The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has launched its “Forests For Life: 5M Trees by 2028” initiative to help promote a more resilient climate and ecological balance in the country.
The initiative aims to plant and grow 5 million trees across critical areas in the country in the next four years. During its recent launch in Makati, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga cited the indispensable role of forests in maintaining ecological balance, mitigating climate change, and sustaining the livelihoods of millions of Filipinos.
Loyzaga noted, however, that the country’s forest ecosystems are threatened by deforestation, land degradation, and the growing impact of climate change.
“This is why the Forests for Life program is both timely and critical. The Philippines has 15 million hectares of classified forest land, of which a little more than 7 million are covered with forests,” she said.
“Our goal of 5 million is modest, modestly ambitious, yet necessary, and we hope to surpass it with all our contributions. To grow 5 million indigenous trees nationwide by 2028, we are covering six priority areas — Ilocos Norte, Rizal, Leyte, Bataan, Bukidnon, and Lanao del Norte — all of which have been identified to have critical landscapes that require immediate reforestation efforts,” she stressed.
“Restoring the forest cover in these areas would also regenerate the ecosystems, effectively combating climate change. By combining carbon sequestration and flood management, the country’s biodiversity would be protected, reviving natural habitats,” she added.
DENR Undersecretary Carlos Primo David said the “Forests For Life” initiative is shifting focus from traditional tree-planting drives to sustained forest growth, as the program ensures that trees survive long enough to provide crucial environmental benefits, particularly in flood prevention and water regulation.
“Forests play a vital role in replenishing groundwater sources by capturing rainwater and feeding deep wells and watersheds. Trees contribute to flood mitigation. It also provides regulation of our water supply, and therefore, the deep wells we draw water from, actually were captured by the trees in the watersheds of these areas, so, it’s very critical,” he added.
David also urged groups and organizations that plan to conduct tree-planting activities to coordinate with the DENR for monitoring purposes and to ensure that the seeds planted survive and grow into trees. He shared that data shows that survivability of planted seedlings, if not sustained, has at best decreased to 80 percent.
“So, one change we have in this program is a sustained effort to plant trees, but our goal is really to grow them. There’s a three-year period for seedlings that need to be nurtured and cared for and maintained, and it’s only after the three years that it will actually grow on its own,” he explained.
To further ensure that planted trees grow, the DENR would employ geospatial monitoring, a satellite-based system that will track tree growth, identify issues, and prevent duplication of efforts. David said that while trees take time to grow, the benefits will be felt within six years, significantly improving water supply stability and flood mitigation.
The DENR also urges individuals and businesses to invest P100 per tree under the “Forests For Life: 5M Trees by 2028” initiative, to help ensure tree survival and long-term impact.
“The P100 per tree investment would be the amount we need to put into one tree for it to be maintained and protected for three years. So if we want to extend the protection and rehabilitation program, you add your P100 investment,” DENR Forest Management Bureau Asst. Diector Ray Thomas Cabigting added.
The investment he said covers seedlings, water, fertilizers, and three years of maintenance, to address past failures where many trees did not survive.
Cabigting said an online registry will allow contributors to track where their trees are planted, species used, and growth progress, ensuring transparency.
He added that DENR encourages companies, schools, and other stakeholders to integrate the model into sustainability programs, emphasizing that P100 can help restore forests, secure water supply, and combat climate change. (With PNA)