3M trees for a park

CEBU, Philippines - All energies are borrowed, some lent from the forest - vital source of materials for production of food, shelter, medicines, etc. Indeed, we owe so much from the woods!

In return, we indulge in a network of tree planting and replanting activities in order to replenish what have been consumed, used up, wasted. This, despite a charcoal mound less than 20 arm spans away from the planting site. Who could have allowed illegal settlers to encroach in our watersheds and set up charcoal hearths deserve to plant three million trees in their lifetime, but all you get is a petty excuse: the mangulingays cannot just be stopped for lack of alternative livelihood opportunities.

So we run against time. And hope against hope.

We rose up in a force that's willing to gamble - our trees could either reach maturity: develop as part of our last forests, or it could end up at the hands of axmen who shamefully seek shade beneath them!

Despite the odds, the Aboitiz Group is positive of hitting 70 percent of the targeted three million trees to be planted before 2015 as a commitment to a nationwide initiative: APARK or Aboitiz Passion for Agroforest and Reforest to Keep.

Team members of the Aboitiz Group trooped last July 21 to 14 different sites nationwide to plant an estimated 50,000 seedlings during its annual simultaneous tree planting. The three million trees are estimated to sequester 68,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually. The 50,000 trees (or 15,000 trees more than last year's 35,000) that were planted on July 21 are seen to sequester roughly 1,135 tons of CO2 annually.

Our group - employees of AboitizLand - was ferried to a site bordering Barangays Pamutan and Sapangdaku, upland barangays of Cebu City. We had the roadside to plant, a stretch of around two kilometers with loose rocks and soil. At past noontime, we were already able to plant over a hundred saplings of indigenous trees. But despite the enthusiasm, there was always the question as to how many of those seedlings would survive. The culprits are just out there, not even lurking - but watching in broad daylight, tending a mound of earth with pieces of charred sticks protruding, the rest of the wood in the heart of the oven shrouded by smoke. The move was noble, but heart-wrenching at the same time because though we have identified our enemies, we are tongue-tied to give them a verbal lashing. They also have to eat!

So we moved back to our coaster with the hope that the Force may be upon us. Future earthlings shall reap the efforts, and not just a few informal settlers.

Much has been said about the Philippines being one of 18 mega-biodiversity countries in the world. Yet, it is continually beset with human-induced threats to its biodiversity status. The Philippines also ranks highest for vulnerability to tropical cyclones. These are the factors that drive the Aboitiz Group to seriously continue to build on its inventory of trees planted. More trees mean higher potential for carbon sequestration.

"Our efforts are works in progress but we also believe that all that we do add up to a bigger global advocacy, and that we are part of a larger community uniting to safeguard the well-being of Mother Earth…Our commitment to enriching our planet remains steadfast. It is a commitment powered by our Passion for a Better World," said Erramon Aboitiz, Aboitiz Equity Ventures president and chief executive officer.

Past survival trends of the trees planted fall within 95 percent. Success in tree growing efforts is a collaborative effort between business units, communities and other on-ground partners. In the Cebu leg of the Aboitiz Group-wide simultaneous tree planting, the Visayan Electric Co. has successfully partnered with the Philippine Business for Social Progress to reforest more than 500 hectares. The objective was accomplished in two years with a million trees planted.

For four years in a row now, the Group has been gathering its volunteers all over the country to plant trees in one day. The simultaneous Group-wide tree planting is part of the Aboitiz Group's intent to be part of the solution to climate change by planting three million trees by the year 2015.

During the morning program in Pamutan, it was learned from AEV chief human resource and quality officer Txabi Aboitiz that here in Cebu, we planted 21,000 seedlings that have been sourced from a community supported by the Aboitiz Foundation.

"Through a loan fund, the community stands to earn from the seedlings that we will plant during this biodiversity enhancement effort we are having today. Clearly, it is a solid case of a sustainable practice," Txabi said.

The 21,000 trees are seen to eventually sequester an equivalent of 477 tons of greenhouse gas annually. According to him, "this can offset the emissions of all VECO vehicles on an average year. The 50,000 trees nationwide can offset fuel emissions from vehicles of all Cebu-based business units."

This year, Aboitiz Group chose to plant at barangays surrounding the Buhisan Watershed and Forest Reserve which has been a source of precious water for Cebu City. "Aside from supporting Cebu's natural heritage, it is our way to give back to nature that has so generously supplied us with water through the years," he added.

Further, the trees planted in the past four years also serve as a pledge to the Billion Tree Campaign of the United Nations. Trees help sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. CO2 is a greenhouse gas that is largely blamed for the climate change phenomenon that is affecting the planet.

A total of 22 business units all over the Philippines joined the event, coming from the following Aboitiz Group companies: Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Aboitiz Power Corp., Pilmico Foods Corp., Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corp., Union Bank of the Philippines, City Savings Bank, Davao LightP & Power Company, Inc.; Cotabato Light and Power Company; Visayan Electric Company, Inc.; Mactan EnerZone Corp.; Balamban EnerZone Corp.; Subic EnerZone Corp.; Aboitiz Land, Inc.; Cebu Industrial Park Developers, Inc.; Metaphil International, Therma Mobile, Inc.; Therma Marine, Inc.; Therma South, Inc.; Aboitiz Jebsen, SN AboitizPower; Hedcor, Inc.; AP Renewables, Inc.; Abojeb, and Aboitiz Foundation, Inc.