ONE HEART FOREST: PHILIPPINES
EXPANDING OUR REACH
Due to our global climate crisis, we're expanding our reach in a race against time.
We're all facing higher temperatures, more frequent and stronger storms, devastating hurricanes and tornadoes, wider spreading and more damaging wildfires, rising sea levels, floods, droughts, famine, and loss of precious habitat and species... the time to act is now.
TYPHOON DAMAGE & DEFORESTATION
The most damaging natural disaster of 2021 caused by climate change occurred in the Philippines - Typhoon Rai - causing $794.72 million in damages, killing 410 people, and displacing more than 680,000 people. (Credit: Aljazeera)
Typhoon Haiyan alone caused more than 6,000 deaths and over US $2 billion in damages.
(Credit: Washington Post)
A recent study estimates that without mangroves, flooding and damages to people, property and infrastructure in the Philippines would increase annually by approximately 25%.
(Credit: Vatican News)
Mangrove loss is occurring at an alarming rate, primarily due to conversion of land to other uses, including aquaculture and development. Hundreds of thousands of hectares have been lost to pollution, aqualculture, and other developments.
(Credit: ADNChronicles)
WHY THE PHILIPPINES?
Although planting mangrove forests in the Philippines will help alleviate climate change globally, it’s the country most at risk from the climate crisis according to a report published by the Institute for Economics and Peace.
Mangroves create forested barriers between the wrath of the seas and our coastal communities providing benefits in coastal defense and fisheries.
In 1918, there were 500,000 hectares of mangroves in the Philippines.
Today, that number is down to 250,000 hectares.
(Graphic Source: INFORM Global Risk Index 2019; IEP Calculations)
STRATEGY
A minimum of 100,000 trees is required to establish the One Heart Forest: Philippines. In order to have a significant impact in preventing damage to local communities from typhoons, our ultimate goal is to plant a minimum of one million trees along the coastal areas of the Philippines.
To start, we’ll plant in Hagonoy, Bulacan, Philippines, to protect some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Here, residents rely heavily on fisheries as their main source of income - home to approximately 50% of the fisherfolk in the Bulacan province. Frequent flooding and the degradation of mangrove forests in the coastal areas of Hagonoy result in refuted harvest and disruption, thereby affecting the social and economic life of the people.
Social, Economic and Environmental IMPACT
Educating Children
One for One – For each tree that we plant, one child will be provided with green education, ensuring that they understand the importance of our ecosystem, inspired to protect and preserve the environment for us as well as future generations.
Sustainable Livelihoods
75% of income for Hagonoy coastal residents is derived from fishing or fish-related activities. Planting trees and cultivating mangrove forests creates a rich biodiverse ecosystem where fish can thrive.
Water Quality
Mangroves are essential in maintaining the water quality for locals and wildlife by filtering and trapping sediments, heavy metals, and other pollutants.
Protecting Upland Forests
Mangroves provide protection for upland forests from landslides due to heavy rains.
Prevention of Coastal Erosion and Flooding
Mangroves serve as an interface between land and water, playing a vital role in the prevention of coastal erosion and flooding due to rising sea levels and storm surges.