THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has rolled out its drive to plant five million trees by 2028, reinforcing its commitment to climate resilience and sustainable forest management.
The campaign, dubbed “Forests For Life: 5M Trees by 2028” aims to propagate five million trees across key provinces, contributing to the sequestration of 3.5 million tons of carbon by 2038.
DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Loyzaga stressed the critical role of targeted and aggressive reforestation in addressing climate change impacts, particularly in flood-prone and watershed areas.
Loyzaga underscored the initiative’s multiple benefits, including enhanced biodiversity, improved water resources, mitigated soil erosion and strengthened community livelihoods.
“The restoration of our forests is an urgent climate action strategy. Enhancing reforestation in priority areas will secure water supply and fortify the country’s defenses against flooding and landslides,” she said.
“This initiative also complements our ongoing efforts to expand mangrove forests and coastal greenbelts, which serve as natural barriers against storm surges and coastal erosion,” she added.
The pilot sites for the Forests For Life initiative included Ilocos Norte, Rizal, Leyte, Bataan, Bukidnon, and Lanao del Norte.
The program will begin in 2025 with site preparation, partner mobilization, seedling production, and plantation establishment. In 2026, efforts will focus on plantation establishment, maintenance, and protection, which will continue in 2027.
By 2028, the program will emphasize maintenance and protection, alongside program evaluation and documentation to assess its impact and ensure sustainability.