Greening projects should be sustainable

We are happy that Senator Loren Legarda has re-launched her tree-planting campaign and she plans to have 10 million trees planted in the next ten years. She has a foundation called Luntiang Pilipinas (Green Philippines) which coordinates with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other sectors of society to carry out the crusade for environmental conservation and protection. The DENR itself is implementing the biggest tree planting activity in what is called the Green Philippine Highways Project. Under this project launched in 2006, indigenous or native tree species such as narra, mahogany, acacia and common ornamental trees such as fir trees and golden shower trees are being planted along stretches of Philippine highways. What beautiful cities and highways we will have if all these trees will be planted!                    

As I have said, one of the pleasant memories that I have of the pre-war days were the acacia trees that lined both sides of most streets. After the war, Manila was the most devastated city next to Warsaw. It is my dream that Manila’s grandeur will be restored with the re-planting of the trees. I am also glad that because of the government project called Greater Metro Area-Mass Transport System, which aims to interconnect mass transport systems in the metropolis, the city is somewhat undergoing a facelift. The removal and relocation of thousands of squatters along railroad tracks and roads, initiated by Makati and Pasay, renews the faces of these cities. In Makati where I reside, I hope Mayor Binay takes the lead in using the vacated land to create pocket gardens by planting trees. I have also suggested for him to turn the whole center of Ayala Avenue into miniature forests. As of this writing, Mayor Binay has promised to undertake the studies on how these greeneries can be added. This will not only beautify the city but will greatly reduce thick pollution caused by heavy vehicular traffic. Studies have shown that a single tree can absorb about 0.56 metric tons of carbon dioxide in its lifetime, and around ten trees are needed to capture the emissions of one car. This means that with five million registered vehicles in the country, of which 31% or 1.55 million are in Metro Manila, a total of 15.5 million trees are needed to absorb the harmful emissions and ensure protection for the metropolis alone and its residents. This means that Loren’s 10 million trees in 10 years will not be enough!   

To enhance individual and agency efforts, all city mayors should actually get together and come up with a comprehensive and strategic plan for the greening of the whole metropolis, and implementation should begin in every barangay.                           

In some countries, trees are protected so much that when one cuts one tree, he should replace it with three new trees. Planting trees is not as simple as a hobby; it requires custodianship and nurturing. So when all these trees are planted, we must ensure they are also well taken care of. Like what Palawan Mayor Hagedorn said, the people’s participation is the key to successful implementation of environment projects and this is why Puerto Princesa is still the cleanest and greenest city in the Philippines. 

When put together, all these efforts by local governments and various agencies can surely impact environment protection objectives. I hope all these activities will not be one-time activities. These enthusiasts and environmentalists should put their minds together in managing these greeneries in order to sustain benefits and gains towards environmental protection and conservation.