13 November 2023, Laguna Quezon Land Grant, Siniloan, Laguna, Sierra Madre Mountain Range.
The local community together with our partners and FEED planted on behalf of the National Reinsurance Corporation of the Philippines (Nat Re) last November 13, 2023. The act of planting 250 native trees—Akdang, Lipote, and Palong Maria reflects a commendable commitment to environmental sustainability and community well-being.
The partnership between the local community and external entities demonstrates the power of collective action in addressing environmental challenges. The involvement of other partners further emphasizes the importance of collaboration between local expertise and external perspectives to achieve meaningful and lasting results.
The acknowledgment of the local community’s invaluable knowledge about the environment and ecosystems, combined with the objective perspectives brought by external partners, showcases a holistic approach to environmental conservation and also paves the way for innovation and significant positive impacts.
May this endeavour serve as a model for future projects, encouraging more communities and partners to come together to not only contribute to reforestation efforts but also foster a sense of shared responsibility for the greater good of the environment and the people who inhabit it.
About the National Reinsurance Corporation of the Philippines (NATRE)
Nat Re provides life and non-life reinsurance capacity, and, in relation to this, consultancy, technical, and advisory services. We cater to independent insurers and multinationals operating in the Philippines, and to (re)insurers abroad who aim to diversify their portfolios.
In 2022, Nat Re was named Reinsurer of the Year Asia at the International Business Magazine Awards.
Know more about NATRE here: www.nat-re.com/
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.
Even if we could, though, land availability for agriculture and farming, including livestock production – one of the largest, increasing land conversion threats worldwide aside from urbanisation – would be significantly reduced. Which then translates into water and food security challenges, among others, but not limited to e.g.: urbanization and lack of city spaces leads to housing and commercial developments in critical watersheds, thereby threatening our fresh water supply and declining forest cover; or agricultural pollution threatening crops and livestocks, affecting poultry, dairy, pork and beef food production systems, and so on and so forth.
Thanks to our Fleet Management ecowarriors, and every other FEED partner and patron who enable community based reforestation to take place. If we estimate the carbon sequestration of Fleet’s 5000 upland native Philippine trees have the potential to offset* 5,000 tonnes of CO2 in these trees’ lifetime.
*A CARBON OFFSET IS A REDUCTION OR REMOVAL OF EMISSIONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE OR OTHER GREENHOUSE GASES MADE IN ORDER TO COMPENSATE FOR EMISSIONS MADE ELSEWHERE. OFFSETS ARE MEASURED IN TONNES OF CARBON DIOXIDE-EQUIVALENT. ONE TON OF CARBON OFFSET REPRESENTS THE REDUCTION OR REMOVAL OF ONE TON OF CARBON DIOXIDE OR ITS EQUIVALENT IN OTHER GREENHOUSE GASES. (WIKIPEDIA, 2022)
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.