Photo by :(Matthew TenBruggencate on Unsplash)
MANILA, PHILIPPINES [TAC] – Ambassadors and official representatives from the embassies in the Philippines of the ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste and ASEAN dialogue partners the 58th ASEAN Day with a tree planting activity last August 9.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) Executive Director Dr. Jerome Montemayor led the activity at the Makiling Botanic Gardens of the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve, an ASEAN Heritage Park in the Philippines.
Among the trees planted include native tree seedlings such as Bagtikan (Parashorea malaanonan), Saplungan (Hopea plagata) and Yakal (Shorea astylosa). After the activity, the guests proceeded to the ACB Headquarters for a brief program.
In his welcome remarks, Montemayor thanked the DFA, the officials and UPLB’s scientific community. He also highlighted the importance of collaboration among the ASEAN member states and conservation partners in the ASEAN’s goal for sustainability.
“As we join hands in planting native trees…in the face of the triple planetary crisis of pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss, we are reminded that conservation and restoration are shared responsibilities that require a whole-of-society approach. It gives us hope that the results of our current efforts will continue to grow, flourish and help build a better world for generations to come,” he said.
In her message, Secretary Lazaro stressed the importance of ecosystem restoration as well as cooperation in ensuring a prosperous future.
“As we plant the seedlings that will grow into robust and vigorous trees in the future, so do we plant the foundation for productive, cooperative, and meaningful engagement among ASEAN member states and our dialogue partners. We support the Centre’s efforts to restore our forests and protect our biodiversity through the ASEAN Green Initiative, which aims to plant 10 million native trees over a period of 10 years across all 10 ASEAN Member States,” she said.
