24 March 2023, Laguna Quezon Land Grant, Siniloan, Laguna. Early in March, Zak reached out to FEED us via email to inquire whether we could help him plant trees as part of his school requirement at Ateneo Senior High, which was: to join any active organisation that helps communities in need. We invited Zak and friends/family to join anytime, as long as we had 2 days advance notice of his commitment to plant, so by March 24th, he confirmed he would be joining FEED’s Students & Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) on March 25th, along with family members and classmate: Cheryl Roxas, Fortunato Roxas, Miguel Flor together planted five (5) native balitbitan trees at the Laguna Quezon Land Grant, part of an over 9,000 hectare protected forest in Siniloan, Laguna.
“Ako po si Zak Roxas, nag-aaral po ako sa Ateneo Senior High, at tatanong lang po ako sana kung paano po sumali sa mga tree-planting activity ninyo? Parte po kasi ng project namin para sa isang subject yung makisali sa mga organisasyon na nakakatulong sa kapwa tao, at nakita ko po kayo nung nagreresearch po ako ng masasalihan. Napansin ko rin po na buwan buwan kayo nagtatanim kaya naisip ko na aktibo kayo. Salamat po!” –Jose Giann Carlo “Zak” Roxas, Ateneo Senior High, Philippines
Forest Guardian Planting Team: Manuel Furio, Roger Glipo, Rowel Doria and Avelino Libarnes.
One Tree at a Time
Thank you to environmentally active leaders like Zak, Family & Friends for considering to help communities as well as our environment one tree at a time. May the forest be with you all always, and may your climate change action inspire others to do their own part in our own ways, even from our homes and offices.
Photo Gallery
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.