How Silliman University, GForest are planting 1M mangroves for a more resilient Negros

Through a combination of science, community, and care, Silliman University and GCash’s GForest are making a heartfelt commitment to give back to the environment

How can sustainability efforts create a positive, lasting impact? It’s by using a science-backed strategy, careful and consistent monitoring, and most importantly, securing long-term commitments made by groups that belong to different sectors.

This is the project blueprint for Silliman University and the Philippines’ leading finance app and largest cashless ecosystem, GCash. The two institutions kickstarted phase one of their collaboration in 2023 to plant 500,000 mangroves and beach trees in Negros Oriental. As of January, the project has yielded over 192,000 planted seedlings despite climate challenges like El Niño and La Niña.

For its second phase – a South Negros leg with another 500,000 mangroves, bringing their total reforestation goal to one million mangroves and beach trees by 2029. The project hinges on active collaboration between three key stakeholders: Silliman University for science-backed strategies, the People’s Organizations (PO) within local communities for crucial on-ground care, and GCash’s GForest community of Green Heroes for continued resources and support.

Leading with science

The Negros region is home to biodiverse ecosystems and coastal communities. Through Silliman University’s research and planning, they identified key South Negros areas to reforest to bolster both biodiversity and community livelihood.

SCIENCE FIRST. Experts from the Silliman University (SU) Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences (IEMS), including professor emeritus Dr. Hilconida P. Calumpong; IEMS director Dr. Janet S. Estacion; and blue carbon specialist Dr. Pablina L. Cadiz, lead the strategies for the reforestion project

“Zamboangita all the way to Cauayan in Sipalay has a very narrow fringing mangrove [habitat], about only 1,600 hectares. If you take a look at the land area in relation to the mangrove, that’s only less than 1% of the land area. And yet it heavily harbors a lot of the coastal population,” said Hilconida P. Calumpong, PhD, professor emeritus of Silliman University’s Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences.

Within the area, the Silliman team inventoried around 29 mangrove species and 56 bird species. They identified endangered species like the Gapas-gapas for mangroves and the Philippine duck for birds. “It’s a highly diverse, yet highly threatened habitat,” said Dr. Calumpong.

Mangroves are crucial to these coastlines because they house marine life, protect the marine resources that fisherfolk depend on for their livelihood, and shield coastal communities from extreme weather conditions like typhoons. They also have a higher capacity for carbon sequestration compared to forestries.

However, growing mangroves to adulthood is no easy feat, which is why daily care by the partner POs is key to the project’s success.

Silliman University engaged 16 POs to source seedlings, care for them in nurseries, and plant them in their designated sites upon maturity. These local community members bring their own level of innovation and care to help the seedlings grow day after day.

Nanay Maria, 51, is part of a Zamboangita fisherfolk community and tends to a phase one nursery in the area. She recalls how 30 years ago, her house on the coastline would sustain damage during typhoons. When mangroves grew in their area, her house became protected from the extreme weather. Seeing the benefit of mangroves firsthand, she felt motivated to plant mangroves.

Now, tending the nursery is part of her routine.

COMMUNITY CARE. Local fisherfolk Maria, 51, tends to seedlings in a mangrove and beach forest plant nursery

When asked what brings her joy about her work, Nanay Maria said, “Naisip ko lang na kahit ganito lang, nakatulong din ako sa kalikasan. Para rin sa mga apo ko, sa susunod na henerasyon. May [naitulong] ako sakanila.”

(“I just thought that even in a small way, I got to help the environment. It’s also for my grandchildren, for the next generation. I got to help them.”)

Using tech for good

Working with local communities is one of GCash’s key agendas in its mission to use tech for good. “As you know, GCash is for financial inclusion, but we cannot include them if the problem is they don’t have money,” said CJ Alegre, GCash head for sustainability.

“This program will not just give them [a] one-time dole-out, but this program will give them livelihood.”

ALL-AROUND SUSTAINABILITY. The project provides livelihood opportunities for members of local People’s Organizations (PO) who are tasked to source and care for the mangroves

Sustainability projects like the Negros reforestation only became possible because of the overwhelming support of GCash’s GForest community of Green Heroes, which is now 21-million strong. Through the platform, GCash has planted four million native and indigenous tree species to date, with no signs of slowing down.

“We are using technology to bridge our users to science experts. We are making it easy, simple, and accessible for them, which is the true GCash DNA. We are using technology and innovation to create good,” said Alegre.

To further support the efforts, GCash is holding an eco-run in Metro Manila on March 23. Each participant will sponsor one mangrove tree in Negros Occidental, which will also be matched by GCash. On the GForest platform, mangrove trees for the Negros Occidental area are set to become available by March.

Silliman University and GCash’s holistic approach to mangrove reforestation is a prime example that nature and community are always connected. To take care of nature also means taking care of the community around it, and the combination is what can help build a more resilient Negros. 

Want to contribute to the Negros reforestation project? Stay tuned to GCash’s GForest platform to find out how you can help the cause. – Rappler.com