On Save Sierra Madre Day, the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) is reinforcing its partnership with GCash, the leading Philippine finance super app, through its GForest program, to address environmental threats like illegal forest conversion and accelerate the restoration of degraded lands within the Mount Makiling Georeserve and the Sierra Madre mountain range.
The joint partnership aims to protect and reforest 250 hectares of land within the two land grants managed by UPLB by planting at least 135,000 forest and fruit trees during the first phase, and an additional 25,000 seedlings for urban and roadside planting in parts of the Mount Makiling Georeserve by 2029.
UPLB, as the Center for Excellence in Forestry Education, implements its data-driven and science-based approach to identify suitable types of trees, strategic project areas, and apply implementation strategies to ensure environmental conservation and reforestation efforts translate into meaningful long-term impact. UPLB will spearhead the technical execution and oversight of reforestation progress. This ensures adherence to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, to help GCash establish long-term targets and benchmarks for GForest reforestation initiatives.
The academic institution also seeks the help of local farming communities and their families as long-term partners in planting and stewardship, empowering them through livelihood opportunities. These include women’s groups, people’s organizations, and qualified UPLB community members.
UPLB also seeks to engage participation and support from relevant local government units (LGUs) in Laguna, municipalities in Quezon province, and national-level government agencies like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Science and Technology (DICT).
Marked by a ceremonial contract signing led by UPLB earlier this year, its College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR), the Land Grant Management Office (LGMO), and GCash, through the support of its 25-million GForest Green Heroes, pledged to plant at least 135,000 forest and fruit trees across 250 hectares in two land grant areas managed by UPLB in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.
“Sierra Madre is one of our last frontiers when it comes to [our remaining] intact forests,” shared UPLB-CFNR Dean Marlo D. Mendoza, MDM. [This] is rich in terms of biodiversity [and is] very high in endemism, which means a lot of species that are in Sierra Madre can only be found there or [can be found in] the Philippines and not other parts of the world.”
Luzon’s backbone against natural hazards
The Sierra Madre mountain range, which spans approximately 600 kilometers from Cagayan to Quezon Province, is known as the “backbone of Luzon” and is home to lush forests and vital watersheds that support the nation’s diverse wildlife populations. In addition, it acts as a natural shield against typhoons coming from the Pacific, protecting the Philippines by weakening and redirecting storm winds before they reach inland areas.
The end goal of the UPLB and GCash reforestation initiative and partnership is to help restore and fortify parts of the UP Sierra Madre Land Grant. The trees planted aim to convert degraded lands (remnants of past logging, timber poaching, and unsustainable farming) into thriving ecosystems of tall native forest species that form a closed or semi-closed canopy.
Fundamental to the success of this program is UPLB’s sourcing process, which focuses on native tree species that are well-adapted to the local environment and support biodiversity. UPLB researchers have selected a diverse mix of native species, such as Mayapis, Apitong, White Lauan, Almon, and Palosapis, that can support canopy restoration while promoting ecological diversity. (PR)
