Sustainability Leadership: Nat Re Plants Hope for the Future!

29 July 2024, UP Laguna Quezon Land Grant, Siniloan, Laguna – Sierra Madre Mountain Range.  Following their last coastal planting in La Union just this past May 2024, the National Reinsurance Corporation of the Philippines (NAT RE) – partners in FEED’s Ridge to REEForestation programs since 2019 – has once again expanded their forest presence this time in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range by adding another 400 native Philippine trees to the Laguna-Quezon Land Grant in Siniloan, Laguna.

The planting included 130 Kupang, 130 Apitong and 140 Marang trees sourced from local nurseries tended to by the permanent team of UP forest guardians, as well as several contract labor hired from surrounding barrangays who have been trained in nursery propagation, wildling collection, identification, care and maintenance – also to prepare for several annual larger plantings carried out on this site.

Thank you also to forest guardians: Randy Velina, Joel Velina and Obien for helping us implement this planting with site preparation, seedling selection and planting on behalf of Nat Re!

The initiative is part of Nat Re’s ongoing support from their staff to cultivate a culture of  leadership in sustainability, which extends beyond their corporate offices.  “We are fully committed to more consciously managing our business’ impact on the economy, the environment, and the greater society, and monitoring our contributions to achieving universal sustainability goals.

We enjoin our Board of Directors, our senior management, and our employees to proactively integrate a philosophy of sustainable development into our corporate, business, and functional strategies and our day-to-day company activities.”  (Source: www.nat-re.com/corporate-governance/#k-csr)

Thank you Nat Re for your amazing, continued, consistent support for Social Forestry, community development and Ridge to REEForestation leadership – May the Forest be with you, all, always!

Related Articles:

Photo Collage & GPS Coordinates

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:

Status of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, Longest in the Philippines

As of 2024, the Sierra Madre mountain range in the Philippines continues to be a region of ecological and environmental significance, but it faces ongoing challenges. Here’s a summary of its status:

Environmental Importance

  1. Biodiversity: The Sierra Madre range is rich in biodiversity, housing many endemic species of plants and animals. It is home to various wildlife, including the endangered Philippine eagle and the Philippine tarsier.
  2. Watershed Protection: The mountains are crucial for watershed management, supplying water to many regions and playing a significant role in the country’s hydrological system.

Current Challenges

  1. Deforestation: Illegal logging and land conversion for agriculture have been major issues. Despite some conservation efforts, deforestation continues to threaten the ecosystem. The area has seen significant loss of forest cover due to logging and mining activities.
  2. Mining: The Sierra Madre is rich in mineral resources, which has led to conflicts between mining interests and environmental groups. There have been several large-scale mining projects proposed or in progress, leading to concerns about environmental degradation and displacement of local communities.
  3. Climate Change: As with many mountainous regions, the Sierra Madre is experiencing the impacts of climate change, including increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like typhoons, which can exacerbate erosion and flooding.

Conservation Efforts

  1. Protected Areas: Various parts of the Sierra Madre are designated as protected areas, such as the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, which aims to safeguard the region’s biodiversity and ecosystems.
  2. Government and NGO Initiatives: Both governmental and non-governmental organizations are working on conservation projects, including reforestation efforts, wildlife protection, and community-based sustainable development programs.
  3. Advocacy and Awareness: There is ongoing advocacy and awareness campaigns aimed at promoting the importance of preserving the Sierra Madre and addressing the challenges it faces.

References and Further Reading

  • Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR): The Philippine government’s DENR website provides updates on conservation initiatives and policies affecting the Sierra Madre. DENR Official Website
  • Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB): Information on protected areas in the Philippines, including those in the Sierra Madre, can be found on the PAWB’s website. PAWB Official Website
  • Environmental NGOs: Organizations like the Philippine Eagle Foundation and the Environmental Defense Fund often publish reports and updates on conservation status and projects in the region.
  • Academic Research: Recent studies and reports from universities and research institutions in the Philippines and internationally often provide detailed assessments of the ecological and environmental status of the Sierra Madre.

Social forestry (SF) can be a part of a sustainable forest management (SFM) strategy to achieve environmental, economic and social objectives. “SF and SFM can be compatible because both recognize the importance of community participation in achieving sustainable use of forest resources. However, there is a gap in translating the SF concept to activities within the SFM approach and a lack of continuity. To strengthen the role of local communities in SFM through SF, there is a need for a platform enabling open discussion among relevant stakeholders, increasing awareness about the benefits of SF and securing adequate funding to conduct SF activities.” (Source: https://www.cifor.org/knowledge/publication/7647)

These are the holistic approaches FEED and partners adopt as a science-based, proven method towards enhancing community participation in all planting programs, whether from ridge to reef, up to and including nursery and forest establishment, protection, maintenance, (GPS) monitoring and reporting to ensure at least 85% survival of all species planted, as well as community empowerment in the conservation of our natural resources.

Source: https://chatgpt.com/

Thank you again to all Earth Keepers!

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

About 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.

At Nat Re, providing reinsurance capacity isn’t our only business. We believe that what we do ultimately entails giving greater protection to the insuring public and helping them recover financially after natural disasters and other crises. We also believe in caring for the environment by promoting a culture of awareness on environmental sustainability within the organization itself.

This is why we value forging meaningful relationships with private and public sector partners in the sphere of disaster risk financing and insurance. By leveraging our combined resources and know-how, we can create effective and affordable solutions for a more disaster-resilient public.

For more details on Nat Re advocacies, visit: https://www.nat-re.com/about-us/advocacies/

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.