Eagle foundation, Globe to plant 3M trees

The 1,200-hectare habitat of Philippine Eagles in Mindanao will be reforested by indigenous peoples

The Philippine Eagle Foundation and Globe Group are embarking on an ambitious reforestation project that will see the planting of three million trees in four Mindanao provinces to restore the natural habitat of the endangered Philippine eagle.

The project dubbed "Planting for the Future" launched last week involves a comprehensive approach that encompasses extensive activities including nursery care, site preparation, planting, monitoring, and database management to help ensure the success of the project.

Climax native and fruit trees suited to the conditions of the selected planting areas are to be planted.

At the end of the program, PEF aims to rehabilitate 1,200 hectares of degraded land close to nine Philippine eagle nesting sites in Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao de Oro and Davao del Sur.

"In line with our commitment to sustainability, the initiative is also designed to foster stakeholder collaboration, particularly with our partner communities, as well as provide transparency to our funders," says Dennis I. Salvador, executive director of PEF.

At least 150 jobs will be provided to members of PEF's partner communities, many of which are inhabited by indigenous peoples. These jobs primarily involve hiring staff to conduct nursery, planting, maintenance, and monitoring operations.

The local communities will receive reforestation training from PEF so they could take care of the trees to be planted in target areas. They will also get additional livelihood opportunities from harvesting the produce of fruit-bearing trees.

"What we are doing contributes to the national government's forest restoration target as outlined in the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan which, in turn, aligns with the

Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework," says Salvador, noting also the program's alignment with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

In a bid for greater openness, "Planting for the Future" makes use of a comprehensive database and tracking system that will be accessible to funders. This system, available at www.threemilliontrees.com/track, combines geographic information system and global positioning system-based technology to provide real-time updates on the progress of adopted plants, from their initial nursery care to ongoing monitoring efforts. Adopters are granted unique login credentials, offering them access to detailed information about all trees they have adopted.

Jayson Ibañez, director for Operations of PEF, says, "These codes serve as identifiers and are scanned regularly using a dedicated web application. Through this method, the system updates information on tree growth and characteristics, allowing for precise monitoring of each tree's development." He further adds that "with this data-driven approach, the project aims to closely track and evaluate the impact of reforestation efforts, including measurements of tree height, diameter at breast height, and carbon stock."

"This move towards transparency aligns with the Foundation's commitment to accountability in its operations," says Felicia Atienza, president, PEF. "Through this mechanism, we empower stakeholders to actively participate in our reforestation journey."

The launch of "Planting for the Future" included an overview of the program, a marker unveiling, and ceremonial tree adoptions. Attendees included representatives from Ayala Land Inc., PK Holdings and Enchanted Kingdom.

"Globe champions sustainability and fosters environmental stewardship not just by greening our operations but also by leveraging partnerships and engaging our customers so that we are able to take care of our environment together," says Yoly Crisanto, Globe group chief sustainability and corporate communications officer.

Globe provided an overview of how it enables its customers and the general public to participate in the program. Globe offers convenient options for donations through GCash and soon, the GlobeOne app. GCash can be used for cash donations. Globe customers can soon also convert their Globe Rewards points into donations via the GlobeOne app. A Reward point is equivalent to one peso.

To donate, users can download the Globe Rewards app on their mobile device via https://www.globe.com.ph/rewards#GRewardsApp. Access the app and click the "Rewards" banner, then look for the PEF under the "Donations" tab.

For GCash donations, visit https://www.philippineeaglefoundation.org/donate-capital-campaign and scan the QR Code using the GCash app.