CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Situational Analysis

Trees are very important. They help us in many ways. They give us clean

air to breathe, provide homes for animals, and even help fight climate change.

But, sadly, many trees are being cut down due to urbanization and other reasons.

This is a big problem. That's why we need to plant more trees.

In the Philippines, we are lucky to have a rich diversity of plants and

animals. However, there are places where we need to focus on planting more

trees. One such place is Barangay San Isidro in Oas, Albay. Our action research

aims to understand how tree planting initiatives can make a positive impact on

this specific area.

Barangay San Isidro is a beautiful place with lots of plants and trees.

However, like many other places in the Philippines, it faces challenges such as

deforestation and loss of green spaces. These challenges not only harm the

environment but also affect the people living there, their livelihoods, and their

quality of life.

According to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (2020),

our environment needs humans’ tender loving care and we can do so by

engaging in environmental activities that also improve our quality of living such

as tree planting. Trees have lots of benefits and tree growing is an essential way
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countries across the globe are doing to avert the harsh impacts of climate

change. We have seen the damage it wrought upon us in the form of super

typhoons, monsoon rains, landslides, and erratic weather conditions. Trees

highly contribute to a clean environment as they improve air quality through the

process of photosynthesis – producing oxygen and taking in carbon dioxide. It

also filters air intercepting unhealthy particles by removing dusts and absorbing

pollutants like carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide and letting

the rain wash them after. It also helps In climate amelioration by mitigating the

effects of the sun, rain and wind as the leaves absorb and filter the sun’s radiant

energy, acting as a shield from the falling rain and preserve warmth by screening

off the harsh wind. The roots of trees hold the soil in place as it fights erosion that

causes landslide. It also absorbs and store rainwater that helps reduce runoff

and sediment deposit after the storms. It also helps recharge ground water

supply, prevents transport of chemicals into streams as well as prevents flooding.

Its fruits provide food while its fallen leaves also make good compost and

improve the quality of soil.

Our research will focus on the tree planting initiatives undertaken in

Barangay San Isidro Oas, Albay. We want to know what types of trees are being

planted, how they are being planted, and who is involved in these efforts. By

doing so, we aim to understand the effectiveness of these initiatives and their

impact on the environment and the local community.

Through this research, we hope to gain insights into the successes and

challenges of tree planting on Barangay San Isidro. This knowledge can help

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guide future tree planting efforts in the area and contribute to the broader

conversation on environmental conservation and sustainability.

By planting more trees in Barangay San Isidro, we can improve the air

quality, provide habitat for wildlife, and create a more beautiful and sustainable

community. This research will provide valuable information on the best practices

and strategies for successful tree planting initiatives, benefiting not only

Barangay San Isidro but also serving as a model for other areas facing similar

challenges.

In conclusion, our action research on tree planting in Barangay San Isidro,

Oas, Albay, aims to understand the impact of tree planting initiatives in this

specific area.

Objective of the study

This study have two objectives and those are the following:

• To determine the specific environmental challenges faced by barangay

San Isidro, Oas, Albay that can be addressed through tree planting initiatives.

• To determine how does tree planting initiatives be integrated into the

long-term planning and development strategies of barangay San Isidro, Oas

Albay to ensure a sustainable and healthier community.

Statement of the Problem

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 The study aimed to determine the positive impacts of tree planting for a

healthier and sustainable community.

Specifically, sought to find the;

1. What are the specific environmental challenges faced by barangay San

Isidro, Oas Albay that can be addressed through tree planting initiatives.

2. How can tree planting initiatives be integrated into the long-term planning

and development strategies of barangay San Isidro, Oas Albay to ensure

a sustainable and healthier community.

Importance of the Study

The goal of this study is to understand the positive impacts of tree planting

for a healthier and sustainable community. The following are the information from

different authors that is related to this study.

According to DGB Group (2023), in a world grappling with environmental

challenges, reforestation stands out as a powerful solution that offers numerous

benefits. By planting trees in areas that have been deforested or devoid of

forests, we can unlock a range of positive effects. From combating climate

change to fostering biodiversity, reforestation holds the key to a healthier planet

and thriving communities. DGB Group states the 10 amazing benefits of planting

trees and those are: (1) Carbon Sequestration, (2) Biodiversity Conservation, (3)

Soil Protection and Restoration, (4) Water Quality Enhancement, (5) Water Cycle

Regulation, (6) Climate Regulation, (7) Air quality improvement, (8) Disaster risk

reduction, (9) Economic Benefits, and lastly (10) Social and cultural benefits.

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Forests offer recreational spaces for hiking, camping, and nature exploration,

promoting physical and mental wellbeing. They also provide educational

opportunities for schools and research institutions to study ecosystems,

biodiversity, and the impacts of climate change. Reforestation initiatives empower

communities to take an active role in environmental conservation and develop a

sense of ownership over their natural surroundings.

According to onetotree.org (2022), Tree planting in the Philippines and

elsewhere, for that matter, has tremendous environmental benefits. Planting

trees is one of the most empowering activities because of its positive impact on

the environment. Trees fight climate change, and this fact cannot be emphasized

enough. The Philippines is naturally green. However, deforestation is so

widespread. We need to reverse the adverse effects of such. Otherwise, we will

experience more droughts, floods, landslides, etc. Not to mention the country’s

geographic location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which means there are several

typhoons each year. Onetotree also states that trees help us breathe cleaner air,

trees are good for the health, trees save us money, trees increase home value,

trees help buffer noise pollution, trees bring people together, trees are a legacy,

and trees improve the quality of life are the benefits of tree planting.

According to Basil Ewane, E. (2022). Forest Governance Effectiveness of

Community- and Government-managed Forests. Effective implementation of

forest governance principles such as transparency, participation, accountability,

coordination, capacity, user rights protection and security driven by positive

government interventions are instrumental for sustainable forest management in

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Vietnam. The study also examined the extent to which community forest rights

are legally recognised and protected and how government interventions

undermine or promote Management effectiveness in. This is considering that

community forest managers have been seen as better managers of forests than

government agencies, if their full rights are well recognised and protected. Forest

loss showed significant increasing trends and was higher in Management than in

other forest management types from 2012 to 2014. Negative government

interventions such as imposing excessive bureaucratic obstacles and initial

financial investment in the processing of application files for Management

applications and commercial user rights of timber harvesting, colluding with local

elites, individuals and corrupt municipal and administrative authorities, also

produces negative forest outcomes in Cameroon and in the Congo basin region.

According to Meredith P. Martin, David J. Woodbury, Danica A. Doroski,

Eliot Nagele, Michael Storace, Susan C Cook-Patton, Rachel Pasternack, and

Mark S. Ashton from Biological Conservation (2021), tree planting is both a

promising and controversial solution to climate change and biodiversity loss.

Most frequently organizations reported establishing forestry systems plantations

or using assisted natural regeneration, suggesting that tree planting programs

are designed to support local communities as well as environmental objectives.

Students’ participation in tree planting activity: Promoting the 21 st century

environmental. Studies highlighted the positive impacts of biodiversity

conservation in the students’ academic performance but there is still lack of

literature pertaining to its role on the promotion of environmental education in the

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Philippines. This study aimed to analyze the Filipino senior high school students’

perceptions and experiences on participating in a tree planting activity, identify

the implications of tree planting activity in studying Earth and Life Sciences, and

explore the perceived constraints and opportunities. Tree planting activity as a

part of the field study program in schools is one of the most effective ways to

combat and slow down the effect of global warming while promoting the students’

academic interests. This study also highlighted the positive impact of tree

planting by improving the Filipino students’ perceptions of life, community, and

environment which is the goal of 21st century education. The study is to

development of extension programs to school communities in the Philippines and

worldwide that will arouse the interests and participations of the students to tree

planting activity, gardening and ecological tours by partnering with relevant

organizations and agencies.

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