“Gold is a luxury. Trees are necessities. Man can live and thrive without gold, but we
cannot survive without trees.”—Author unknown
***
Last March 20, the global community observed International Day of Forests. This year, the vital role of forests in food security, nutrition, and sustainable livelihoods has been highlighted. Its theme connected forests to global efforts to combat hunger, protect biodiversity, and address climate change.
The United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat spearheaded the international observation along with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
In the UN website, five reasons were cited why this year’s theme is very important:
For one, forests play a crucial role in sustaining global food supplies. They offer a diverse range of edible resources, including fruits, nuts, seeds, wild game, and mushrooms. Over five billion individuals rely on forests and non-timber products for their food, medicinal needs, and livelihoods.
For another, forests are essential for the realization of the Zero Hunger initiative, which seeks to eradicate hunger, ensure food security, and promote sustainable agricultural practices by 2030. By supporting pollinators, enhancing soil fertility, and regulating water cycles, forests significantly contribute to agricultural productivity.
The website highlights agroforestry—a farming approach that combines trees with crops—as a strategy to improve food security while safeguarding ecosystems. A notable example of agroforestry is the Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) and its adaptations, developed by the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) located in Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur.
The third point to consider is that forest conservation plays a vital role in climate action. Forests serve as significant carbon sinks, absorbing billions of metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. Implementing sustainable forest management practices is essential for mitigating climate change and safeguarding food systems from climate-induced disasters such as droughts and floods.
The fourth reason emphasizes that forests are crucial for maintaining biodiversity and terrestrial life. They are home to 80% of land-based species, supporting ecosystems that are essential for healthy and resilient food systems. Protecting forests is imperative for preserving biodiversity, preventing land degradation, and ensuring reliable food sources.
Let’s take the case of our endangered eagle as a case in point. Studies conducted by the FAO said that a pair of Philippine eagles needs at least 7,000 to 13,000 hectares of forest as a nesting territory.
Lastly, forests are integral to the livelihoods and economies of many communities. Millions of individuals, particularly Indigenous Peoples and those in rural areas, depend on forests for their jobs and income. Enhancing sustainable forest-based value chains, including non-timber forest products, can significantly bolster economic resilience.
Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, a prominent environmentalist and wildlife photographer, noted in an article that in the 1900s, forests covered 70% of the Philippines. However, by the mid-1960s, only 13.5 million hectares remained, with a mere 6.3 million hectares classified as primary forest.
Today, about 7.6 million hectares (25.7%) remain, according to FAO. Of this, 861,000 hectares (11.2%) is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest.
Many experts warn that a country stripped of its forest cover faces severe ecological consequences. In 2011, Typhoon Sendong unleashed 12 hours of relentless rain on Mindanao Island, leading to a catastrophic aftermath.
Sean McDonagh, a priest active in the region, attributed the magnitude of the disaster to decades of deforestation in Cagayan de Oro City and surrounding provinces, where vast areas had been transformed from rainforest into pineapple plantations.
Environmentalists assert that both legal and illegal logging activities are decimating the remaining forests of the country. The Rev. Peter Walpole, a Jesuit priest and leader of an environmental organization, expressed that the Philippines had placed its trust in logging companies to responsibly manage forest resources. “But they did a very bad job,” he decried. “That started the problem that we have now.”
In response, logging companies attribute the problem to “kaingineros,” or slash-and-burn farmers, who are accused of logging without the accountability and oversight expected of larger corporations. Research conducted in the 1970s indicated that when logging companies were prohibited from operating in certain regions, those areas experienced rapid deforestation due to the activities of “kaingineros.”
Additional factors contributing to deforestation in the Philippines include forest fires, mining activities, geothermal exploration, dam construction and operation, as well as land development initiatives such as the building of subdivisions, industrial parks, and commercial properties.
Volcanic eruptions have caused significant destruction to various forests within the country. In addition, the rapid increase in the population, which has reached more than 100 million Filipinos, has exacerbated the situation.
Due to the ongoing loss of forest cover, the Philippines is currently facing a range of environmental challenges. Jethro P. Adang, the current MBRLC director, noted, “Many of these issues have not been experienced with such intensity and scale in previous generations. The signs cry out for immediate, nationwide action.”
