This mangrove planting is OPSI’s third planting experience with FEED, since they sponsored the first 700 trees for their Sierra Madres forest back in 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit and everything came to a grinding halt, OPSI was still busy at the factory working all hours to keep their chips churning.
OPSI volunteers found it challenging to plant due to the level of the water and not being used to it; but they persevered and completed the planting thanks to everyone’s cohesiveness and teamwork. Working together to plant mangroves is a fulfilling and delightful experience, since everyone present shares the same goal: to minimize the effects of climate change, to help prevent soil erosion in coastal areas, to encourage expanded habitat homes for various crustacean and fish nursery species, and for ecosystem conservation on the whole, including livelihood provision for local fishing communities who are not able to fish during tough tidal seasons.
Many members of the fishing cooperatives in Bulacan, since OCOT’s partnership with FEED in 2017 was established, have already established their own backyard mangrove nurseries based in their homes, in order to fulfill the increasing demand for coastal plantings for the protection of homes, schools and local businesses that are destroyed (even discontinued) by rising water levels every year.
To guarantee that mangroves are planted appropriately and in the proper location, a volunteer needs coordination and communication between team members. OCOT volunteers with the local fishing coop members dug up the soil while OPSI staff, while Anne Marie and Diane (FEED’s Partnership Director VP Operations, respectively) sat in the water to plant.
One OPSI volunteer said “as long as you help the environment and gain new friends, going home wet is alright”. In fact, getting home wet after helping the environment is itself rewarding, since one can experience fully the power of nature. It means that you took action to make a positive impact on the environment, even if it meant getting a little uncomfortable and inconvenienced in the process. It can inspire others to do the same and create a ripple effect of positive change.
Thank you On Semi for putting your words to climate change action, may the forest be with you all always!
GPS Coordinates with Pictures
Related Articles
- ON Semiconductor Phils. Inc. Supports Community-Based Planting of their First 700 Native Philippine Tree Rainforest in Sierra Madres (11 Nov 2020)
- Planting the seeds of environmental awareness: the One Child, One Tree Movement of the Sali Family (10 Jan 2020)
- FEED Amba Nat Sali Wins Special Citation for Environment Advocacy from Jollibee Family Values Awards (27 Sep 2019)
- Making Communities Greener through ONE CHILD, ONE TREE (2017)
About On Semiconductor Philippines, Inc.
ON Semiconductor operates a responsive, reliable, world-class supply chain and quality program, and a network of manufacturing facilities, sales offices and design centers in key markets throughout North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific regions.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) at ON Semiconductor is deeply rooted in our core values of integrity, respect and initiative and our Code of Business Conduct. We provide our customers around the global with a broad portfolio of innovative, energy efficient and environmentally friendly semiconductor solutions technologies.
We have strong commitment to environmental sustainability, Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) compliance, responsible sourcing, philanthropy and employee volunteerism among other programs to have a positive impact on our employees, suppliers, customers and communities.
For more details, visit: https://www.onsemi.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.
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.
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.
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