Climate change has left drastic effects on the environment, posing a massive threat to humanity. With the Philippines being one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, the private sector and non-profit organizations have collaborated to implement strategies to support sustainable development.
As champions of biodiversity, a collaboration between property developer Cebu Landmasters, Inc. (CLI) and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., One To Tree (RAFI-OTT) created initiatives that promote conservation of the remaining forest cover in the Province of Cebu. These initiatives encourage and engage communities to protect and rehabilitate the environment through its Native Tree Growing Project which supports a balanced and integrated manner of addressing climate change.
For four and a half years, CLI and RAFI OTT will plant and grow a mix of 229,836 native timber, fruit and mangroves in various locations within the VisMin area. This initiative aims to contribute to biodiversity enhancement, empowerment, and provide income augmentation for farmers in Brgy. Sunog, Balamban, among its other sites and community partners in Minglanilla, Cebu. The project kick-off was held via Zoom last June 8, 2021, attended by representatives from both RAFI-OTT and CLI.
“With RAFI sharing the same values with CLI, we knew this partnership was the right fit. As we embark on this collaborative project, we should keep in mind our shared vision of creating a sustainable and more livable environment and contribute to improving the wellbeing of the local communities that we engage in,” said Anthony Dignadice, Executive Director of RAFI One to Tree.
Jose Franco Soberano, Chief Operating Officer of CLI also shared in his opening remarks: “We are very happy to be collaborating with RAFI. It’s an honor to be working with the best and that we can bugsay this together. We are very confident that this will be a happy and fruitful collaboration.”
One To Tree (RAFI-OTT, formerly known as RAFI Biodiversity Conservation Unit (BCU)), 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.
For more information on Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI), visit www.rafi.org.ph, or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph
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