11 August 2024, UP Laguna Quezon Land Grant, Siniloan, Laguna. “Our work is a mission of love: to relieve the suffering of those in need, and create a better world for all.
We serve with compassion to provide relief to those who suffer.” -This is Tzu-Chi Foundation’s motto, and an admirable one at that!

In Mandarin Chinese, “tzu” means compassion, and “chi” relief.  On August 11, 2024, FEED again welcome 60 dedicated second-time youth and family volunteers from the TZU-Chi Foundation another impactful reforestation activity.

Tzu-Chi foundation is a Taiwan-based international humanitarian organization, founded in 1966, and is renowned for its work in disaster relief, medical aid, education, and environmental conservation.

In this recent endeavor, the Tzu-Chi Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to environmental protection, community and sustainable development by planting another 520 Philippine native trees in the Sierra Mountains, namely the following diversity of agro-forestry species native to the area (produced by the local communities):  25 malaruhat, 110 lipote, 50 kupang, 50 wild rambutan, 50 sampalok, 25 yakal, 50 apitong, 50 akdang, 50 marang, 50 balitbitan and 10 banilad.

The youth and adults of Tzu Chi were facilitated by the local team of forest guardians throughout the program, including:  UPLB’s Forester Reynaldo Lorida (head of UPLG), Jayrowell Abellana, Randy velina Benjie Velina, Allan Libarnes, Gilbert Ryan Ella, Kiko Manzanilla, Roger Glipo, Rose Bocado, Ian Beatriz, Ken Romaraog, Darwin Bacasen and Rodante Rasay.

Thank you to our local forest guards for ensuring a safe and fruitful planting too for all Tzu Chi!

May the Forest be with you all!

GPS Coordinates and Picture Gallery

Related Article

• Tzu Chi Youth PH Launch Tree Planting with FEED (08 Oct 2023)

About Tzu-Chi Foundation

Transforming Lives: Spreading love around the world
Tzu Chi, the world’s largest Buddhist humanitarian organization, was founded in Taiwan by Buddhist nun Dharma Master Cheng Yen. It has over 10 million volunteers working in more than 60 countries, with relief operations extended to over 120 countries.

Read more here: https://tzuchi.org.ph/

Empowering Communities: The Latest in Community-Based Forestry (CBF) in the Philippines

Source: Chat GPT

In the Philippines, community-based forestry (CBF) has emerged as a powerful tool for both conservation and sustainable development. Empowering local communities to become stewards of their forests, CBF initiatives have gained momentum in recent years, bringing about positive changes in forest management practices and enhancing the well-being of forest-dependent communities. Here’s an update on the latest developments in community-based forestry across the archipelago.

Strengthening Local Governance
One of the key advancements in community-based forestry in the Philippines is the strengthening of local governance structures. Through devolved forest management agreements and community-based forest management agreements (CBFMA), indigenous peoples and local communities are granted rights to manage and protect forest resources within their ancestral domains or designated areas. This decentralization of forest governance empowers communities to make decisions that are aligned with their cultural values and socio-economic priorities.

Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods
CBF initiatives in the Philippines prioritize the promotion of sustainable livelihoods for forest-dependent communities. By diversifying income-generating activities such as agroforestry, eco-tourism, non-timber forest product (NTFP) harvesting, and community-based enterprises, CBF not only reduces dependence on forest resources but also improves socio-economic resilience. These initiatives are often complemented by capacity-building programs and technical assistance to enhance the skills and knowledge of community members.

Enhancing Ecosystem Resilience
In addition to socio-economic benefits, community-based forestry contributes to the conservation and restoration of forest ecosystems. By implementing sustainable forest management practices, including reforestation, watershed protection, and biodiversity conservation measures, communities play a vital role in enhancing ecosystem resilience and mitigating the impacts of climate change. Furthermore, indigenous knowledge and traditional practices are integrated into forest management plans, ensuring the preservation of cultural heritage and biological diversity.

Challenges and Opportunities
Despite the progress made, community-based forestry in the Philippines still faces challenges such as limited access to resources, insecure land tenure, conflicting land uses, and inadequate support from government agencies. However, there are also opportunities for innovation and collaboration. Strengthening partnerships between government, civil society, academia, and the private sector can help address these challenges and scale up successful CBF models.

Looking Ahead
As we look to the future, community-based forestry holds immense potential for fostering sustainable development and environmental stewardship in the Philippines. By recognizing the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, promoting participatory decision-making processes, and integrating traditional knowledge with modern science, CBF can pave the way for inclusive and resilient forest management practices that benefit both people and the planet.

Community-based forestry is not just about managing forests; it’s about nurturing relationships between people and nature, fostering a sense of belonging, and building a brighter future for generations to come.

References:

1. DENR. (Department of Environment and Natural Resources). (2022). Community-Based Forest Management.
2. World Agroforestry (ICRAF). (2022). Community-Based Forest Management in the Philippines.
3. USAID Philippines. (2022). Philippines Sustainable Forest Management Project.
4. Catholic Relief Services (CRS). (2022). Community-Based Forest Management.

What can I do to stop climate change?

Ways to Conserve Freshwater

“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.

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