LET US not forget our indigenous peoples, the original protectors of our mountains. Helping them sustain their livelihoods is also helping them preserve the forests that sustain us all.
Science backs this up. Mangroves, for instance, can reduce wave height by up to 66% over just 100 meters of shoreline. Their tangled roots trap sediments and slow the force of storm surges.
The giant bamboo, according to research from Central Mindanao University and DOST-PCAARRD, cuts soil loss and prevents landslides by absorbing excess water.
The bitaog tree (Calophyllum inophyllum), native to our coasts, has deep roots that hold the soil tightly and branches strong enough to withstand typhoon winds.
The Forest Foundation Philippines reminds us that typhoon-resistant trees have complex root systems — primary, secondary, and tertiary — giving them exceptional grip even in violent storms.
Some, like the narra, molave, and katmon, have strong buttress roots that can spread up to 15 feet wide, anchoring them against nature’s fury.
But despite this natural wisdom, our forests continue to shrink. Between 2010 and 2020 alone, the Philippines lost over 46,800 hectares of forest — an area nearly the size of Quezon City. Each hectare lost means weaker defenses and more vulnerable communities.
If we want a safer future, we must act as one nation. Reforesting the Sierra Madre and other mountain ranges should not be left to government agencies alone. It must become a national movement — involving local government units, schools, cooperatives, and private citizens.
Imagine every town adopting a watershed, every barangay planting native trees, every school teaching students how to nurture seedlings.
We don’t have to wait for the next super typhoon to realize that trees are not just ornaments of nature — they are life-saving infrastructure.
The Sierra Madre and all our other forested mountains are not just part of our geography. They are our living fortresses.
If we truly want to defend our communities from future storms, we must rebuild these fortresses — one seedling, one bamboo clump, one mangrove at a time.
Maybe the time has come for us to start the movement./PN
