With nearly 1M trees planted, Haribon brings focus to ‘Urban Birds’
Members and volunteers of the Haribon Foundation renewed their commitment to help in the protection and restoration of ecosystems in the face of global warming, climate change and other man-made environmental threats.
“We have only one planet and we all have a responsibility to take care of it,” Haribon Foundation chief operating officer Maria Belinda de la Paz said at the foundation’s general assembly recently held at the College of Science auditorium in University of the Philippines Diliman. “Our small acts in our homes, schools or communities
—from taking care of plants in our homes, planting native trees in our yard, to segregating our waste—can make a huge impact on the environment.’’
The gathering saw the launch of Haribon’s “Urban Birds” campaign, which encourages the public to help create green cities while raising awareness about birds commonly seen in urban areas.
Another highlighted Haribon project was the “ROAD to 2020” (ROAD stands for Rainforest Organizations and Advocates), which started in 2006. According to the foundation, the project has since tapped more than 905 volunteers and planted about 905,000 tree seedlings to recover 574 hectares of forest land from denudation.
Haribon made significant strides last year when it signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region IV-A. The MOA designated a 100-hectare area on Mount Banahaw and the San Cristobal Protected Landscape as a new ROAD to 2020 restoration site.
The foundation also forged partnerships with stakeholders like the Samahan ng Mamayang Nagsasaka para sa Bundok Banahaw and Environment and Natural Resources Guards Inc. for their assistance in implementing the reforestation activity.
For more information about Haribon, call 4211213, 4211209 or 9116088; text 0922-8151942, 0922-8152045; or log on to haribon.org.ph. The Haribon Foundation office is on the second floor of Santos & Sons Building, 973 Aurora Blvd., Cubao, Quezon City.
