At the height of the rainy season, a light morning shower refreshed the Sierra Madre mountain ranges on October 19, 2024 in Laguna Quezon Land Grant where 45 committed participants from PGA SOMPO gathered with one purpose: to give back to nature. While micro weather in the Sierra Madre is often unpredictable—known for strong winds and frequent rains—this day brought ideal conditions, balancing rain and sun to support a successful planting event.

Why Native Philippine Trees Matter

The choice to plant only native tree species is intentional and vital for the survival of the Philippine ecosystem. 240 native trees, like those planted during this event, comprised of 80 Kupang, 80 Agusip, and 80 Lipote have evolved with local conditions, creating habitats for endemic wildlife and playing key roles in regulating local ecosystems. By contrast, non-native or commercial species can outcompete or disrupt native plant populations, often leading to a decline in biodiversity and soil degradation. Planting native trees supports the Philippines’ unique flora and fauna while reinforcing the natural ecosystem’s resilience.

The Ridge to Reef Program: A Comprehensive Approach to Conservation

Anne-Marie Mananquil Bakker and Diane Penales of FEED, opened the day with an inspiring message and insights into the Ridge to Reef program. This conservation effort focuses on landscape restoration, reforestation, and sustainable coastal preservation by planting native trees in upland areas and mangroves and corals in coastal areas. This holistic approach mitigates flood impacts and improves slope stability by enhancing water absorption in the uplands. A healthier, balanced ecosystem promotes the resilience of both natural habitats and human communities. By reconnecting and preserving these ecosystems, the program also supports biodiversity, creating habitats for a range of wildlife that rely on both forested and coastal areas. It encourages climate adaptation at the community level, empowering local residents to protect their environment and reduce the risks posed by natural disasters. Each component of Ridge to Reef underscores the idea that environmental protection is not just about trees and land; it’s about building a sustainable future where people and nature can thrive together. 

In addition to restoring forests, the Ridge to Reef program brings livelihood opportunities for local communities, providing a sustainable path toward becoming independent facilitators of conservation events. This approach helps create green jobs and empowers locals to take ownership of reforestation and conservation in their own regions. Through training and direct involvement, communities gain the skills and resources needed to sustain these conservation efforts, creating a ripple effect of environmental stewardship that benefits future generations.

The Importance of the Sierra Madre Mountains in Climate Resilience

The Sierra Madre mountain range, stretching along the eastern coast of Luzon, is often called the “backbone” of the Philippines for its role in climate resilience. As a natural barrier, it mitigates the intensity of typhoons and tropical storms, buffering lowland communities from catastrophic winds, landslides, and flooding. By reducing the speed and strength of incoming typhoons, the Sierra Madre helps limit destruction to homes, infrastructure, and agricultural land, giving residents and local economies a critical layer of protection. This protective effect is especially vital in light of the increasing severity of typhoons fueled by climate change. Maintaining the Sierra Madre’s dense forest cover is essential to preserve its effectiveness as a natural storm shield, making reforestation and conservation efforts crucial to long-term climate resilience in the Philippines.

The Tree Nurturing Program highlights this urgency, advocating for widespread conservation and reforestation initiatives across the Sierra Madre to strengthen its resilience. Through this program, degraded areas of the mountain range are restored with native Philippine trees that support soil stability, water absorption, and ecosystem health. Each tree planted contributes to a broader climate action plan, with the goal of reducing flood risks and safeguarding biodiversity. 

Recent typhoons, such as Typhoon Kristine, have showcased the invaluable role that the Sierra Madre plays; without its natural defenses, the devastation would have been far more severe. By scaling up these conservation efforts, the Tree Nurturing Program seeks to create a sustainable future, where both the environment and communities are better protected against climate-related disasters.

Forester Rey Lorida emphasized the responsibility each person has to restore and protect natural resources, urging attendees to take action for the planet’s health. With forests facing threats from deforestation, pollution, and climate change, there’s a pressing need to minimize environmental damage and work toward a balanced carbon footprint. The Sierra Madre, with its expansive forests, represents one of the Philippines’ best hopes for carbon sequestration, helping offset emissions and mitigate the impacts of global warming. Forester Lorida’s reminder that “the best time to plant trees was 20 years ago; the second best time is today” served as a powerful call to action, underlining that while past actions may have led to environmental harm, there is always a chance to begin restoring what has been lost. By committing to reforestation today, each participant is contributing to a legacy of climate resilience and environmental stewardship.

A Cross-Cultural Commitment to the Environment

Despite their varied backgrounds, the volunteers shared a united purpose: to give back to Mother Nature. PGA Sompo volunteers, too, brought their unwavering energy and enthusiasm, highlighting the power of collective action. The community’s hospitality shone as local women prepared a sumptuous binalot meal, celebrating the day’s achievements with the spirit of camaraderie.

Special appreciation goes to the forest guardians, Forester Rey Lorida, and the ever-dedicated Rose Bocado, who ensured the day’s success.

In a heartfelt moment, FEED, extended warm birthday wishes to PGA Sompo’s President and CEO Terukazu Matsubara, who celebrated his special day by planting trees and contributing to environmental stewardship. FEED looks forward to building more meaningful partnerships and fostering a greener, more sustainable future with everyone involved in this journey in building our living legacy.

GPS Coordinates & Photos of Planting Site

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

Photo Library

 

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.

FEED runs a number of Students and Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE); Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – such as mangrove planting for coastal protection or ridge reforestation plantings; One Child, One Tree; Bio-Intensive Gardens (BIG) for nutrition in public elementary schools and other spaces; Climate Change Survival 101 and other LIVING LEGACY programs – customised environmental engagement activities for individuals and organisations interested in contributing to climate change adaptation efforts and greening critical areas such as watersheds, ridges, and reefs that all require rehabilitation.

Join us!  Help us reverse the Earth’s “hothouse climate” tipping point.

Tree-Planting with FEED

Check out the video journey by Clueless Commuter who planted with us last 24th of June 2017 to get a good idea of how FEED plantings go: https://youtu.be/KROn4rjVqBg

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.