Setting down Good roots

With the idea of spreading the gospel of environmental conservation as well as to promote livelihood self-sufficiency, Good Roots, a pioneering project funded by Caltex Philippines is now successfully implemented in three rural communities in the Philippines.

Dr. Ben Wallace, director of the International Office and assistant provost of the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas who directed and concept-ualized Good Roots, says that Filipinos in rural communities are receptive to the idea of reviving ravaged areas caused by destructive environmental practices. He is sure that they will be self-sufficient in the near future.

On a recent visit to the Good Roots III project in Pugo, La Union, we met the eager people there who were interested in the project. According to Antonio Garvido, one of the project’s foresters, in about eight months the participants have produced between 35,000 to 40,000 seedlings of various plants ranging from fruit bearing trees to timber and hardwood trees. In Barangays Cares, Cuenca and Mawaswas, there are already communal nurseries where seedlings are ready for dispersal. Some of the plants seen in the nurseries are calamansi, avocado, marang, durian, guyabano, papaya, lucban, mahogany, lanzones, rambutan, acacia, eucalyputs and g’melina. As of now, there are already about 84 households from the three barangays who are direct participants in the project.

Situated in the southeastern part of La Union, Pugo has an area of 8,811.75 hectares with a total population of 13,856. Classified as a fifth class municipality, it is predominantly hilly and mountainous with some portions having moderate slopes. Basically an agricultural community, most of the more than 4.5 hectares of croplands is devoted to rice production. There are also industrial establishments in the town including rice mills, woodcrafts, woodworks, handicraft, quarrying, piggery and poultry raising.

Although their native tongue is predominantly Ilocano, many of them speak Tagalog. Having vast expanses of forest zones,with the help of the DENR, a wide area is now reforested. Its rivers and creeks provide for efficient irrigation systems, which greatly contribute to the success of the project.

Looking back to ten years ago, Good Roots was first established in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. With the positive response of the people in the community, Caltex decided to expand to other places. In 1997, Good Roots II was replicated in Lobo, Batangas. Leaving behind self-sustaining communities such as in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte and in Lobo, Batangas, Caltex again expanded its program to establish Good Roots III. Dr. Wallace says he is planning to establish more projects in the Visayas and Mindanao.

How is the program implemented? Dr. Wallace explained that in the previous reforestation projects, such as in Pagudpud and Lobo, it was on a pay-to-plant scheme. He said further that at first they had a hard time convincing the people that they are actually investing for the future.

"There is really nothing wrong with the pay-to-plant scheme," says Dr. Wallace. "However, when the money is gone, the project will end. Farmers and their families now understand that those projects will not continue, so our approach has always been up front. We give them ownership of the project. We provide the seeds, teach them how to germinate and how to plant."

Asked if the participants have an obligation to Caltex or to the Good Roots project in the future, Dr. Wallace explains that what they produce will be entirely their own. "We don’t get back anything from them," he assures.

The aim of Good Roots is to renew the environment, making it eco-friendly by propagating multi-purpose trees and plants in rural communities in order to bring back the tender "nature-nurture" relationship between the people and the land. There are teams of experts to help educate farm families on the latest production and propagation techniques, care and maintenance of plants and trees, as well as income generating activities such as mushroom production, fruits and vegetable farming and the like. The teams also coordinate with the government and the local authorities in seeking alternative agricultural activities to help minimize environmental damage without abruptly affecting the people’s earning capacity.

The Good Roots team composed of experts not only in agriculture but also in marketing, teaches the people how to manage a plant nursery, what type of soil to use and techniques of propagation like grafting, marcoting, budding, in-arching, etc. The communal nursery will serve as the center for dispersal of plants, technical skills and information.

Other activities that the Good Roots team convinces the people to engage in are reforestation of watersheds, tree planting for roadsides and bedding of appropriate plants in areas where soil erosion can be prevented.

Even senior citizens get involved in the project, explaining that they enjoy not only the monetary profits but also the physical exercise. Moises Soriano, 73, who enjoys gardening and other related activities, says he is doing this not only for himself but for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Now that is putting in good roots indeed!