Alarming Global Warming Must be Resolved By Tree-Planting

Everyday a lot of human activities involve emission of carbon dioxide  to the atmosphere from the mundane turning on of lights, heating or  cooling of homes, cooking of food, to large-scale burning of forests,  production in factories, and running of vehicle engines.

What are just mentioned are essential to people’s day-to-day living  and survival but the tradeoff from the benefits we get from them  deserve our immediate attention for they far outweigh the convenience  we claim to be vital to civilization.

Carbon dioxide is a heat-trapping greenhouse gas that is identified as  a major culprit to climate change. With an atmosphere of high carbon  dioxide concentration, earth’s temperature continues to rise in an  alarmingly rapid pace. We have been for years dealing with an  escalating global warming.

A May 2013 report shows that carbon dioxide emissions have reached an  unprecedented level of 400 parts per million (ppm). According to  readings issued from the Mauna Loa Observatory, this is higher than in  the past 800,000 years. In fact, the highest ever recorded in the  planet’s history.

But what should cause more worry is that the figures already exceeded  the safe upper limit of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, a few  notches higher than the set 350 ppm.

As the planet experiences the evident environmental crisis, the clock  is ticking and humans are in a race against time and, for certain, the  imminent worse case scenario.

United States, which is considered as a major contributor to carbon  dioxide emissions, suffer high temperature in winters and summers.  Even wind, rains, and storms have  intensified. Africa, although a  least carbon dioxide contributor, suffers the effects of global  warming because it lost many of its trees.

In the Philippines, even the dry season has been marred by typhoons  accompanied by floods and landslides ravaging parts of the country.

It may be impossible to stop the growing damage at this point but  something can still be done to save what’s left of the habitable  portions of our home, our existence.

Reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere requires the reduction  of emissions on one hand and the sequestration of these heat-trapping  gases on another.

One of the significant efforts to sequester carbon dioxide is through  planting of trees. The more vegetation that thrives, the more  greenhouse gases are sequestered from the atmosphere. Trees absorb and  store greenhouse gases.

Close to home, the third run of Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines,  which was convened by Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and partners in  2011, will be held simultaneously in the 40 component local government  units of Cebu province and several areas in southern Philippines.

This year, Naga City and Cordova will host the central events in  support of the ridge (Naga City) to reef (Cordova) perspective in  biodiversity enhancement that takes into account enhancing not only  upland vegetation but also coastal areas.

Interested individuals may coordinate with their respective  municipalities. Those from Cebu City can register either in Naga City  or Cordova.

In Naga City, participants may contact Boy Hilado of the City  Environment and Natural Resources Office at 489-8989.

Participants in  the Cordova run, may contact Joy Baguio of the  Department of Agriculture at 236-3812 or Lily Ator of the Office of  Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator at 236-4194.

Other local government units participating in the event include  Talisay City, Minglanilla, San Fernando, Carcar City, and Sibonga ib  the first district; Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob,  Santander, Samboan, Ginatilan, Sibonga, Badian, Alegria, Moalboal,  Ronda, malabuyoc, and Alcantra in the second district; Asturias,  Tuburan, Balamban, and Barili in the third district; Medellin, Bogo  City. Bantayan, Tabogon, Madridejos, and Tabuelan in the fourth  district; Liloan, Sogod, Carmen, San Francisco, Borbon, Catmon,  Compostela, and Danao City in the fifth district, and Consolacion in  the sixth district.

Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines, one of the components of GREENIN  Philippines program, is a fun run and planting activity that provides  a venue for every Filipino to contribute in rehabilitating and  protecting our environment. It aims to expand the country’s forest  cover and bring back biodiversity by planting native trees.

This event is in line with the national government’s National Greening  Program (NGP) and tied to the DILG’s Billion Trees Program under NGP.

As we celebrate Environment Month, it is not enough that we remember  that we are stewards of the earth but we must choose to rethink and  redo things if we want to save the only home we have.

Source: 350.org