This community-led project will reforest a 20-hectare (40 soccer fields) barren mountains in Lagangilang, Abra Province, Philippines using 15,000 trees. In 5 years, the planted trees will help prevent landslides in upper stream communities, and will prevent floods and loss of farmlands due to river encroachment in lower stream communities.
The absence of trees in the mountains made the locals, especially the small-scale farmers vulnerable from disasters such as landslides, floods, and loss of farmlands due to river encroachment. The locals felt the need to reforest their mountains but they lack the fund to buy seedlings, fertilizers, watering equipment, fire prevention equipment, and other reforestation related materials.
Equipped with our expertise and experiences in reforestation projects, we will work with the local communities in restoring their degraded mountains by planting trees. As the locals get involved in the decision-making and actual implementation such as tree planting activities, construction of fire lines, and weeding; they developed a sense of ownership towards the project. It guarantees project sustainability beyond funding.
The project mainstreams the concept of living in harmony with nature, and utilizing environment to mitigate disasters as well as to support livelihoods. As we aim for a development that is deeply rooted in environmental conservation by the local communities, the project helps build resilient communities as they prepare for cascading disasters.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
