3M Phlippines does rainforestation of critical area in Sierra Madre

MANILA, Philippines - Employees and families of 3M Philippines and 3M Philippines Export Inc. recently planted 1,250 trees over one-half hectares of land at the foothill of the Southern Sierra Madre in Tanay, Rizal.

Called a rainforestation instead of just a reforestation, the activity is part of 3M Philippines’ continuing efforts to support the Haribon Foundation’s Road to 2020 Project. The goal is to restore one million hectares of the Philippines’ rainforest by 2020 by planting native tree species in identified areas.

Haribon Foundation’s head for corporate partnership, Christine Cenal emphasized the need to use native Philippine trees because such trees offered distinct advantages over just any tree.

The new technology of planting native trees is crucial in bringing back the natural biodiversity of Philippine rainforests. It provides with many ecological benefits because they are effective carbon sequesters and have better capacity to restore freshwater and are also deeply rooted and help minimize soil erosion.

The 3M Philippines has adopted the upper Marikina watershed in the area of Tanay, recognized to reforest the portion of Sierra Madre because it helps hold the water in the Marikina watershed and prevent another Ondoy-type onslaught.

“We have pledged to reforest 10 hectares of land in this part of Sierra Madre within the next 3 to 5 years. The trees that we have planted today will be able to sequester 7 tons of carbon from the air by the time they are fully grown,” said Nene Amen, company manager for corporate marketing and business planning

The 3M Philippines employees had also participated in Haribon’s adopt-a-seedling campaign.