CEBU, Philippines - To help arrest the degradation of forestlands, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) formed the Generation, Redemption, and Expansion of Natural resources INitiatives in the Philippines (GREENIN Philippines) Program.
The program also aims to contribute to achieving the seventh goal in the Millennium Development Goals, which is to ensure environmental sustainability by reversing the loss of natural resources.
The GREENIN’ Philippines Program is anchored on the lessons and insights gained from years of undertaking sound and viable environmental interventions.
The Program’s tagline, “going beyond tree planting, developing real forests”, aptly describes its purpose and intent that require implementing viable environmental initiatives that are integrated, holistic, and collaborative.
The reforestation component of the GREENIN’ Philippines Program deviates from the traditional tree planting activities in the country, which have reportedly not reaped much success. Planting native trees, the program will develop real forests in critical areas like watersheds and denuded forestlands with the help of stakeholders and partners who will be trained and equipped with knowledge and skills to be able to manage program implementation. Post-planting activities—weeding, watering, applying fertilizer to the seedlings and monitoring of the tree plantations—will be carried out to ensure the survival of the native trees.
Under the GREENIN Philippines Program, native tree nurseries are established and maintained as support mechanism of the program.
RAFI’s partnership with the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines will enable the GREENIN’ Philippines Program to roll out its strategies at the national level and replicate best practices in environmental protection throughout the country, according to Rowena Bandola-Alensonorin, executive director of the Integrated Development unit of RAFI. (BANAT NEWS)