Aspen Philippines 8th Year, 16th Planting Ridge to Reforestation for Community Livelihood

05 April 2024, Laguna Quezon Land Grant, Siniloan, Laguna. On April 5, 2024, Aspen Philippines continued to follow-through on its 8th year of Ridge to Reeforestation and its 16th planting intervention, thanks to its corporate social responsibility (CSR) environmental and community advocacies, and the leadership of its soon-to-retire Chairman, Marcelina “Ace” Itchon.

Ace was also named a FEED Ambassador in 2017, after just two sessions of planting with FEED, as she demonstrated true commitment and a promise to “plant forever”…she has not stopped since.

Aspen’s EcoWarrior spirit manifests in their unwavering commitment year on year, even during the Covid-19 pandemic, having continued to plant regardless of weather or situation.

Amidst the beauty of Sierra Madres, Aspen’s 20 EcoWarriors were armed with bamboo hand shovels and seedlings to complete the planting of 400 native Philippine agroforestry species native to the area and propagated by the local communities trained by FEED’s longest Living Legacy partner, the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), including Katmon (50), Pianga (50), Malaruhat (50), Marang (100), Bani (50), Malalansones (50) and Kalumpit (50).

According to Ace, planting trees is one of the most meaningful gifts she chose to share with generations we may never meet, under whose shade they will hopefully sit. Ace has been instrumental in driving sustainability initiatives within Aspen Philippines, inspiring her colleagues to join at every possible chance.

Looking ahead, Aspen Philippines remains steadfast in their CSR advocacy in support of marginalised communities (including farming, fishing and forestry, having planted mangroves and community gardens in public elementary schools too) and promoting sustainable development.

Since Ace will be retiring from Aspen this 2024 to focus on her family, she thanked her team for their decades of support in helping Aspen grow and ensure it giving back to Nature: “When we talk about our dedication towards the Sierra Madre Land Grant it’s more than just merely tree planting,” she said, “we are planting today for tomorrow.”

Photo Journal & GPS Coordinates

Thank you Aspen Philippines May the Forest be with you all always!

About Aspen Philippines, Inc.

Aspen Philippines Incorporated is the first South African pharmaceutical company in the Philippines. It started operating in January 2012 with only a handful of employees. But after a few months, it has rapidly increased to over 100 passionate Filipino staff.

With the company’s immediate and continued growth, its commitment becomes stronger. That is to meet the healthcare needs of Filipinos by providing a broad spectrum of high quality, effective, and affordable pharmaceutical products so that ultimately, lives can be sustained one day at a time.

Aspen Philippines’ range of products initially comprises of antibiotic, anti-hypertension, anti-gout, anti-platelet and anti-hypothyroidism. But the company continues to expand its reach, acquiring global brands in consumer healthcare, which include Dequadin, Kwell, and Valda Pastilles.

Now that Aspen has made its mark in the Philippines, Filipinos can now take advantage of an improved means to healthcare right at their fingertips.

More here: https://www.aspen.ph

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Community-Based Ridge to REEForestation in the Philippines

By Chat GPT (https://chat.openai.com/c/3941fc4a-04d3-494c-ad4a-7f8a1bf6075c)

The Ridge-to-Reef approach in environmental management refers to the integrated management of land, freshwater, coastal, and marine resources within a watershed or ecosystem. This approach recognizes the interconnectedness of these systems and aims to address issues holistically to achieve sustainable and resilient ecosystems.

In the context of the Philippines, a country known for its rich biodiversity and extensive coastal and marine resources, the Ridge-to-Reef approach is highly relevant. The Philippines faces various environmental challenges such as deforestation, land degradation, water pollution, and overfishing, which threaten the country’s biodiversity and the livelihoods of its people.

Community-based Ridge-to-Reef initiatives in the Philippines involve local communities in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of conservation and sustainable development projects. By actively involving communities, these initiatives aim to build local capacity, foster a sense of ownership and stewardship among community members, and ensure that conservation efforts are aligned with local needs and priorities.

Here are some key components and benefits of community-based Ridge-to-Reef initiatives in the Philippines:

Key Components:

  • Community Engagement and Participation: Local communities are involved in decision-making processes, project planning, and implementation to ensure that their knowledge, skills, and perspectives are taken into account.
  • Capacity Building: Training and education programs are provided to equip community members with the necessary skills and knowledge to manage and protect their natural resources effectively.
  • Integrated Resource Management: Activities focus on managing the entire watershed or ecosystem, from the ridge (upland areas) to the reef (coastal and marine areas), to address the root causes of environmental degradation.
  • Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaboration among various stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector, is essential for the success of Ridge-to-Reef initiatives.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation: Regular monitoring and evaluation of project outcomes are conducted to assess the effectiveness of interventions and make necessary adjustments.

Benefits:

  • Sustainable Resource Use: By promoting sustainable farming practices, responsible fishing methods, and watershed management, Ridge-to-Reef initiatives help ensure the long-term viability of natural resources.
  • Climate Resilience: Integrated management approaches can enhance ecosystem resilience to climate change impacts, such as extreme weather events and sea-level rise.
  • Livelihood Improvement: By protecting and restoring natural ecosystems, Ridge-to-Reef initiatives can support the livelihoods of local communities that depend on these resources for food, income, and cultural practices.
  • Biodiversity Conservation: These initiatives contribute to the conservation of biodiversity by protecting habitats and reducing threats to endangered species.
  • Community Empowerment: Engaging local communities in conservation efforts fosters a sense of ownership, empowerment, and pride in their natural heritage.
    In the Philippines, several organizations and government agencies are implementing community-based Ridge-to-Reef initiatives across different regions. These initiatives often receive support from international donors, NGOs, and academic institutions, which provide funding, technical expertise, and capacity-building support.

Overall, community-based Ridge-to-Reef initiatives in the Philippines offer a promising approach to address environmental challenges, promote sustainable development, and empower local communities to become stewards of their natural resources.

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)

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.

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