The Urgency of Reforestation: Saving the Philippines’ Vanishing Forests
Dr. Rodel Castro's words resonate like an urgent call to action, underscoring the grave environmental challenge that looms large over the Philippines—climate change. He reminds us that the younger generation will bear the burden of this crisis and must shoulder the responsibility of finding solutions. The state of the Philippine forests is a prime example of this impending disaster, a problem that has been festering for decades.
Over the years, the Philippines has seen a drastic decline in its forest cover. In the 1920s, forests blanketed 60% of the nation's land area, covering 18 million hectares. This number dropped to 50% (15 million hectares) in the 1950s, and the situation worsened as the years passed. By the 1980s, the country's forest cover had shrunk to 23%, with many islands no...