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Volunteers Plant Native Trees in Upper Marikina Watershed

Posted on August 22, 2016

Four hundred sixty (460) native trees were planted by thirty-eight (38) volunteers from Premiere Medical and Cardiovascular Laboratory, Inc., in Brgy. Calawis, Antipolo City, on Ninoy Aquino Day, last August 21, 2016.

The volunteers along the banks of the Payagwan River in Brgy. Calawis, Antipolo 

The tree planting activity is part of the rainforestation-based collaboration in Calawis, Antipolo, of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish (IHMP), Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) and Calawis Punlaan Bayan Inc. (CPBI). The initiative aims to help bring back the ecological functions of Upper Marikina Watershed, upscale community livelihood and reduce flooding incidence in the lower river basin affecting San Mateo, Marikina, Cainta, Taguig, Pasay and other adjacent cities of Metro Manila. Four thousand thirty-five (4035) native seedlings have been planted in 6.5 hectares of Brgy. Calawis since June 2016.

Volunteers from Premiere Medical and Cardiovascular Laboratory, Inc., along with community guides and safety personnel, engage in rainforestation activities in line with the clinic’s social responsibility and carbon footprint offsetting initiatives. 

Rainforestation is a sustainable forest restoration approach that promotes the use of native tree species. Native tree seedlings that were planted by volunteers were White Lauan (Shorea contorta), Palosapis (Anisoptera thurifera), Narra (Pterocarpus indicus), Guijo (Shorea guiso) and Kariskis (Albizia lebbekoides). Members of the Philippine Mahogany (Dipterocarp) species, these distinct hardwood tropical trees once formed the Upper Marikina Watershed forest formation. Once home to many endemic Luzon wildlife, the watershed has suffered due to decades of timber poaching, charcoal making and unsustainable farming practices like kaingin.

White Lauan (Shorea contorta) and Guijo (Shorea guiso) seedlings at the community tree nursery

The tree planting activity concluded with a short environmental conservation sharing session and lunch with community partner CPBI at the community tree nursery. The volunteers expressed their gratitude and shared lessons gained during the activity. CPBI assured nurturing of the newly planted seedlings. 
 

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Contributed by Cherylon Herzano, Project Officer, FPE Program Development Unit