As an archipelago in the Western Pacific with a high vulnerability to extreme weather and sea level rise, the Philippines is among the top countries in the world that are most affected by climate change. However, the Southeast Asian country has also demonstrated some of the most ambitious actions when it comes to fighting our global climate problem.
Recently, for instance, the country’s government has approved a law that requires all graduating elementary, high school, and college students to plant at least 10 trees each before they can graduate. The law formalizes a tradition of planting trees upon graduation. Proponents of the legislation say that it could result in as many as 525 billion trees planted in a generation if the law is properly adhered to.
The trees will apparently be planted in mangroves, existing forests, some protected areas, military ranges, abandoned mining sites, and selected urban areas. In addition to the immediate carbon-absorbing impact of the trees, it is hoped the legislation will help bring environmental understanding to future generations and lead to further ecological initiatives.
