SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., the power unit of San Miguel Corp. (SMC), is set to plant 1.1 million seedlings this year as part of its 7-year upland and mangrove forest rehabilitation initiative.
Dubbed “Project 747” the program spearheaded by SMC’s power unit was launched in 2019.
It so far planted a total 1,994,988 seedlings and propagules over 620 hectares of land as of December 2020.
The program brings together employee volunteers and partner farmer and fisherfolk associations, who work together to plant and take care of the forests.
“With close to two million trees planted in two years, this shows the dedication and commitment of our SMC Global Power’s employee volunteers, our partner organizations, and our government agencies, in rehabilitating forests and growing new ones in both upland and coastal areas,” SMC President Ramon S. Ang said in a statement.
Ang said last year, due to the pandemic restrictions, only 900,000 trees and mangroves were planted.
“This year, we intend to make up for it by planting 1.1 million trees, when the rainy season starts,” said Ang.
The environmental program serves as a carbon sequestration mechanism to help mitigate climate change. Essentially, forests capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from large point sources such as power facilities, which trees and plants then convert into oxygen through the natural process of photosynthesis.
It involves the rehabilitation of 2,800 hectares of upland forests and 1,204 hectares of mangrove forests in Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Quezon, Albay, Negros Occidental, and Davao Occidental.
Ang underscored the role played by local farmer groups and fisherfolk organizations that help identify the indigenous tree varieties to be planted in their respective areas. They are also crucial in the implementation of planting and livelihood initiatives, and ensuring the high survival rates of young trees.
“Our partner farmer and fishermen know their areas very well since they’ve been living and working there all their lives. So with the help of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources [DENR], we tap into their local knowledge on what plant species are endemic in their areas, and enlist their help in nurturing these trees to adulthood,” Ang said.
Survival rates of planted seedlings and mangrove propagules are at an average of 89 and 91 percent, respectively, he noted.
Tree varieties in the upland plantation are Narra, Molave, White Lauan, Palosapis, Agoho, Batino, Igang, and Malabayabas while mangrove varieties planted include Bakawan Babae, Bakawan Lalaki, Bungalon, and Api-Api.
The tree planting component is only one part of the program. It also aims to address the social and economic needs of SMC’s community partners and leverage on their capacity for livelihood development and environmental stewardship, Ang said.