Wanna be carbon neutral? Plant 100 trees!
LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) —The Society of Filipino Foresters Inc. (SFFI) is urging every Filipino to plant 100 trees to fight climate change and sustain the country’s forests.
SFFI National Council President Tommy T. Valdez said the World Bank’s carbon footprint of a person shows that one Filipino is emitting 1.2 tons of carbon dioxide annually.
“To make you a carbon neutral person, you need to plant 100 trees. If Filipinos can do this, then we can tell the world that the Philippines is a carbon neutral country,” he added.
Valdez pointed out that under their carbon neutral program, their tree planting activities were being conducted in natural parks or watershed areas to ensure also the protection of water bodies in forestlands.
He said SFFI strongly advocates sustainable forest management inclusive with the protection of forests and production of deluded areas for the present and future generations.
According to SFFI, the Philippines has 15.8 million hectares of forest land where 50% of it have become unproductive and most were under timberland classification.
“Forest is life. If we fail to protect it, our food security, biodiversity, agriculture, fresh water, renewable energy and even medicines will be affected. We should ensure balance utilization of our forests,” Valdez said.
On October 16 to 18, SFFI conducted its 2019 National Conference here in Legazpi City to communicate the features of the proposed legislation entitled “Sustainable Forest Management Act.” It highlighted the synergizing of public and private partnership in the protection and production of forest lands.
SFFI drives for the enactment of the bill which was first passed in the 17th Congress as House Bill 9088 and was then refiled to the 18th Congress this year.
Its general objective aims to optimize the utilization of forest resources to support sustainable development of the country by providing equitable access and benefit sharing.
It will also focus on inculcating modalities to sustainably develop and manage both the protection and production of forestlands that can significantly contribute in achieving the Philippine Vision of Ambisyon Natin 2040.
With this goal, Valdez encourages the public to promote forestry as one of the more substantial avenue towards sustainable national development.
SFFI is the only organization of professional foresters in the country committed for the advancement of forest technologies, practice and biodiversity essentially contributing to the sound environmental management, social justice and economic development. (PIA-5)
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