Philippines Students Have to Plant Trees to Graduate! | 菲律宾的学生如要毕业必须植树！
It is a tradition in the Philippines for students to plant trees before their graduation. Recently, a new law was introduced in the Philippines to make tree-planting a prerequisite in order for students to graduate. Students are required to plant at least ten trees in selected areas.
Since the 20th century, the forest coverage in the Philippines has decreased from 70% to 20% due to logging activities and development. Deforestation has a detrimental effect on the environment. One of the most dangerous and unsettling effects of deforestation is the loss of animal and plant species due to loss of habitat. Besides, rainforest trees provide the canopy that regulates temperature, which is a high factor in the survival of others. Without the canopy, there is a drastic variation in temperature from day to night, which is fatal.
“Seventy per cent of Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests, and many cannot survive the deforestation that destroys their homes.”
With the absence of trees to shield the land from the weather, nutrients in the soil and topsoil will erode away, and the land will become unsustainable for farming and more susceptible to flooding.
Many environmental issues we face today are due to deforestation. The simple solution to this is reforestation. There are lots of success stories around the globe on reforestation, and it is proven that one man’s effort is sufficient to make a change in the environment. The Forest Man of India, Mr Jadav Payeng, is an excellent example of an individual who has planted trees in Majuli island in the last 40 years and created a forest that has attracted animals such as elephants, tigers, deer, rhinos, and vultures to return to the area.
Reforestation has a lot of beneficial and vital impacts on the environment and our survival. Listed below are the importance of trees in our environment.
Air
Due to economic and technological development, our environment is full of harmful pollutants. Trees play an essential role in helping to purify the air. Their leaves and bark are able to absorb harmful gases such as nitrogen oxides, ozone, and carbon monoxide released by cars and factories and release clean oxygen into the air.
Water
The roots of trees are able to hold the soil and water when it rains, and thus prevent floods and landslides.
Biodiversity
Trees serve as a habitat to many species of insects, fungi, moss, mammals, and plants. Without trees, many living beings will not be able to survive.
Social Impact
Forests provide job opportunities for countless people. For examples, researchers, arborists, truck drivers, forest rangers, etc. We need trees to build houses and furniture or even to cook. Some trees provide fruits and leaves for both human and animals.
Health
According to some studies, trees can calm our mind and help to reduce stress and anxiety. Trees can also block harmful ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer.
Climate
Not only do trees absorb harmful gases in the air, they can also reduce the overall temperature by up to eight degrees Celsius.
Conclusion
Passing the new law to make tree-planting a prerequisite for graduating students is a very innovative and creative idea. Most of the environmental protection laws and legislation are enforced on businesses. Passing the new law will give youths a sense of responsibility to the environment they live in, it will teach them to be respectful to our environment and other living beings. May this initiative be successful and inspire other countries to follow suit.
Philippines Passes Law Requiring Students to Plant 10 Trees If They Want to Graduate
By: Charlie Cocksedge
May 28, 2019 20:51
A new law in the Philippines has been introduced which requires all high school and college students to plant at least 10 trees before they can graduate.
Planting trees before graduation is an old tradition in the country, but now the government has formalised the law in hopes to not only keep the tradition alive but also combat global climate change.
According to those introducing the law, the new legislation could result in 525 billion trees planted in a single generation if the students adhere to it.
The principal author of the new legislation, the Magdalo Party’s representative Gary Alejano, said:
With over 12 million students graduating from elementary and nearly five million students graduating from high school and almost 500,000 graduating from college each year, this initiative, if properly implemented, will ensure that at least 175 million new trees would be planted each year.
In the course of one generation, no less than 525 billion can be planted under this initiative.
Even with a survival rate of only 10 per cent, this would mean an additional 525 million trees would be available for the youth to enjoy, when they assume the mantle of leadership in the future.
The trees will be planted in mangroves, existing forests and some protected areas, as well as military ranges, abandoned mining sites and selected urban areas, as CNN Philippines reports.
One of the requirements will be the planted trees must be suitable for the location, as well as the climate and topography of the area. Indigenous species of tree will get preference.
A number of government agencies, such as the department of education and department of environment and natural resources, will be responsible for site preparation and seedling preparation, monitoring and evaluation, technical support and other services.
As well as the immediate positive impact the trees will have, such as absorbing carbon dioxide and combatting deforestation, the government hopes the new initiative will help future generations understand environmental and ecological issues in the future.
The Philippines is one of the world’s most heavily deforested countries. During the 20th century, the country’s total forest cover dropped from 70 per cent to just 20 per cent. Illegal logging is still a problem in the country, with the lack of trees increase the risk of floods and landslides, according to the Independent.
The above information and pictures are extracted from: UNILAD (June 2, 2019). Retrieved from: https://www.unilad.co.uk/news/philippines-passes-law-requiring-students-to-plant-10-trees-if-they-want-to-graduate/?source=facebook
在菲律宾，毕业生植树是一个当地的传统。不久前，菲律宾通过一条新法律，强制毕业生必须在指定地点种植至少10棵树才能正式毕业。
自20世纪，菲律宾的树林面积由于国家的发展和森林过度砍伐问题而由原来的70%减少至20%。森林过量砍伐接踵而至的是对环境的破坏，其中最让人担忧的是动植物会因此失去住所。此外，热带雨林的树冠有调节气温的功能，热带雨林的消失会导致日夜温度落差变大，对一些动植物的生命造成威胁。
“地球有70%的陆地动植物居住在树林里，过度砍伐森林导致他们因为流离失所而无法生存。”
没有了树林作为土地的保护层，泥土和土壤内的养分会因为降雨而流失，土地会变得贫瘠而不适合耕种，同时也增加水灾的发生频率。
我们现今所面对的环境问题主要源自于过度砍伐森林。植树是解决环境问题的一个简单方法。在世界各地有不少成功植树改善环境问题的例子。例如印度森林之子札达夫，在过去40年里他一人在马久利的贫瘠河岸种植树，到了今天，这片土地已变成一座青翠茂密的森林，吸引了大象、老虎、鹿、犀牛，甚至秃鹫等，再次回归森林的怀抱。
植树能够为我们的环境带来许多利益。下面是一些树对我们环境的重要性。
空气
经济与科技的发展带来的是环境污染问题。树其实是一个很好的空气淨化媒介。树的叶子和树皮能够吸收有害气体如氮氧化物、臭氧、工厂及汽车所排出的一氧化碳，也能逮住空气中的灰尘和烟雾，然后释放干净的氧气。
水
树根系统在下雨时能够防止泥土流失，也能很有效地把雨水吸收到地底，减少水灾和土崩的发生。
生物多样性
树是许多昆虫、菌类、苔藓、动物和植物的居所。没有了树，这些生物将无法继续生存。
社会影响
树林提供许多就业机会，比如伐木业者、研究员、树林专研员、货车司机、树林看管员等。我们也需要树木作为建房子、制造家具甚至是煮食的原料。一些树的果实和叶子也是人和动物的食物。
健康
根据一些研究报告，树可以帮助我们静心、减少压力和缓和紧张的情绪。树也可以隔离引起皮肤癌的有害紫外线。
气候
树除了能够吸收空气中的有害气体也能降温。一般上，树林可以帮助降低环境气温高达8摄氏度。
结论
菲律宾这项新通过的植树法律非常前卫也很有创意，因为到目前为止，环境保护法律主要还是针对商家。这项新法律让年轻一代重视环境问题、负起保护环境和其他生物的责任。希望菲律宾政府能够成功施行这项新法律，成为其他国家学习的榜样。
菲律宾通过新法律，学生如要毕业必须种植10棵树
编辑：查里库斯杰
2019年5月28日 20:51
菲律宾刚刚通过一条新的法律，指定所有高中生和大学生必须种植最少10棵树才能毕业。
菲律宾的学生在毕业前植树是当地的一种传统。菲律宾政府通过新法律强制植树，除了是为加强此传统的延续以外，也是为了改善气候变化的现象。
据提倡此新法律的人士，如所有的学生都能遵守这项新通过的法律植树，菲律宾仅需一代的时间就能种植525亿棵树新树木。
新法律的主要制定人玛达罗政党代表加利亚礼加诺说道：
每一年，菲律宾大约有1200万名小学生、500万名高中生，以及近50万名大学毕业生。如果这项新的法律能够很好地被执行，菲律宾每年会因此植上最少175万棵树。
因此，仅仅在一代的时间内，我们就能因为这项新法律而植下不少过525亿棵树。
即便这些树的活存率只有10%，菲律宾的新生代在未来延续菲律宾的领导任务时，也已经有了525万棵树让他们享用。
据菲律宾有线电视新闻网（CNN）报导，植树计划主要会在红树林、现有树林、一些保护区，还有军事范围、废弃的矿场和特定的城市地区实施。
种植树木的其中一项考量是树木必须能够适应该种植区的地形与气候，树种以原生植物最为理想。
此项计划涉及好几个政府机构，例如教育部、环境部以及天然资源部。他们主要的工作是准备种植树木的地点和树种、进行监督和审核工作、给予技术上的援助和其他服务。
此计划下种植的树木所带来直接的利益包括吸收二氧化碳和对峙森林砍伐问题等。菲律宾政府希望这项新计划可以帮助下一代更了解生态与环境问题。
菲律宾是全球面临森林砍伐问题最严重的国家之一。他们国家的树林面积在20世纪由70%减少至20%。根据独立新闻报导，至今，非法伐木活动在菲律宾仍然是一个问题，树林的减少提高了水灾和土崩的风险。
以上新闻和图片转载自: UNILAD (June 2, 2019). 源自: https://www.unilad.co.uk/news/philippines-passes-law-requiring-students-to-plant-10-trees-if-they-want-to-graduate/?source=facebook
Sources:
- OneTreePlanted, Why Trees? The benefits of planting trees for our planet, https://onetreeplanted.org/pages/why-trees (accessed 3 June 2019)
- Pachamama Alliance, Effects of Deforestation, https://www.pachamama.org/effects-of-deforestation (accessed 3 June 2019)
For more interesting information:
- Forest Bathing-The Best Medicine
- The Emerald Forest
- Living Off-The-Grid in Lenggong Valley, Malaysia
- 66 Million!
- Buddhist Monks Working to Tackle Deforestation in Cambodia
- We are starting to plant
- Scientist Have Discovered That Living near Trees Is Good For Your Health
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In my opinion, gardening is a very good exercise for maintaining our physical health as well as our mentality. Many people don’t pay much interest in gardening as thinking it was a labour or grunt work. In fact, if we think more deeply, we will find there were a lot to learn in gardening, for example texture of soil that suitable for certain plants etc. It is a very good training for refreshing our mind and studies have shown that seeing more greens is good for soothing eyes.
Philippines is doing wonderful work for their people. Besides of creating habits of environmental awareness, the people will also be benefited on understanding their country economics and welfare. On the other hand, Bhutan was also been labelled world’s eco-friendliest and carbon negative country in the world. Hence, plant trees is a good deeds for beneficial for the nature, therefore same as plant Dharma seeds into their mind stream.
Philippines has lost its forest coverage from 70% to 20% since the 20th century, this data is shocking. I see the reason for Philippines students to plant trees before their graduation as a tradition, and feel glad for them as a new law was introduced to make tree-planting a prerequisite in order for students to graduate.
This step is to educate the young generations to value the rain-forest, to care the wildlife habitats, to know the important of green environment. Young generations should take a look at logging activities and development of their country too. I hope Philippines will have a beautiful begins to restore their ecosystems, even China took 20 years to increase their rain-forest. Malaysian government should do something like this too!
Great move by the Philippines to impose this law .This will educate young generation the value of environment .Not only that,this initiative will teach them to be respectful to our environment and other living being.
Hopefully this move will be successful and inspire other country too.Thank you very much for sharing this good article to us.
The awareness of the importance of the forest is very crucial. I’m glad that the youngster is being educated and nurtured to plant. Everything has to start from now. Every single small tree we plant now will become every single big tree in future for our future generation. Nothing is too late but if we don’t start now and keep thinking we have tomorrow attitude, then it will never happen. How we want our future we have to nurture it now. Same as how we want our children to behave is from our nurturing from now.
If we get the best for now then we have to do the best now for the future. If you think now is still not good then repair it now and do your best for good. Nothing come by itself. We have to work it out.
Remember, nature didn’t owe us but we owe the nature big time. If we still don’t realize this then we are really in big trouble.
The Philippines is one of the planet’s most severely deforested countries in south east asia. Tree planting has numerous positive effects on the overall environment, as well as surrounding communities. The authority has noted and aware of the danger of deforestation so much so they are doing their best for the future generation to come. A new bill has been passed by lawmakers in the Philippines that require students to plant 10 trees each seedlings in areas such as forests, mangroves, and indigenous territories before graduating . These will help to greenify the country. Wow ….. a brilliant way to encourage people to plant trees for a better environment. Its a new graduation requirement for student. The law is meant to fight climate change while simultaneously adhering to an old tradition. Million of new trees would be planted each year. The country could make a significant difference in fighting the climate crisis and so forth. Hope they would carry on with these wonderful projects that promote environmental protection, biodiversity, climate change mitigation, poverty reduction, and food security. May more countries following Philippines to save the environment and a better place to live in.
Thank you Rinpoche for this wonderful sharing.
Thank you, Rinpoche and the blog team for sharing this article with us. It is good to see that the Philippines had started to install the value of protecting the environment in its younger generation. It is an excellent idea to have the students to plant trees to educate them about the importance of forest in the ecosystem.
When we instil such values into the younger generation, they will grow up to become better human beings that will treasure mother nature instead of incessantly destroy and exploit the environment for their benefit.
The mother earth has been exploited so much that the rate of it recuperating is not as fast as the rate of destruction. We have experienced the consequences of it, and one of them is global warming. Countries around the world should take this as an example and start to educate the young about the importance of preserving the environment.
Due to the development and illegal logging activities, many trees are cut down and the forest coverage on earth is decreasing tremendously over the past 20-30 years. This is very alarming.
Trees play a very important role in our environment. 70% of the earth land animals and plants live in the forest. Deforestation means these living beings will lose their habitat and could face extinction. Without the trees to regulate the temperature and their roots to hold and filter the water, there will be more occurrences of natural disasters such as floods and landslides. Deforestation is one of the main contributors to climate change.
The government of the Philippines has started a very good initiative by enforcing the planting of trees by law on graduating students. We have done too much damage to our environment due to our ignorance. Therefore, we have to educate the younger generation so they don’t repeat the same mistakes as ours and be responsible to our environment.
Wow! Imagine the Malaysian government doing something like this! This would make Malaysia a much greener place too. This would not only make Malaysia healthier but this would also teach students on the importance of the environment. The number of wildlife habitats will increase too. I am happy to see that the Philippines is doing this to help the environment. I hope that the Malaysian government would do something like this in the near future for the sake of everyone on this planet we call home.
A very good effort and law implemented by the Philippines government to educate the young generations the importance of environment and save and value the rainforest. I do appreciate the initiative taken and the steps to work together in order to ensure the rainforest and their wildlife will survive for their future generation to enjoy and benefit from.
All the necessary step and idea teach us how the country will be restoring the damaged ecosystems and to live in a way that doesn’t hurt the environment and protect the wildlife through parks operated by government support companies. I do hope that the country will achieve their goals and do have the healthiest rainforest in the world.
根据一份报告，在过去的25年，全球森林缩水了130万平方公里。也就是说，自1990年起，地球已经失去了比南非面积更大的森林。换句话说，就是自1990年，我们每小时就失去了1000个橄榄球场的森林面积，或者说800个足球场的面积。
这个数字相当惊人，森林砍伐问题如果持续下去，世界很快就变成沙漠，对全球气温的影响更是巨大。所幸这些年来，越来越多国家也惊觉全球森林面积减少问题，继续采取了相应措施去克服这个问题。中国就是一个很好的例子。上世纪中叶，中国的森林覆盖率一度低至12.5%。经过最近二十多年恢复，到2016年这个数字恢复到21.66%。最近25年，中国是世界少见的森林面积仍在增加的国家。
另一个从错误中吸取教训，并下定决心解决问题的就是菲律宾了。菲律宾是全球面临森林砍伐问题最严重的国家之一，国家树林面积在20世纪由70%减少至20%。这项新实施的政策，对学生而言可能是个压力，但对菲律宾，乃至地球而言，这却是正确的做法。希望此项政策能够取得巨大的成功。
This is such a good idea to incorporate the greening of the country with the regulation requiring students to plants trees in order to graduate. This will help replenish the much-needed trees that help the environment of the country, as well as imbuing the young with a sense of duty towards the welfare of their country. Having a green country does so much to benefit its population, not only humans but also animals. Kudos to the government of Philippines and hope that other countries will emulate such a brilliant idea.
Indeed a great move by the Philippines authority to impose this law. This will ensure at least 175 million trees are planted each year. Not only that it will create awareness and educate all students on the importance of taking care of the environment. We human are the one who damage the environment and we are responsible to upkeep for our next generation. Would be good if more countries adopt this idea and get everyone to plant trees.