The Situation in The Philippines is becoming a desperate one as the world wide recession has resulted in massive job losses in the major cities forcing many to take refuge in squatter areas. Read more . . .
Our Response
We have started on a grass roots level by providing seeds and training locals on a variety of agroforestry and livestock management techniques. Read more . . .
Program Update
This planting season was a busy one for members of our partnering organization TREES Philippines as they have more than doubled the number of trees they planted from last year to this year where they planted close to 200,000 seedlings. Read more . . .
Overview of Social and Environmental Issues
The Situation in The Philippines is becoming a desperate one as the world wide recession has resulted in massive job losses in the major cities forcing many to take refuge in squatter areas. Agriculture has been a major industry for the Philippines and is beginning to grow with many jobs in the technology sector being lost to China and India which have a larger workforce and the infrastructure to support it.
Deforestation is occurring now as many are attempting to make living selling agricultural products, but most of them are doing so unsustainably. The hillsides are becoming denuded as people cut trees for firewood and building material, while slash and burn farming is the generally accepted practice. The lands cannot support the way in which crops are planted which is requiring the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides which wash into rivers and eventually the seas which is killing the reef systems with what is known as coral bleaching.
Our Response
We have started on a grass roots level by providing seeds and training locals on a variety of agroforestry and livestock management techniques. These include teaching them how to integrate a variety of species into their farms reducing the need for chemical pesticides and how to make organic fertilizers rather than having to spend the little money they have to buy the harmful chemical version. We have also incorporated Multi-Purpose Fast Growing (MPFG) trees into the equation which hold soils on barren hillsides and grow quickly creating a sustainable source of firewood. Many new fruit and vegetable species have been introduced as a way to provide a decent source of income as these ‘rare’ species command a premium at local markets.
February 2011 This planting season was a busy one for members of our partnering organization TREES Philippines as they have more than doubled the number of trees they planted from last year to this year where they planted close to 200,000 seedlings. This was done despite the problems they had related to El Niño as they had a severe rainy season with several back to back typhoons followed by a dry season where almost 6 months went by with absolutely no rain. They had to hire forest guards to protect planting sites from wildfires, and hire people to keep seedlings in nurseries watered which were both challenging with water sources drying up. Last years severe floods however brought the environmental problems to everyone in the town’s minds and caused people to join in efforts to combat problems with deforestation. Many volunteers have attended training and information sessions held there and have also lent a hand in creating new nurseries and with outplanting activities. This and further assistance from the local government will certainly allow us to plant even more trees in the area next year.
