Bring back the rainforest

Bring back the rainforest
NATURE FOR LIFE
By Anabelle E. Plantilla
From Manila Times Internet Edition

HARIBON deeply sympathizes with the victims of the massive landslide in Guinsaugon, Leyte.
At the same time, we commend the rescue measures and support being provided by almost all sectors of the society and even by the international community to ease human suffering in the devastated areas.

It is unfortunate indeed that Southern Leyte lies within a fault line. Its location makes it a geologic hazard area, which is susceptible to landslides. According to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, there are usually four causes of landslides and floods in Leyte and Surigao: unusually heavy rains, numerous faults/fractures and badly broken rocks, steep slopes and the absence of effective vegetative cover.

Guinsaugon had experienced an unusually high amount of rainfall when the tragedy happened. Weather experts attribute this to climate change, one of the contributory factors being deforestation. Its steep slope also makes it highly susceptible to landslide, especially with the absence of a forest cover. While experts look into the geologic causes, it is also equally important to point out that Guinsaugon was once a forested area. In less than a century though, it has been transformed into coconut plantation and human settlement.

Despite its dangerous location, a forest cover and humus on the forest floor could have possibly lessened the impact of heavy rains. Thick forest canopy absorbs the first heavy impact of rain, such that water slowly trickles down the forest floor and rock crevices. The forests also have a very important role in mitigating climate change since they act as carbon sink for greenhouse atmospheric gases that can alter the weather patterns.

While there are many causes of landslides and floods, we should focus on interventions that can be addressed by humans, one of which is ensuring ample and effective forest cover. Another is ensuring that proper land-use zoning is effected now so that no settlements will be situated within identified geo-hazard zones or disaster-prone areas.

We are racing against time. More environmental disasters can happen at a rate more frequent than before, and with impact that can devastate the human spirit. It is time to act now. There is no mWhile opportunity to act still presents itself, we call on every Filipino to help in any way they can to revive our dying forests. Let’s all join hands now in planting seeds of hope in denuded forestlands before another land is wiped out and before another community becomes lifeless. Please join us in bringing back the rainforest. Let us plant indigenous tree species today.

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