Manila: The multisectoral Allied Mangrove Planting Organizations (AMPO) has planted over 1.3 million mangroves in Negros Oriental in the past decade in an effort to combat climate change and safeguard the environment. AMPO is a coalition of like-minded non-governmental groups, government agencies, and individuals dedicated to protecting the environment and reforesting Negros Island's coastlines, Southeast Asian countries, and Japan, lead collaborator Sidney Lee said in an interview on Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, AMPO started planting and rehabilitating mangroves in 2015, spearheaded by the Negros Oriental Association of ROTC Corps Commanders, after observing the dwindling sea forest in Tanjay City. Lee mentioned that other organizations began noticing the effort and later joined the independently funded and organized activities of NORACC, transforming it into a large consortium.
In the same year, AMPO partnered with the '10 Million in 10 Years for a Greener Negros' (10M in 10) project, initiated by the Energy Development Corporation and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), pledging to plant 10,000 mangrove trees. By 2017, the alliance had reached its goal, but efforts continued, aiming to plant one million mangrove trees in subsequent years.
The alliance members organized annual mangrove planting events with alternating leadership roles and broke the activity into smaller events aimed at planting 10,000 mangrove trees. As of June this year, AMPO has collectively planted over 1.3 million mangrove trees at several sites across the province, in collaboration with local government units. They are now working toward planting two million mangrove trees.
The original locations in the villages of San Isidro and Luka in Tanjay City are now filled with mature mangroves. AMPO regularly visits for the replacement of deceased trees. Over the weekend, a mangrove planting activity was held in Barangay Banilad, with the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry leading the effort.
AMPO has expanded its activities to include the coastal areas of La Libertad and Manjuyod in the north, as well as Barangay Banilad. Based on assessments made by the DENR, the survival rate of the mangroves planted by AMPO is at 92 percent. For every 10,000 trees planted, an extra 1,000 mangrove trees are planted to account for mortality.
Mangroves act as natural barriers against waves and storms, with roots stabilizing shorelines and capturing large amounts of carbon dioxide to offset greenhouse gases. Lee emphasized that coastal tree planting allows AMPO members to contribute to fighting climate change, protecting the environment, restoring biodiversity, disaster mitigation, and decarbonization.
Although AMPO is not officially part of the nation's decarbonization efforts, Lee stated that planting and restoring mangroves show support for the country's carbon sequestration initiatives. Some government and private institutions approached AMPO to collaborate and monitor their activities in reducing carbon emissions. However, Lee expressed contentment with their current contributions to reducing carbon emissions.
