HARIBON’S Rainforestation Organizations and Advocates (ROAD) to 2020 forest-restoration movement was awarded as the best environmental project in the Philippines by the Energy Globe during the recent celebration of World Environment Day. It bested more than 2,000 submissions from over 170 countries.
The ROAD to 2020 is an environmental-conservation movement that aims to bring back the lost Philippine rainforests in the country by 2020.
It unifies the efforts of different groups that use rainforestation, including local governments, non-governmental organizations, people’s organizations, private organizations, schools and individuals.
Rainforestation is a technology that uses native trees in forest restoration, which builds better resilience against climate-change impacts. “Through the help of our partner communities, more than 600 hectares of native trees are steadfastly thriving and are now benefitting families and communities,” Haribon’s ROAD to 2020 program coordinator Thaddeus Martinez said.
Martinez added when in full growth, the replenished forests would provide these areas with cleaner air, water supply and protection from flashfloods.
Haribon’s tree-planting activities have restored forests in more than 26 municipalities and engaged over 14,000 volunteers.
The environmental group has also conducted trainings that taught how to identify local tree species and has established local tree nurseries for over 50 species, including trees in danger of being lost to the world. “Our work continues, as more needs to be done to regain the Philippine forests’ status in the early 1900s,” Martinez said.
Hailed as one of today’s “most prestigious environmental prizes” worldwide, the Energy Globe Award aims to recognize and raise awareness on sustainable solutions that tackle the pressing environmental problems that face the world today. Haribon’s winning project is automatically evaluated on the international level and awaits potential nomination for the Energy Globe World Award toward the end of the year.
Energy Globe Award continues its global call for participation of efforts focusing on saving resources, improving air, soil or water quality, increasing energy efficiency, using renewables and mitigating climate change effects. This campaign is approved by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in cooperation with the UN Environment Program.