Some Basics in Forestry

A glimpse in the mind of Mr. C., another Earth Rescuer:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here are some basics in plant physiology.

Consider a plant, or a tree which has a rich folliage of leaves. During the daytime, the plant makes use of sunlight and water to manufacture its food (for growth). This process is known as photosynthesis. The process involves "absorption' of nutrients from the soil and the ambient air (which is probably laden with toxic gases). At night, the stomata underneath the leaves' surface opens up to give off oxygen. Familiar with the scent of dama de noche? There we are.

If we have many trees, as in a forest, we have an effective atmospheric 'cleanser'. That is why, we foresters, are emphatic about the need to plant more trees! Apart from the role of the forest as atmospheric cleanser, it acts as a sort of sponge to cushion the impact of rainfall which could otherwise erode a bare soil surface. In effect, rainwater seeps deeper into the earth's aquifer layer to 'enrich' the volume of our springwaters and fountains.

There is the familiar refrain, FORESTS PREVENT FLOODS. Let it be said that this may not be true all the time, because, UNDER ABNORMAL METEOROLIGAL CONDITIONS, like what we are experiencing now. excessive rainfall leads to oversaturation of the forests and so the ineveitable happens, floods in downstream communities.

We need forests to restore ecological balance. The government and the private sector can work together to attain this objective. (Sadly enough, most tree planting activities done everywhere nowadays are turning out to be mere 'palabas'. I have visited a lot of tree planting sites and found the survival rates of planted seedlings frustratingly dismal). If I have my way, the forestry program I want to see implemented is one that is truly SINCERE.

Sometime in 1973, I was in Japan on a technical training in forestry. I have seen how they cared very much for their forest resources. Most of the forestry practices they adopted are copied from European countries. How sad it is that upon my return, my humble observations and recommendations were not 'noticed' by the very institution that sent me abroad. I did not stay long in the forestry bureau. I transferred to another goverment agency then retired early. But I got another sheepskin from a local university.

I joined the geomatics professional group as a geodetic engineer. Upon graduation, I taught for a while and handled higher surveying subjects like remote sensing. Today, I am active in private practice. But the call to save the environment is something that we should heed and that's where we need to wage the crusade to promote the use of facilities to mitigate the effects of toxic carbon emissions.