The Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Forest Management Bureau (DENR-FMB) is targeting to plant three million trees over the next three years as part of a large-scale reforestation initiative in the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMRBPL), aiming to raise forest cover from the current 24.99 percent to 43 percent by 2028.

The UMRBPL, spanning 26,125.64 hectares across Antipolo City and the municipalities of Baras, Rodriguez, San Mateo, and Tanay in Rizal Province, was declared a protected area in 2011 through Proclamation No. 296. The designation came two years after the onslaught of Typhoon Ondoy, which devastated large parts of Metro Manila and Rizal, highlighting the need for better watershed protection and biodiversity conservation.

FMB Assistant Director Atty. Ray Thomas Kabigting said the increase in closed forest areas reflects the progress of sustainable reforestation efforts.

“The rise in closed forest cover signifies that previously degraded or barren areas are now thriving with healthy trees,” he said, noting that the shift marks a successful transformation of degraded areas into more resilient ecosystems.

Kabigting also explained that open forest areas in Upper Marikina have decreased by 1,138.28 hectares, or 20.95 percent, which points to the natural progression of forests toward maturity. Additionally, 628.47 hectares of shrublands have evolved into open forests, highlighting the combined impact of human-led tree planting and natural forest regeneration.

“With the target of planting three million trees by 2028, the UMRBPL is not only fostering a more resilient environment but also setting a precedent for sustainable development and conservation efforts in the region,” Kabigting said. “A healthy forest cover is also essential to the country’s climate and disaster resilience agenda as it mitigates climate change and conserves biodiversity critical for ecosystem resilience and agricultural productivity,” he added.

Home to several endangered and threatened species, the UMRBPL supports rich biodiversity, including native trees like narra, red and white lauan, bagtikan, kamagong, and molave. Wildlife in the area includes the Philippine bulbul, jungle fowl, Philippine deer, wild pig, and monitor lizards.

Meanwhile, DENR-CALABARZON Regional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria reported that 45 companies and organizations have adopted 743 hectares of National Greening Program (NGP) graduated sites in the area since 2021.

“A key strategy involved private sector participation through the adoption of graduated plantations — previously established sites for the NGP,” he said.

Tamoria credited the improved forest cover to the implementation of the NGP and government policies supporting forest protection, including Executive Order No. 23, which imposed a moratorium on timber cutting in natural forests, and Executive Order No. 193, which expanded the NGP’s scope to restore denuded lands.

According to the DENR, 3,984,600 trees were planted in the UMRBPL in 2015 alone, while another 1,337,839 trees were planted between 2021 and 2025, achieving a 75 percent survival rate.

Under the UMRBPL Management Plan 2020–2030, areas in the northern section of the watershed have been classified as Strict Protection Zones, limiting access to scientific research and Indigenous ceremonial practices to protect the ecosystem.