The rainy season is upon us. Floods have become a common occurrence during a heavy downpour.
If we take a look at our surroundings, we have denuded forests and blocked drainage systems.
People cut trees indiscriminately and practice poor waste disposal. The effects are the flooded plains that act as catch basins when there is rain.
At the time when I worked in non-government organizations (NGOs), the wet season also signaled for us to do tree planting activities.
One of the locations where we do such environment-related undertakings is the Ipo Dam watershed.
The area surrounding Ipo Dam has been destroyed by illegal logging, so we took steps at recovering these portions.
Watersheds are important because they gather water when it rains, then filter the water and drain it to a bigger body of water, such as a river or lake.
Trees play an important role in the watershed because they strain, hold and regulate the precipitation.
Located in Norzagaray, Bulacan, Ipo Dam receives water from Angat Dam and directs water to La Mesa Dam, which in turn provides water to the entire Metro Manila.
From Makati, we traveled through Quezon City and Caloocan until we reached Norzagaray.
The view of the river from the dam was spectacular as the water mirrored the greens in the mountains and the blue sky.
The water looked serene, but we were warned that it was too deep and dangerous.
We then rode a flimsy motorized boat to the tree planting site. We wore life jackets for safety purposes.
The boat ride seemed to last for a long time. We passed other boats by the locals that were living in the area.
They were from the Dumagat tribe. Some of them also help guard the forests.
As we touched land, we found some clearing that showed the brown color of the soil. Certain portions were on a slope, and it was a tough climb as we planted the seedlings one by one.
Here in Negros Occidental, I had joined a tree planting activity when I was still with the Dr. Pablo O. Torre Foundation, Inc.
We traveled to Sitio Campuestuhan in Talisay City, and walked upland to the upper Caliban Imbang watershed, previously referred to as the Baciwa Watershed.
Other places where I have done tree planting activities are in San Teodoro in Oriental Mindoro.
We planted mangrove trees to prevent soil erosion in the coastal area of this agriculture-rich town.
There are also pockets of places within Metro Manila, like the Arroceros Forest Park, located in Ermita at the banks of Pasig River.
But for bigger tree planting events, huge groups from the metropolis troop to the province of Rizal where there are large areas for reforestation.
Back home, I have also experienced planting trees in Barangay Granada, Bacolod. It was also an incline located near a stream of water.
My trip to Ipo Dam was a huge realization of the importance of our ecosystem.
The clear waters reflecting the clouds and blue skies were even more precious when you’re wading through it.
The patches of brown in the midst of green landscapes were heartbreaking to see.
Water is life, and so are trees.
We need to protect our forests and put more greens in our city centers.
With the impact of climate change on our lives, we have to do better in protecting our environment and making our planet a more livable place for everyone.
All photos are by this author unless otherwise stated. Claire Marie Algarme blogs at http://firsttimetravels.com. Follow her as @firsttimetravel on Twitter and Instagram and like her Facebook page First-time Travels blog.