Tree huggers for life

We need trees to save the earth from dying. Pollution, drought and soil erosion are only a few of the ill effects of the mass destruction of our forests.

In a nutshell, the destruction of our rainforests is caused by the worldwide use of chemicals. The result is global warming which depletes the ozone layer. As we all know, the ozone layer protects us from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

The least we could do about the pollution problem is to be vigilant and forceful about our protests against the use of chlorofluorocarbon products. We need to support environmental organizations battling big industries that carelessly dispose their waste products.

To arrest the depletion of the ozone layer, we can plant more trees. And we don’t even have to go to the forest to do this. According to Chito Bertol, president and general manager of Manila Seedling Bank Environmental Center located at Quezon Avenue corner EDSA in Quezon City, we can do it right in the community where we live or work.

"Tree planting and reforestation aren’t really difficult tasks," explains Bertol. "It takes only a little time and effort to plant and take care of trees to have a deep concern for the worsening condition of our environment and, most of all, the acknowledgment of the importance of trees in our ecological balance."

Trees provide us oxygen. The rainforests in the mountain ranges bring us the water we drink. Tree roots help bring up the water stored underground. The roots also hold the soil and prevent it from eroding. It also prevents floods by absorbing excess water from the rain. The trees absorb carbon dioxide, filter and clean the air. Trees provide man and animals shelter, food, medicine and clothing. They beautify the surroundings. They give us fuel, dye, paper and other materials. Decayed leaves of trees, when composted, fertilize the soil.

"Imagine how hard life will be without trees," laments Bertol. "We must not cut or kill trees which took a long time to grow. To live in harmony with them, we should carefully plan where to plant them."

According to Bertol, trees shouldn’t be planted too close to the fence, walls of a building or house, or under electric wires or roofs to avoid obstruction or damage as they grow. Trees should be planted five to 10 meters apart so they don’t overgrow. And if a tree must be pruned, ask the assistance of an expert.

The Manila Seedling Bank Environmental Center, the largest environmental center in the country, offers over a million tree seedlings in various sizes at discounted prices. Available in big volumes are fruit trees such as seedless atis, ponderosa and pineras, chicos, perante oranges and poncan, grafted calamansi, American lemon and exotic lime, balimbing and rambutan. Also available are flowering and shade trees as well as trees for timber and reforestation such as acacia, mahogany, narra, bagras, teak, molave, talisay, Palawan cherry, golden shower, neem tree, gmelina, achuete, and many more. The center also offers free information regarding the planting, maintenance and care of trees. Bertol says that they even have tree doctors to save ailing trees.

Apart from pruning services (it has done a lot of pruning projects for the past year), the center is also offering contract reforestation, tree farming, urban forestry, landscaping and contract growing of forest trees and fruit trees. Balling out of trees for relocation is also being offered by the center. These relocated trees are not discarded, they are put to better use in another environment.

The public may avail of the services of the Manila Seedling Bank Foundation Inc. (MSBFI) for tree pruning and tree projects by calling up 929-9312, 924-7001 to 02 (look for MSBFI vice president Leonardo Ligeralde who heads the pruning team). You may also call 924-0166 for more information. MSBFI is open daily.