY partner the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).

Laguna Quezon Land Grant is home to a wide variety of unique plants and animals.  This southern part of Sierra Madre is one of the last protected forests in the Philippines. However, centuries of formerly legal logging in the area have depleted habitats and reduced biodiversity.

“Planting trees help protect Sierra Madre biodiversity while stimulating green tourism, creating jobs and revitalizing local farming as the local residents are engaged in agro-forestry and the production of fruit and flower bearing trees indigenous to Laguna province; including an organic vegetable garden and tilapia/eel/mudfish filled lake for their sustenance.

It is our aim to evolve our partnership and increasingly involve surrounding  local communities in partnership with our first LIVING LEGACY founding partner, the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB); a collaboration based on our sustainable management of this protected forest and the sustainable livelihoods she can provide to all.  Which is the very reason why FEED sponsored its institutional membership with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and is partially supporting one PhD scholarship in Development with a specialization in forestry management at the UPLB,” reinforced by Pieter E.M. Bakker, FEED’s Communications & Strategy Advisor.

The popular corporate activity became a tree planting challenge as the planting site was located in one of the top ridges at about 1,630 ft up. It was a tough, fun and rewarding experience for everyone, knowing that each and every one contributed to improving our forests and giving back to the environment that gives us nutrition every day.

LQLG is located in the southern part of Sierra Madre. As the “longest mountain range in the Philippines, running in the north-south direction from the province of Cagayan to the north and Quezon to the south, the mountains form the eastern backbone of Luzon Island, the largest island of the archipelago in the Philippines” (Wiki).  These ranges help protect our waterways by intercepting storm water, stabilizing soil and using nutrients that would otherwise wash into waterways. Environmental benefits such as clean air and water. Trees help moderate temperature and muffle noise. They even help improve air quality by absorbing some airborne compounds that could be harmful to us, and by giving off oxygen.

After completing the planting and trek back to the Training Center, a native binalot chicken adobo lunch was prepared by the local community, with bananas, rice, tomatoes and eggs; and water refreshments for the tree planters. 15 forest guards out of the 28 permanent guardians of our forest, also partook in the meal and one of the lead guards, Forest Guard Randy mentioned: “Masaya sila, ginagawang mas masaya ang aming trabaho na magtanim!”

Every participant received their own Certificate of Participation, as well as “K”Line itself as a remembrance of their contribution to the greening of the planet and carbon sequestration!

Thank you “K”Line EARTH WARRIORS, May the Forest be with you all, Always!

1	ALAN KIEL IRLANDA	12	KYLE KRIZIA VELORO
2	MINA CAMBALIZA	13	KEENA BAYARAS
3	RONALDO ROMAN	14	ARCY RIVERA
4	MARTHA CASTILLO	15	PAULA MARIE CABATULAN
5	TESS SERRANO	16	OLIVER HUMARANG
6	REGGIE ZOLETA	17	MARIFE BAGUIO
7	REYAMIE MOJICA	18	JESUS LEMUEL MAÑALAC
8	LUZ VERANO	19	BENJAMIN MOLATO JR.
9	ANN JESIECA OLIVAR	20	ROBERT CONSTANTINE CASTILLO (Child)
10	YHEL PALCE	21	EVELYN OLMEDO
11	SHINETH DELA TORRE	22	EUNICE LORRAINE OLMEDO

Photo Journal “K” Line Reforesting Sierra Madres (09 Nov 2019)

How Planting Trees can Help Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

There are many ways you can shrink the size of your carbon footprint: bike to work, eat less meat, turn down your thermostat. All of which are great.

But there is one way to reduce your emissions that also makes your property and community more beautiful, improves water quality, and provides numerous economic and social benefits… planting trees!

Wondering how? Here are just a couple ways in which trees are vital to reducing carbon emissions and so much more.

Natural Carbon Eaters

Every living thing on Earth is made up of four basic elements – carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. Those four elements make up about 96 percent of your body, and most of a tree’s roots, trunk, branches, and leaves.

While we humans get most of our carbon through eating, trees breathe it in the way that we breathe in oxygen. When a tree breathes, it inhales carbon dioxide and exhales oxygen – the exact opposite of humans. As a tree matures, it can consume 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year (among other greenhouse gases like ozone), and releases enough oxygen for you to breathe for two years!

Removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen in its stead also helps limit global warming, providing for a cleaner, healthier climate.

So, by planting trees, you can help clean the air and fight climate change!

Energy Savers

The significance of the shade provided by trees cannot be understated.

Trees in an urban setting make temperatures in cities bearable. According the to EPA, the shade from trees, in combination with the water vapor they release, can reduce peak temperatures by as much as 20–45°F (11–25°C) compared to unshaded areas.

When shade is cast on an office building or home, internal temperatures can drop 8–10°F. Some estimates say the shade from a single tree can save the same amount of energy it takes to power 10 room-sized air conditioners for 20 hours a day!

And a tree’s energy saving abilities don’t stop during the winter. Trees provide important windbreaks around buildings to reduce heat loss by as much as 50%, lowering heating costs and energy consumption – and saving you money!

This reduction in energy goes a long way when it comes to shrinking your carbon footprint, because more than a third of U.S. carbon emissions are caused by the production of electricity.

Beyond Carbon Benefits

Helping reduce carbon emissions is only one aspect of how trees help improve our lives.

Trees have an incredible ability to absorb and retain water. As rainwater falls, much of it gets picked up by trees, preventing it from ending up in storm drains. On average, a mature tree in a city can absorb up to 1,000 gallons of rainfall every year that would otherwise need to be pumped and filtered, requiring additional energy.

In New York City, urban trees help retain nearly 900 million gallons of rainwater annually, saving the city more than $35 million dollars in stormwater management costs.

Trees also provide social, economic and health benefits. They create jobs, shelter, medicine and so much more (check out the Six Pillars that explain why trees are vital). These more indirect benefits of trees help raise people out of poverty and achieve sustainable development which ultimately improves our environment.

As more people gain access to cleaner sources of energy, improved water treatment facilities, and so fourth, our environment will most certainly feel the benefits.

Source: https://onetreeplanted.org/blogs/stories/planting-trees-reduce-carbon-footprint

About “K” Line

Episodes related to “K” Line – Transmar Agencies, Inc. began operations on June 1, 1984. The company was established to represent “K” Line as General agents in the Philippines.

Transmar’s Office was located in San Marcelino Street in the Ermita District. The year 1984 was probably worst time to establish a business in the Philippines as this was a period of tremendous political instability. During that year, opposition to then President Marcos was mounting and the overall political and economic environment was very difficult. Despite these uncertainties Transmar experienced steady growth. Very soon after start-up of operations, Transmar opened its Cebu Branch in August of 1984 and shortly thereafter the Davao Branch was opened in December of 1984. This enabled Transmar to service customers in the three major island groups: Luzon (Manila), Visayas (Cebu) and Mindanao (Davao). Transmar expanded its coverage again as it opened branches in Cagayan de Oro 1991 and General Santos City in 1993.

The political situation improved beginning 1987 and with it Transmar experienced rapid growth. Apart from the improved political climate “K” Line introduced service improvements such as fixed day, weekly service in Manila and Cebu. Newer and bigger ships, upgraded in equipment capability, all of which contributed to increased cargo volume to/from the Philippines. Transmar embarked on an improvement in its physical facilities by moving to new head offices inn Makati (Premier business district in the Philippines) during 1987. Transmar likewise moved to new offices in the Cebu Business Park (the first purely business area in Cebu).

Undoubtedly Transmar and “K” Line activities in the Philippines have expanded significantly since the start of the Transmar/”K” Line partnership. The country is now optimistic of continued growth and thus the partnership can look forward into the future with optimism and confidence.

On July 1, 2004, Transmar Agencies Inc. changed its name to “K” Line Philippines, Inc.

For more, visit the website of K LINE LOGISTICS (PHILS.), INC.: https://www.ph.klinelogistics.com/

CONTACT FEED

In 2015, the Philippine government submitted to the United Nations the country’s commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The country committed to reduce its carbon emissions by 70 percent by 2030. The carbon dioxide reductions will come from the sectors of energy, transport, waste, forestry and industry.

FEED runs a number of Students and Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE); Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – such as mangrove planting for coastal protection or ridge reforestation plantings; One Child, One Tree; Bio-Intensive Gardens (BIG) for nutrition in public elementary schools and other spaces; Climate Change Survival 101 and other LIVING LEGACY programs – customised environmental engagement activities for individuals and organisations interested in contributing to climate change adaptation efforts and greening critical areas such as watersheds, ridges, and reefs that all require rehabilitation.

Join us!  Help us reverse the Earth’s “hothouse climate” tipping point.

Tree-Planting with FEED

Check out the video journey by Clueless Commuter who planted with us last 24th of June 2017 to get a good idea of how FEED plantings go: https://youtu.be/KROn4rjVqBg

Contact us at FEED for more details, to join our regular activities or to design your own tree-nurturing event: info@feed.org.ph or call/text +63 (0)917 552 4722.

© Fostering Education & Environment for Development, Inc.