27 January 2023, Laguna Quezon Land Grant, Siniloan, Laguna – Sierra Madre Mountain Range. Early into this new year, FEED received the request to plant trees from KyCine Elites Officials to celebrate their first year anniversary. As part of FEED’s regular Students and Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) Climate Change Action Program, the general public (non corporate) are invited to plant at a FEED subsidized rate to encourage more civilians to engage in and experience first hand environmental protection, nature healing, and the wellness sanctuary of the Sierra Madres.
KyCine Elites Official’s tagline is so suitable today, “Bagong taon, bagong tanim, bagong pag-asa” meaning: New Year, New Planting, New Hope.
KyCine stands for Kyle Echarri and Francine Diaz, who comprise the inspiration of the fan group (aka fanmily) KyCine Elites Officials in the Philippines.
In their own words:
“KyCine Elites Official is celebrating our first anniversary, and as a group, we would like to do something relevant that could have a positive effect on our surroundings. Also, it will remind us of the growth of Kyle Echarri and Francine Diaz, known as KyCine.
As individuals, we have experienced different kinds of natural calamities. Flooding is one of the most common. In addition, climate change is becoming alarming and having an impact on people’s health.
Through this project, we will not only be remembered fondly as a fanmily by these trees, but we will also be able to at least contribute in saving Nature and protecting Mother Earth.
Furthermore, we hope that we can inspire others to plant more trees. This way, we can help not only the environment but also our community and the future generation. Thus, we have only one place to live, on Earth, so let’s do this hand in hand. Even one tree per person will have a great impact on global warming.
We hope that our Living Legacy will inspire others to also restore forests, livelihoods and futures.” – KyCine Elites Official
55 trees were planted in honor of KyCine Elites Official’s anniversary on February 2, 2023 for the following:
- Lavanders – 9 trees
- KyCine Elites Officials – 22 trees
- KyCine – 24 trees
Species planted were sourced from FEED’s longest Living Legacy partner, the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) at the Laguna Quezon Land Grant, part of an over 9,000 hectare protected forest in the Sierra Madre mountain range. Species selected have been nurtured by the local forestry team over years, and are chosen based on the highest chance of survival (typically maintained at 90%) and native to the area planted. These were Pili, Lawaan and Balobo, agroforestry species prolific in this part of the Sierra Madres.
The site preparation, spacing, clearing, hole digging, transport of seedlings to site, and planting was carried out by LQLG’s own forest guards: Ariel Atip, Benjie, John Lloyd Avenido, Grant Cyrill Guiaya, and Jomer Balino.
KyCine Elites Official contributors to this planting are members: Boss Red, Alison, Ych, Alya, Lovescars, Chingu, Haze, Moon, Awoolf, and Rain.
“For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.” (Job 14:7)
Just like a tree, stay grounded. Stoop down before you break. Tump over a new leaf as you descend with your roots. But most importantly, keep living and growing. – KyCine Elites Official Team Philippines
Happy New Year!
Photo & GPS Journal
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:
- https://www.gps-coordinates.net
- https://gps-coordinates.org
- https://www.maps.ie/coordinates.htmlhttp://www.mapcoordinates.net/en
On Carbon Sequestration – How Much CO2 can our trees absorb?
Trees are often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth” as they are able to store carbon and produce oxygen, which is essential to many life forms. Trees also stabilise soil and reduce air temperature and humidity, whilst also reducing flooding and improving water quality. Without trees, most fauna and flora would not survive, what more humans?
It is widely accepted that a typical tree can absorb around 22 kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year when in fully grown status, meaning that saplings, seedlings and younger trees – whether mangroves or primary or secondary forest trees – absorb around half, so conservatively say 11 kgs per year (also widely used by most international forestry agencies around the world).
So, over a lifetime of a tropical tree (100 years), one tree can absorb around 1 tonne of CO2. Although this figure seems large, it should be measured in perspective: to date we humans generate around 40 billions tonnes of CO2 each year on Earth. Which means, that we need to plant 40 billion trees annually to offset these emissions.
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.