𝗕𝗨𝗞𝗜𝗗𝗡𝗢𝗡 — The ancestral domain of Talaanding, Manubo, and other tribes in Mt. Kalatungan has faced significant challenges due to deforestation caused by human activities, particularly kaingin—widespread burning and slashing of forests for agricultural purposes. To address this issue, the DOST Bukidnon, in collaboration with esteemed partners such as the DENR-PAMB Bukidnon and LGU Pangantucan, initiated an innovative drone reforestation pilot project.

 

In an inspiring event on May 23-24, 2023, over 245 individuals from various organizations came together with a shared mission: to help our indigenous community regreen their land. Notable participants included representatives from DENR-PAMB Bukidnon, government employees from the Municipality of Pangantucan, the Philippines National Police (PNP), and the Talaandig and Manubo Tribes of Kalatungan Mandum Tribal Community. The event also saw the enthusiastic involvement of students from Pangantucan Bukidnon Community College (PBCC) and Pangantucan Bukidnon National High School (PBNH). Through their unwavering dedication, the workshop achieved remarkable results, surpassing the target of 12,000 seedballs. In total, 16,129 seedballs were meticulously crafted, each containing a collection of 48,428 precious endemic seeds such as Kupang (𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢), Narra (𝘗𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘴), Banaba (𝘓𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘴𝘢), Ulayan (𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴), and Balete (𝘍𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘢).

 

The impact of these seedballs stretches far beyond mere numbers. They hold the potential to grow 24,214 trees, breathing life into a once-barren 4-hectare patch of the Mt. Kalatungan. As the trees grow, they can absorb a staggering 24.76 metric tons of carbon per year (tC/year), mitigating the effects of climate change. Moreover, they will safeguard against drought and protect the precious watershed that sustains Pangantucan, for the site lies beside its main water source.

 

The drone reforestation operation was scheduled for Wednesday, May 31, 2023, after the seedballs have been dried and prepared for dispersal.

 

This revolutionary endeavor is supplied by Galansiyang – Leave a Nest Group LVNS Forest Project (https://forest.lne.st/). Born in Tokyo on March 3, 2023, this visionary initiative aspires to create an autonomous social system that harmonizes forests and people. With science and technology as our guiding lights, we are revolutionizing the forestry sector, addressing critical challenges, and forging a path to a greener, more sustainable future in the Philippines.