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Seeing the unprecedented mud invasion of Aklan unleashed by Typhoon
Frank on television speaks to me as the effect of deforestation
rather than record-breaking rainfall as the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources wants us to believe. The streets
of Kalibo were consistent mudflats with people up to their ankles in
mud, which means with the heavy rain, soil was eroded and swept
downwards from the mountains and hills in massive quantities. The
cutting of trees provides the answer to why the soil was loose
enough to be swept away. There were no roots to hold it. Planting
crops on slopes and upland terrain is another reason why when water
from heavy rains occurs, the soil does not hold or absorb the water
but runs with it down to the lowlands.
In this matatag na republika, there are many
environmental rules that are observed by breaching them rather than
following them. Thus, there is unrestrained logging, usually on a
small scale by individuals or families which has a significant
multiplier effect if done by large numbers. Planting crops on
uplands is another cause of erosion because they are usually on
slopes that naturally have soil that is no longer held in place by
plants and trees go downhill because of rain. Poverty and
overpopulation has motivated illegal logging by individuals as well
as the invasion of uplands by people who have nowhere to plant. It
is not to be discounted, however, that there are organized illegal
loggers too who cause these depredations, usually employing
poverty-stricken locals to do the environment in.
Our environment is in crisis and we better
acknowledge what is happening. It is our responsibility to deliver a
viable environment to the next generation. Simple, easy-to-explain
concepts about why we should protect the environment should be a top
priority in schools, communities, local governments and the national
administration. And actual best practices environmental activities
should go with the theory of sustainable use of environmental
resources.
Our natural resources from water to wood, sea,
land and air are what make life on this planet viable. Abusing them
to the point of changing their character to be less viable and
scarce make a very negative impact on life. Scarcity because of
neglect or abuse will cause a competition for the few remaining
resources that could lead to wars and violence. Indeed, it is
bruited about that the next bitter wars will be armed and dangerous
competitions for scarce resources like water and oil. We should wake
up and do something about conserving and protecting the environment
on the level of you and me. Planting trees nationwide consistently
and constantly should be one route. Trees influence our environment
to a large degree. Saving water, keeping air clean, practicing
sustainable land use, are some other ways.
Planting trees for environmental conservation
and enhancement has been proven in Kenya by Wangari Maathai, a woman
who seeing the bad effects of environmental destruction in rural
areas, particularly on women, decided to do something about it by
leading the Green Belt Movement which meant planting trees to
prevent erosion, heal the land and break the cycle of poverty which
affected women most. Women in rural areas work the hardest to get
water, look for fuel, till the land. They are most affected when the
environment deteriorates. Maathai, en educated woman saw all these
consequences and slowly recruited thousands of groups of people,
most of them women, and together they planted 30 million trees over
several decades across Kenya, changing it to a green state whereas
it was on its way to desertification with degraded land because of
water resources compromised by deforestation.
I do think someone, preferably the government,
should invite Wangari Maathai here to help us get our own greening
movement going. The success of her tree planting efforts was based
on paying women a small amount for each seedling they grew, giving
them an income, as well as a knowledge and appreciation of the
environment and how to prevent of its degradation and an onset of
scarcity of resources. For each seedling they grew, the women were
given an income, which gave them the incentive to do nurture their
deteriorating environment. We do a lot of tree planting but we must
do more nurturing of the trees planted. They need it to grow and
proliferate and reverse the damage we have caused. By now, this must
be a nationwide endeavor drafting all Filipinos.
Wangari Maathai’s work started with planting
trees but through this simple environmental effort, she has made
people, particularly women in her country who are close to the soil,
aware of their right to a thriving environment that they can and
must pass on to their children. Tree planting is also a symbol of
equal responsibility as well as equitable sharing of present
available resources in a sustainable way. Every citizen has a right
and a responsibility for democratic good governance which at this
stage of contemporary history and Nature’s fragility is essential
to life.
Maathai’s tree planting movement is a
peaceful, cooperative, respectful social momentum where human rights
are protected and the majority is served. It may have started with
planting trees to save the environment and mitigate poverty, it
continued with consciousness-raising among those involved to regard
the world in existence with respect. Respect and regard for the
environment is a communal effort that brings people together to
equally respect and regard each other’s rights and needs. It is
the way people should live in their society. In 2004, Maathai was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her original tree planting had
naturally metamorphosed into a way of life that valued democracy,
human rights and the environment. Maathai had contributed mightily
to building her nation.
I suggest that the local governments of the
disaster areas that the typhoon swept over, appraise what and why a
typhoon was so lethal to their environment, and move on to see what
cooperative effort should be undertaken to prevent or mitigate the
damage that has come their way.
I am sure planting trees will be high on the
list. If so, why not ask Madame Maathai whose Green Belt Movement
has been adapted outside her home country by other African states
like Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Lesotho, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, to
popularize it here. A greener, healthier, more democratic and
peaceful environment would be worth it.
miongpin@yahoo.com
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