Tree Planting and Basic Life Support Training

On Setember21, 2019, the Palawan State University School of Law joined the Integrated Bar of the Philippines
”tree planting and basic life support training” held at Irawan Watershed, Irawan, Puerto Princesa City. This in
cooperation with the Puerto Princesa City Water District (PPCWD) and City Disaster and Risk Reduction
Management Office (CDRRMO). The Irawan Watershed Area, site of an annual activity, is the main source of
potable water for the city residents. Last summer Puerto Princesa was placed under a state of calamity as El Niño
hit the province. The situation forced the implementation of water rationing in many parts of Puerto Princesa City.
The voluntary massive tree-planting is a significant step towards solving the problem of water supply shortage. In
some parts of Palawan, up to 95% of the natural vegetation has been destroyed because of kaingin or slash-and-
burn farming, a traditional rice-planting method used by local residents. The lack of trees has caused flash floods
and landslides during the rainy season. Moreover, without tree roots to keep the soil together, siltation, or soil
polluting the water has started to happen, endangering marine life. Natural water sheds also have been severely
depleted because of the lack of trees to “catch” the water from rain causing a shortage in clean fresh water for
local communities. Numerous tree-planting activities in various locations in order to help re-grow the tree canopy,
restore natural water sheds, and prevent floods and landslides that endanger low-lying communities.

I. Observation

The tree planting activity consists of four major elements: nursery establishment; on site preparation; actual tree
planting; and, protection to attain maximum survival rate. Nursery establishment includes soil potting in plastic
bags, seeds-gathering and propagation, and care for the seedlings until its plantable stage. Site preparation
includes not only the clearing of the area and digging of holes where the seedlings will be planted but also the
construction of accessible roads and trails for the participants. Tree planting covers such activities as delivery of
seedlings to the planting site, the actual planting and inspection by field personnel. Finally the young plants are
periodically visited by Plant Propagators and Forest Rangers and given the proper care and protection until
maturity. The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) handles the technical preparation like :
nursery establishment; site preparation; tree planting activity; and the protection and maintenance of the trees.

The seedlings included in this activity are indigenous fruit trees such as tanabag and bunog that do not need large
amounts of water in order to grow. These trees are deeply-rooted, it will prevent erosion and have the capacity to
hold water. These indigenous tree seedlings has 80 percent survival rate which is attributed on the maintenance
and monitoring activities being conducted by CENRO on the various tree planting sites, making sure that strip
brushing and removal of weeds are done on schedule, especially on newly planted seedlings.

II. Recommendations for a successful tree planting activity

1. Plan thoroughly
Planning should encompass tasks, dates and details before, during, and after the event itself. You have to be able
to consider everything, even the smallest details like the distance between assembly point and the actual tree-
planting site, or perhaps the steepest slope that the participants will have to climb on their way to the digging
area. These may sound trivial but they will be causing inconveniences for the participants especially to invited
guests that are not so young and agile.

2. Date of the event

There are times of the year when saplings are more vulnerable to the elements depending on your location. Since
you don’t want to waste effort and resources in planting saplings that will eventually be drowned by rain or
desiccated by intense heat, you need to consider which time of the year is most suited for the type of sapling
you’re planting.

3. Location

Ideal locations for tree planting in the Philippines are those that are in or near protected forests. In these areas,
the saplings will have better chances of surviving not only because of the additional protection from the authority,
but also because these areas are proven to have adequate nutrients for supporting plant life. Just make sure
though, that the saplings are planted near the edge of the forest or in a region where abundant sunlight is
available.

4. Participants
In addition to this, the location has to suit the participants’ physical capabilities. This simply means that the
participants should have no problem reaching or climbing the location for the planting.

5. Consult ecology experts

Contrary to what most people think, you cannot randomly choose a sapling for planting. Each species has a distinct
set of requirements and each environment can only support a number of species at a time. If you incorrectly
introduce a species of plant in an area without consulting the experts, your sapling can either die because it’s not
suited to the environment where it was planted, or your sapling can end up disturbing the balance of the whole
ecosystem in the area. New species can out-compete the present local populations or affect existing predator-prey
relationships. Either way, it can throw off the balance in the ecosystem and have a negative impact on the area,
instead of replenishing the plant population.

6. Coordinate with commercial or government organizations.

No matter how good you are at planning or execution, you cannot do a major event like tree planting alone. Seek
the help of other commercial or government organizations for aid. This can be an opportunity to get some
sponsorship in exchange for free advertising.

7. Explain the cause.

In order to make a more lasting impact on the participants, provide them a teaser by giving them a background of
the place you’re trying to replant way before the actual event. Emphasize the significance of tree planting,
particularly in the area you have chosen, and the participants’ significant contribution to the cause. This should
make the people feel more relevant. At the same time, it drums up the anticipation and strengthens their
commitment to the event. Also, when you do give teasers or after explaining the cause, you might want to include
a little demo or orientation on how to plant saplings properly. This should lessen the mistakes in the actual event,
and mentally prepare them for the act itself.

8. Provide updates on the saplings’ development.

Not every tree planting event offers to give updates on the planted saplings. You can choose yours to have such an
extra to make it more memorable. By doing so, you gain the trust and appreciation of the participants. Not to
mention, this is the greatest measure of success for your tree planting activity.

III. Life Support System

To promote the growth of native ecosystems, many environmentalists advocate only indigenous trees be planted.
A practical solution is to plant tough, fast-growing native tree species which begin rebuilding the land. Planting
non-invasive trees that assist in the natural return of indigenous species is called "assisted natural regeneration."
Since the 1990s, a growing number of scientists and environmentalists have pointed to the pitfalls of the old
reforestation strategy in terms of biodiversity, water cycle services, and soil fertility and retention. Plantations
tend to be biodiversity-poor. As such, they become vulnerable to pest attacks, as what happened in Brazil,
Indonesia, and parts of the Philippines. They fail to restore the old, endemic Philippine rainforest species that
zoologist Lawrence Heaney described as “Galapagos times ten,” as among the world’s highest in biodiversity due
to the country’s archipelagic character and geological history. In a rainforest canopy, and unlike in plantations,
there exists a rich mutualism or symbiosis between and among plant and animal species. These include insects,
bats, and birds that help pollinate flowers and spread seeds, with an estimated 30 unique species of insects
sometimes dependent on one tree species.

In a study completed in December 2006 by the DENR’s Environment Research and Development Bureau, it was
“found out that exotic or alien species such as Gmelina arborea, Swietenia macrophylla and Acacia auriculiformis
have the potential to become an invasive species.” Studies on tropical regions also suggested that plantations act
as water pumps, draining rather than nourishing the water cycle. On the other hand, as pointed out by ESSC
Director Pedro Walpole, through the process of evapotranspiration from trees and forest floors, natural tropical
forests provide “green water,” the high level of moisture that makes possible the abundant rainfall feeding tropical
rivers and crops. This conclusion is supported by research conducted by scientists David Ellison, Martyn Futter and
Kevin Bishop, showing that reducing forest areas reduces regional and continental rainfall. Plantations also poorly
supply organic matter to the soil, compared to natural forests, where large amounts of organic matter formed
from forest litter help bind soil more tightly and hinder loss of soil. With trees often clear-cut, plantations tend to
suffer more from soil erosion and with it, loss of soil nutrients, including nitrogen that is important to the growth
and health of plants, animals, and humans.