The Progress of Forest Conservation

Today’s youth has inherited a much warmer world that’s growing hotter by the year, more natural disasters, even more uncertainty. Instead of dreaming of the future with carefree ease, you’re constantly being told that the world will be a dangerous place to live in when you’re well into adulthood. 

Fortunately, not all hope is lost. There are more widespread efforts to minimize waste and live sustainably, thanks to environmental advocates, especially those of native trees and forest restoration. Philippine scientists have taken many steps to draw awareness to our natural flora and fauna; for instance, David Ples carried out citizen science research to study Clerodendrum plant species all over the country, including the bagawak-morado. Meanwhile, forest-dependent communities and social enterprises have all worked together to protect and conserve our forests while developing sustainable livelihood options. These advocates have shown that forest conservation and sustainability come hand-in-hand, helping pave the way for a brighter future. Additionally, ecotourist groups like Eco Explorations have organized eco-tours and environmental education camps and activities that highlight the community involvement, development, and empowerment needed to conserve the environment. Filipino artists are also actively advocating environmental conservation; Cynthia Arce created the Philippine Forest Blooms project in partnership with Forest Foundation Philippines to draw more attention and appreciation for our native trees. Using her breathtaking illustrations of the country’s beautiful flora and fauna, she created vivid recreations that showcased each species’ distinctive qualities. 

Thanks to technology, joining the movement to save our ecosystem is now even easier because of the many activities and information publicized online. For example, fashion designers and retailers have made conscious efforts to use recycled materials in their products because of consumers’ demands for sustainability. Non-profits and businesses have routinely arranged tree-growing activities in various schemes; many CSR initiatives plant a tree for you in exchange for purchasing a product.