18 August 2023, Siniloan, Laguna – Southern Foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. In a remarkable display of commitment to environmental preservation and community engagement, the National Reinsurance Corporation of the Philippines (NATRE) participated with us last August 18, 2023, in the Southern Foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. Under their initiative titled “Planting Seeds Towards a Sustainable Future,” NATRE together with FEED, Inc. orchestrated a tree-planting event at the UP Laguna Quezon land grant, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape with the introduction of 600 native seedlings. The varieties included Malaruhat pula, Palong maria, Malaruhat puti, and Lawaan, chosen for their ecological significance in the region.

Food Sustainability and Environmental Preservation:

This tree-planting endeavor not only stands as a testament to NATRE’s commitment but also aligns seamlessly with broader goals of fostering food sustainability and ecological resilience.

The choice of native tree species, such as Malaruhat pula, Palong maria, Malaruhat puti, and Lawaan, reflects a thoughtful approach towards preserving biodiversity. These trees play a crucial role in maintaining the delicate balance of the local ecosystem, providing habitat and sustenance for various flora and fauna. Native trees are powerful allies in the fight against climate change. The biodiversity of Sierra Madre Mountain Range can benefit immensely from the carbon sequestration potential of these newly planted trees.

Beyond the act of planting trees, NATRE’s involvement in activities such as planting herb and vegetable seeds, along with soil bagging in the nursery and vegetable garden, underscores a holistic approach to sustainability. This engagement not only enhances local food security but also empowers everyone to actively participate in the cultivation of their environment.

NATRE’s “Cultivating a Sustainable Community Tree Planting Activity” at the UP Laguna Quezon land grant goes beyond the mere act of planting trees; it symbolizes a collective effort towards securing a sustainable future. By intertwining environmental preservation with food sustainability, NATRE has set a commendable example for corporations and communities alike.

In line with their “We are Seeding the future” tagline,

Part of their ridge reforestation program also included planting native Philippine herb and vegetable seeds (including upo/gourd, kalabasa/squash, sitaw/beans and kamote/sweet potato), as well as soil bagging of indigenous Philippine forest trees adding another 100 to the community nursery (of which will be ready for outplanting in about a year’s time).

Thank you Nat Re Eco-Warriors for continuing to contribute to the country’s carbon offset targets, achieving cumulatively approximately 1500 tonnes of carbon sequestration potential since they started planting with FEED in 2019.

You truly are “Seeding the Future”.

Videos

 

GPS Coordinates & Picture Gallery

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

About the National Reinsurance Corporation of the Philippines (NAT RE)

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.

For more details, visit: https://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.

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.