A reforestation program that was initially intended to help preserve forestry resources that are being utilized by tobacco farmers for curing tobacco leaves has not only sustained the fuelwood requirements of the tobacco industry, it has also helped tobacco farmers, through cooperatives, earn additional income while doing their share in caring for the environment.
The program, called Reforestation through Cooperative Organizing and Capacity Building for Tobacco Farmers in the Ilocos Region and Region 2 spearheaded in 2001 by then Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc. (PMPMI), in partnership with its leaf suppliers, Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation, Inc. (JVOFI), and Cordillera Green Network (CGN) has now planted a total of 3,650,000 trees.
To date, the project covers an approximate area measuring 1,306 hectares and has benefited hundreds of tobacco and rice farmers across Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley (Region 2) and Mindoro.
Noting the farmers’ dependence on the availability of fuelwood for curing tobacco, “the reforestation program helps replenish the trees that were cut down for use as fuelwood in curing tobacco. This is also one of the company’s way of recognizing its social obligation to contribute to environmental protection,” says Atty. Amy Eisma, manager for public affairs and contributions of Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corporation (PMFTC) Inc.
When PMPMI and Fortune Tobacco Corporation merged their respective businesses and established the PMFTC Inc., the program took a higher gear as it intensified its efforts in organizing farmer cooperatives and taught them how to propagate seedlings and manage plantations.
Eisma said that apart from the establishment fuelwood plantation, the program also tapped areas that are suited for planting hardwood and timber species. Cutting down of trees in these areas, which are also managed by the farmers’ cooperatives, can only be carried out upon securing the necessary permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The program also covered reforestation areas where cutting of trees is not allowed.
Eisma added that the cooperatives manage the reforestation areas with the assistance from PMFTC, JVOFI and CGN. CGN, in particular, helps monitor the progress of the seedlings that are planted out in the field. The good thing is that they have been recording a high survival rate of seedlings planted by the farmer cooperatives at 80%.
“We provide farmers with seeds which they will propagate in their nurseries. They make money as the company buys the seedlings for planting in reforestation areas from their cooperatives at P3 to P5 each,” Eisma added.
For the fuelwood plantation, the tree species that are planted include madre de cacao, calliandra, ipil-ipil and gmelina. While timber species like mahogany and Acacia mangium are recommended in other areas.
When the program has expanded in Region 2 and Mindoro province, PMFTC added bamboo to the recommended reforestation species due to its various significant uses in these areas. In Mindoro, for instance, bamboo is the primary material used for hanging Burley tobacco during air-curing. Besides, bamboo fits well for reforestation because it is fast-growing and helps prevent soil erosion.