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On April 14, 2021, 26-year-old Ana Patricia Non set up a small bamboo cart along Maginhawa Street in Quezon City. She filled it up with vegetables, rice, canned goods, and noodles and put up a sign that said: Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan; kumuha batay sa pangangailangan. (Give what you can and take what you need.)

Since then, this small gesture of generosity has sparked a movement. The community pantry has been replicated in various parts of the country, in even as far as Mindanao, feeding the poor and hungry, whose livelihoods have been affected by the pandemic.

Even the government took notice and followed Non’s lead. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in particular thought that the community pantry concept would complement their tree planting and food security advocacies. “DENR-NCR (National Capital Region) has been providing free seedlings upon request,” recalled DENR-NCR Executive Director Jacqueline Caancan. “We saw how the community pantry can help us reach out to more people. So, we coined the project title, “Community PanTREE”.

Also based on Non’s original tagline is the DENR’s Magtanim ayon sa kakayahan; umani ayon sa pangangailangan (Plant what you can; harvest what you need). The project, launched on Earth Day in April, also espouses the bayanihan spirit. While encouraging community members to take free seeds and seedlings, they can also donate their own spare seeds and planting materials. Like its inspiration, the Community PanTREE reaped its own success, and was replicated by other local governments and organizations.

 

 

Community PanTREE on a Roll

On its first day, the Community PanTree at the DENR office in North Avenue, Quezon City was already well-attended. “When we started, we organized the lines to follow health protocols. We were able to distribute around 5,000 seedlings on our first two days. The assorted seedlings were indigenous species of fruit-bearing trees like calamansi, avocado and sampaloc. We also included vegetables,” said Caancan. The vegetables were a product of DENR’s partnership with the Bureau of Plant Industry, which provided the seeds. The DENR propagated the seeds and distributed the produce to communities.

Because the Community PanTREE’s schedule changes weekly, Caancan recommends that people follow their FB page for more details. To accommodate more beneficiaries, DENR also provides schools and local government units with seedlings for their own panTREEs. Even tree-planting groups can request for seedlings from the DENR.

 

Making it Mobile

Last June 25, Arbor Day was celebrated in the country. According to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) website, Arbor Day calls for the “active participation of all government agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations, private sector, schools, civil society groups and the citizenry in tree planting activity.”

Coinciding with this observance is DENR’s launch of its “Rolling Community PanTREE”, which made its initiative mobile. “The theme last Arbor Day was Sama-samang pagkilosIkaw, ako, tayo ang kalikasan (Collective action—you, I, we are nature). This means we are interconnected,” explained Caancan. “If we care for nature, we care for our health. We must be the one to save nature. With our collective effort, we could save our environment and protect it for future generations.”

The Rolling Community PanTree was first launched in Barangay 163 in Caloocan City. Its community is active in the rehabilitation of the Tullahan-Tinaheros River system, which spans La Mesa Water Reservoir to Manila Bay.

To date, the Rolling Community Pan-Tree have been launched in these areas:

 

Benefits of Tree Planting

The main goal of DENR’s initiative is to equip people with food sources amidst quarantine measures in NCR Plus. But as Caancan stressed, urban gardening has other benefits. “It’s a stress reliever. When we’re confined to our homes, we tend to look for something worthwhile to do. Gardening already has value, but it also gives us joy.” 

In the bigger picture of climate change mitigation, Caancan believes that urban gardening plays an important role. “Trees have the capacity to absorb heat, so we need to preserve them in our surroundings. In fact, here’s a good example: what’s the first thing you look for when you’re parking your car in an open space? A tree, right? So, we want people to realize that for every tree that they plant, they invest in the future. It is a nature-based solution that will help restore our environment. Trees and plants are essential to life, and we are interconnected.”

Still, planting needs preparation. Caancan reminded plantito and plantita wannabes that specific plants need certain soil types. Planting involves not only burying the seeds; a huge part of it requires maintenance. “To ensure that our planted trees will survive and thrive, their species should be appropriate to the planting site. There are trees that will not thrive in Metro Manila. You need information.”

 

 

The Challenge of Urban Greening

Part of DENR’s urban greening initiatives is planting brightly colored flowers along the road, providing commuters and motorists a visual respite. Before this is done, DENR makes sure that the flower species can thrive in the city. Some of these include:

 

 

“Before every planting activity, our technical staff studies the site. They make a proposal on tree planting activities and materials, which we provide,” Caancan said.

But is rapid development balanced with environmental care? Caancan said that for every tree cut down, developers are required to plant fifty indigenous trees in its place. “Big developers need to secure an Environment Compliance Certificate, which identifies their projects’ environmental impacts. As much as possible, we encourage them to incorporate existing trees into the development. If not, they are required to have greening components. But it’s good that there’s awareness now among the public. If a company cuts down too many trees, it will be bashed in social media. Developers are aware of the public’s environmental consciousness, so they adhere to regulations.”

Still, city-dwellers are encouraged to do their own urban greening in their homes. “Space is a challenge, but we have rock beds which we can put in pots. We can place these in the corners of our homes. You can use your small spaces in your bakuran. Our own small way of greening our spaces can go long way. We all need nature because we, ourselves, are nature,” ended Caancan. 

Watch the full interview here.

 

Among the top outdoor activities that continue to gain popularity today is hiking. Aside from the physical exercise, it is also a best way to reconnect with nature, breathe fresh air, and escape the hustle and bustle of the city life.

On January 9, 2016, Panahon TV, together with AIR21, led a tree nurturing and cleaning activity in Mount Makiling located in the province of Laguna. The contour of the mountain is believed to be the sleeping profile of Maria Makiling, a mystical and legendary character that inspired folk tales, poems and legends.

After an approximately two hours from Quezon City, our team finally arrived in the vicinity. There I learned that we will be joined by some residents of Makiling and members of the University of the Philippines – Los Baños, Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME). The more, the merrier!

But we weren’t here only for the physical challenge, we came to give Mother Nature a helping hand. Safety gloves, trowel and other planting tools…ready!
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The participants were divided into four groups and were handed bags of fertilizer, which will be distributed among the plants and trees. It was my first time to visit Makiling and my first nurturing activity as well!
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We have the heart, not only for weather reporting, but also for nature.
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Dr. Nathaniel Bantayan from UPLB Laguna said he was looking forward to more environmental activities in the future.

Meanwhile, Panahon TV Executive Producer, Donna May Lina, also welcomed everyone and encouraged us to continue participating in activities like this. She mentioned the importance of protecting and saving the planet from the adverse effects of Climate Change.
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Planting trees is great help in combating the challenges of Climate Change. Since greenhouse gases from human activities are the main cause of the warming planet, we have to be responsible for our actions.
Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas which comprises the major concentration in the atmosphere. Aside from reducing carbon, trees absorb water during heavy downpour, and are a source of clean air.
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We enjoyed pulling the grass, digging the soil and putting fertilizer. The scorching heat did not stop us from finishing our task – to make Mother Nature smile!
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We made it! It was a little slippery on our way down. Some of my groupmates and I slipped at least thrice, I think. But we were okay, still safe and laughing! We were able to go back to our station earlier than the schedule.
A bit tired and filthy, we changed clothes, hydrated ourselves and took a brief rest while waiting for our lunch.
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This tree nurturing and cleaning activity was also a celebration of UBE Media’s 12th anniversary. Everyone sung a birthday song before blowing the big purple cake.
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Our team also prepared presents for the kids in the Makiling community.
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The activity and the program ended so well. We thanked everyone who participated, hoping to see more faces the next time we vist.

This 2016, don’t forget to include Mother Nature in your resolutions. Lend some time to protect, save and bond with her in your own simple way.
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hope for the trees

Each year, 10 billion trees are cut down, also cutting down the chances of future generations’ survival. Find out how you can do your share in saving the planet.

“When the last tree has been cut down, the last fish caught, the last river poisoned, only then will we realize that one cannot eat money.” – Native American saying

Trees are said to be the most essential organisms on the planet. According to Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies ecologist Thomas Crowther, trees cater to an array of ecosystem services for humans. They create an abundant supply of water and nutrients, stabilize soil, absorb carbon dioxide, generate oxygen and provide habitats for every part of ecosystem.

Fast Facts
3.04 trillion. The estimated number of trees worldwide. Accumulated through the use of satellite imagery, forest inventories, and supercomputer technologies, the international team of researchers was able to map the tree population at the square-kilometer level.

A ratio of 422 trees per person. Roughly 10 billion trees are cut down per year. Since the start of human civilization, the study led by Yale University shows that there has been a 46% decrease in the total global percentage of trees.

750 billion trees. The estimate number of trees found in the boreal forests containing coniferous trees and patches of permafrost of North America, Scandinavia and Russia, found to have the highest tree densities. These forests hold 24% of the global total of trees, while 43% of the total or 1.3 trillion trees were found in the tropical and subtropical forests.

Man VS Tree
Since the start of human civilization, negative human activities have become detrimental to natural ecosystems. These include the anthropogenic effects such as land use (ie. conversion of land for agricultural use, industrial and urban development.) As human population increases, the number of trees decline.
Crowther said that the decrease in the total number of trees made significant impacts on climate and human health.

Without trees, there will be higher chance of soil erosion. Its roots anchor the soil. These could lead to more disastrous events like flooding and landslide. Soil erosion could also alter health through silt entering water sources like streams and lakes, which decrease the quality of water.

Tree counts matters especially with the issue of climate change. According to Greenpeace, 300 billion tons of carbon or 40 times the annual greenhouse emission is stored in trees. It filters particulate matter to decrease air pollution. It also creates shades that mitigate the impact of urban heat island effect.

Step up for a Tree

Here are smart ways to save trees.

Paperless Billing. Telecommunications companies today offers paperless billing, you may opt to use this instead of getting your hard copy bill every month.

Choose recycled paper products.

In the modern age of computers and gadgets, you may keep data in soft copies.

In restaurant, use cloth napkin instead of paper napkins.

Be a volunteer. Join organization, which promotes green environment through planting trees.

 

Web Sources:

http://actrees.org/resources/local-resources/save-a-tree/

http://caboopaper.com/how-to-conserve-trees-10-tips/

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2015/0904/Seeing-the-forest-for-the-trees-Why-latest-tree-census-matters

http://www.livescience.com/27692-deforestation.html

Planet has 10 times as many trees as previous estimate, research finds

http://news.yale.edu/2015/09/02/seeing-forest-and-trees-all-3-trillion-them

How to Save Trees

Not all trees are created equal. Find out what types of trees we should plant in order to make Manila safe during the typhoon season.

More than a century old, this acacia tree, also known as “centree” in Bicol University, was uprooted during the onslaught of Typhoon Glenda. Photo credit: Dennis Mirabueno
More than a century old, this acacia tree, also known as “centree” in Bicol University, was uprooted during the onslaught of Typhoon Glenda.
Photo credit: Dennis Mirabueno
Photo credit: Dennis Mirabueno
Photo credit: Dennis Mirabueno

In a typhoon-prone country as ours, it is common to see roads, backyards and streets dotted with fallen trees after a severe storm. The sight is heart-wrenching: massive, sometimes centuries-old giants knocked down, their complex system of roots wrenched free from the soil. It becomes even more distressing when these trees cause damage to property, or even worse, fatalities.

Lately, there has been an increased public awareness on the importance of planting native trees. The logic is that since these trees are indigenous, they are made to withstand local weather, even extreme conditions such as droughts and typhoons. Check out some of the locally bred trees recommended by the Haribon Foundation for urban greening:

With a potential height of over 130 feet, this sturdy tree provides ample shade in open areas. It also boasts of a deeply penetrating and spreading root system, making it harder for typhoons to uproot. The good news is that it can be cultivated from the cuttings of its mature branches.

Don’t be deceived by the Niyog-Niyogan’s size. This shrub or small tree packs a punch! Growing up to a height of 22 feet, it’s not just a pretty ornamental plant, it also has deep, penetrating roots that make it resilient against strong winds. Here’s a bit of trivia: It’s even more typhoon-resilient than the much bigger Balete tree!

It’s fast-growing, requires only partial sunlight, and drought-resistant. What more can you ask for? The sturdiness of the Molave tree has been part of local knowledge for centuries. In fact, it was even mentioned in President Manuel L. Quezon’s speech: “I want our people to grow and be like the molave, strong and resilient, rising on the hillside, unafraid of the raging flood, the lightning or the storm, confident of its own strength.”

Forget the fire trees. Their red-orange leaves may look nice, but these exotic trees have softer frames. Why not plant more Talisay trees, whose leaves turn from yellow to red before they are shed off? Furthermore, they’re indigenous and sturdy.

Commonly cultivated in Bicol, this versatile tree can be used for a variety of products, from fragrance to baked delicacies. With a maximum height capacity of over 90 feet, this tree has been proven to survive the elements in typhoon-prone Bicol.

Check out the other trees that have made the typhoon-resilient shortlist. Which of these are familiar to you?

Source: Haribon Foundation

Related link: Top 5 Typhoon-Resilient Trees

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