LBC Employees have become BioChamps and help with the gargantuan task of reforesting the Philippines. In partnership with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. One To Tree (RAFI One To Tree) program, the LBC Foundation promoted environmental awareness and conservation among its employees through its employee engagement program. Committed towards helping the country recover its lost tree cover, LBC employees across the country raised funds and donated to RAFI One To Tree. “Since the time of its inception, RAFI’s One to Tree program has made a significant impact primarily on the environment but effectively also on the lives of many Filipinos through its livelihood component. RAFI has given the opportunity to participate by tapping into the consciousness of our employees who have eagerly contributed towards its goals of reforestation and conservation,” shared Christine “Nena” Wuthrich, LBC Foundation Executive Director. Within just one month, LBC employees raised enough funds to plant more than 1,000 seedlings. A total of 54 LBC employees across the country have helped raise a total of Php. 53,700 in donations. LBC Foundation has committed to matching the amount in full, in effect, doubling LBC’s impact. “We are grateful for this partnership with RAFI which we hope will aid in mitigating the effects of climate change on biodiversity, and we look forward to more opportunities of working together in the future,” said Wuthrich. RAFI OTT’s BioChamp program allows organizations and individuals to take an active part in helping the country’s denuded forest and at threat ecosystem. Annually the country continues to face the threats of losing its forest cover. The Philippine Forestry Statistics reports that the country loses about 47,000 hectares each year. This significantly impacts local ecosystems, contributing to loss of biodiversity and economic activity. With the help of LBC employees, RAFI OTT continues with its mission of restoring the country’s lost tree cover. It provides community-appropriate tree growing services and essential livelihood to partner farmers. With each donation for seedlings, BioChamps support the sustainable tree growing and livelihood of partner farmers in Cebu. “We thank LBC Foundation and the LBC employees nationwide who have joined our ranks as BioChamps. Through their help, we are now able to plant more than 1,000 native trees. We continue to encourage all LBC employees to be a key player in ensuring healthy and sustainable ecosystems,” said RAFI OTT Executive Director Anton Dignadice. RAFI One To Tree (formerly known as RAFI Biodiversity Conservation Unit), has been active in reforestation and conservation for over two decades and has achieved more than 80% survival rate for native tree growing. RAFI OTT also assists companies in the service delivery of Environmental Compliance Certificate requirements set by the Philippine Government, as well as helping them achieve carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation goals.
