21 May 2021, Siniloan, Laguna, Sierra Madre Mountain Range. SEAOIL Foundation, Inc. bridges the local governments and communities towards sustainable development by employing innovative strategies that strengthen co-ownership of social issues and solutions.

Under the memorandum circular, BOI-registered firms will be required to plant at least 100 forest trees in clusters of at least four meters apart within its premises or along the perimeters at a distance of two to four meters, carried out by the  local forest guards in Siniloan, Laguna, at the Laguna Quezon Land Grant, an over 9,000 hectare protected forest reserve managed by FEED’s first and longest serving Living Legacy partner the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).

Tree planting in Sierra Madre is like building a Road map. When the final decision was made by Sea Oil Foundation about tree planting, LQLG was the chosen planting site with exceptionally rich soil conditions, consistent volumes of rain, safety measures being met, space for the trees to grow are ensured, and monitoring and maintenance can be fulfilled easily with the local communities trained in tree propagation and protection. All factors contributing to the minimum target survival rate of 85% in all FEED plantings, typically reaching 90-95%.

Covid-19 did not interfere with Sea Oil Foundation’s quest to comply with their BOI requirements of planting trees. Planting trees was not carried out only to comply with legislation but to fulfill their commitment  to the environment.

Laguna Quezon Land Grant was once a logging area during the Marcos time according to Forester Rey Lorida he saw it with his very own eyes people think that the trees in LQLG is limitless but despite of the large amount of trees in the area with the unsustainable logging that was done in the past they are still able to denude the area that’s why now, today and tomorrow is the best time to plant trees any time is a good time to plant a new tree as long as sufficient water is available to make sure the survival of our next generation.

Trees are investments that provide environmental, economic, and social benefits throughout their lifetime.

Photo Journal SEAOIL Reforestation of SIerra Madres

GPS Coordinates of On Semi Planting Site, Sierra Madres

Use any GPS (Global Positioning System) software / applications to input the latitude and longitude coordinates to be able to remotely see the location of your trees planted. Some examples include:

Site Coordinates

• Stn 4. 14 29’20.40.”N
  121 30’55.15”E

About the Sierra Madre Mountain Range – Longest in the Philippines

The Sierra Madre a 540 km (340 mi) is the longest mountain range in the Philippines. Through the north–south direction from Santa Ana in the province of Cagayan to the north and Quezon province to the south, the mountains form the eastern backbone of Luzon Island, the largest island of the archipelago. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east. The Pacific coast of Luzon along the Sierra Madre is less developed as the lofty and continuous mountains form a bold and almost inaccessible shore, exposed to the full force of the northeast monsoon and the waves of the Pacific Ocean. Some of communities east of the mountain range and along the coast are so remote they are only accessible by plane or boat.

Endemic Flora
The Sierra Madres is home to native Philippine dipterocarp trees of the Hopea and Shorea family, orchids such as Dendrobium aclinia, the leguminous tree, Milletia longipes and a member of the citrus family, Swinglea glutinosa.

Endemic Fauna
The forests are home to endemic lizard species such as the monitor lizard – Varanus bitatawa (common name: Butikaw), which the Aeta and Ilongot indigenous peoples use as a food source. The monitor lizard is one of the three frugivorous lizards in the Varanidae family along with V. olivaceus and V. mabitang. All of the three frugivorous lizards are found only in the Philippines. Endemic mammals in Sierra Madre are the Sierra Madre shrew mouse and Sierra Madre forest mouse.

Non-Endemic Flora Species
Narra, the national tree of the Philippines, Almaciga, and Kamagong can be found in the Sierra Madre range.

Non-Endemic Fauna Species
Isabela oriole, Philippine Eagle, and Philippine Crocodile are critically endangered species that can be found in fragmented locations.

It is important to note that lower portions of the Sierra Madre mountains still experience frequent and sporadic habitat damage and other forest-losses (flora and fauna) due to anthropogenic activities, such as logging and charcoal-making, often funded by outside “investors”.

Some outside informal settlers living at the lower portions of the slopes generally are supported by work in these logging and charcoal-making activities without permits. Some portions of the forest cover are already secondary growth forests, i.e. forests or woodland areas which have re-grown after a timber harvest, until a long enough period has passed so that the effects of the disturbance are no longer evident; whereas primary forests refers to untouched, pristine forest that exists in their original condition. It is estimated that forest degradation of at least 1,400 hectares per year is caused by illegal tree-cutting, slash and burn farming, fuel-wood collection, illegal hunting, and residential expansion – which if tackled sustainably and with the community can be averted, minimized and even optimized towards healthy and productive, sustainable social forestry practices. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Madre_(Philippines))

Long term survival is as critical as tree-planting is to sustainable reforestation programs, which is why all FEED plantings aim to achieve and have so far sustained survival rates of at least 85 percent of all species planted, making sure they thrive for future generations too.

The Laguna-Quezon Land Grant covers a 6,765-hectare property acquired by the UPLB by virtue of Republic Act 3608 of 1930, forming the larger part adjacent to the Laguna Land Grant in Paete – together both land grants reach over 9,000 hectares. Reforestation and biodiversity conservation remain the core focus of both land grants 90 years after its establishment, since majority of the remaining forest cover of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range is home to a last bastion for many species that have become endangered in other parts of the country.

Social forestry (SF) can be a part of a sustainable forest management (SFM) strategy to achieve environmental, economic and social objectives. “SF and SFM can be compatible because both recognize the importance of community participation in achieving sustainable use of forest resources. However, there is a gap in translating the SF concept to activities within the SFM approach and a lack of continuity. To strengthen the role of local communities in SFM through SF, there is a need for a platform enabling open discussion among relevant stakeholders, increasing awareness about the benefits of SF and securing adequate funding to conduct SF activities.” (Source: https://www.cifor.org/knowledge/publication/7647)

These are the holistic approaches FEED and partners adopt as a science-based, proven method towards enhancing community participation in all planting programs, whether from ridge to reef, up to and including nursery and forest establishment, protection, maintenance, (GPS) monitoring and reporting to ensure at least 85% survival of all species planted, as well as community empowerment in the conservation of our natural resources.

About SEAOIL

SEAOIL Philippines, Inc. is proudly a FILIPINO company that shares and understands every Filipino’s hopes for the future: a better economy, the youth achieving their dreams, a healthy environment. As an organization, SEAOIL gives conscious effort to do its part in the nation’s path towards success. Through our innovative products, services, and programs, we remain true to our promise of “Fueling a Better Future.”

Now the leading and largest independent fuel company in the Philippines, SEAOIL continues to expand its network to provide quality and affordable products to more Filipinos. We are committed to each and every one of our customers, because it is for them and through them that we are in this business.

We are an organization you can always trust, and we will never let it be compromised.

Further information on SEAOIL: https://www.seaoil.com.ph/

Thank you again to all Earth Keepers!

NATURE IS SPEAKING (Narrated by Julia Roberts)

What can I do to stop climate change?

“As the world warms, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, sea levels are rising, prolonged droughts are putting pressure on food crops, and many animal and plant species are being driven to extinction. It’s hard to imagine what we as individuals can do to resolve a problem of this scale and severity.

The good news: We are not alone. People, communities, cities, businesses, schools, faith groups and other organizations are taking action. We’re fighting like our lives depend on it — because they do.

In a world of more than seven billion people, each of us is a drop in the bucket. But with enough drops, we can fill any bucket.” –  David Suzuki

Check out some of the ways you can take more climate change action.

For example, Climate Action groups are the local solution to a global crisis. Right now people just like you are coming together to develop practical, local solutions and make their towns and cities more climate-friendly. Are you ready to join them? Find out what’s happening near you.

More here: https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate-change/what-can-I-do-to-stop-climate-change

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

Tree-Planting with FEED

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.