Stronger Sierra Madre protection urged

The Climate Change Commission (CCC) called for strengthened protection and conservation of the Sierra Madre mountain range as the country observed Save Sierra Madre Day, underscoring the vital role of forest ecosystems in reducing disaster risks, protecting biodiversity, and supporting climate-resilient communities.

CCC vice chairperson and executive director Robert E.A. Borje said safeguarding the Sierra Madre must be treated as a key component of the Philippines’ climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction efforts.

“Sierra Madre has stood for generations. Now, it’s our turn to stand for it. Protecting this mountain range means protecting our forests, biodiversity, and the communities that depend on these ecosystems. It is a responsibility we must carry forward through stronger conservation, restoration, and climate action,” Borje said.

Observed every 26 September under Presidential Proclamation No. 413, s. 2012, Save Sierra Madre Day raises awareness of the importance of conserving the mountain range and the risks associated with its degradation. The proclamation was issued in the context of the devastation caused by tropical storm “Ondoy” on 26 September 2009, including flooding and loss of lives.

Stretching approximately 540 kilometers across Luzon, the Sierra Madre serves as a natural barrier against tropical cyclones and supports important forest ecosystems. It is home to around 40 percent of the Philippines’ forest cover and approximately 3,500 plant species, 58 percent of which are endemic.