NATURE VALLEY GOES THE EXTRA MILE FOR NATURE

NATURE VALLEY TREE PLANTING WITH VOLUNTEERS
In May 30 with the theme 1 Runner - 1 Tree, the Nature Valley Run gathered almost 11,200 registered runners who took part to fight the effects of climate change. As committed, Nature Valley undertook its first tree planting activity last July 10, 2010 with the assistance of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).  Almost 100 volunteers, who started the commitment to preserve nature for the next generation, trooped to IPO in Norzagaray, Bulacan to plant 2,200 trees.

THE TREE PLANTING ACTVITY

Donna Cruz Larrazabal-mom, marathoner and the Nature Valley brand endorser, trooped to Bulacan together with the volunteers. To kick off the activity, Ms. Julie Mustafa of the DENR's Bayanihan Legacy Project briefed the participants on how to properly plant the seedlings with care and what the Dumagat community-who were also with the volunteers-will be doing in the next few weeks to ensure the seedlings grow healthy and strong. The volunteers were given out Nature Valley sling bags with green t-shirts, bandanas with mineral water, and Nature Valley granola bars to keep them going.  They were also provided with Cleene ethyl alcohol and Cleene pocket tissue to keep them sanitized after the tree planting activity.

The volunteers, who seemed like green marshals, hiked up the mountain to their designated tree and planted the seedlings with glee.  Truly, nature preservation has also become a main priority for this generation that the volunteers even went out of their way to make a difference for Mother Nature.

BACKGROUND

IPO Dam is located in Norzagaray, Bulacan about 47km from Metro Manila. It is a 6,600 hectare watershed which supplies over  12% of the total water supply of Metro Manila. The people living near the dam are called Dumagats; they take care of the area, and understand very deeply the importance of keeping the balance of nature. They are a very simple and humble people. As is the case in several parts of the Philippines, some parts of the IPO Watershed were destroyed by illegal farmers, and needed to be rehabilitated.  70% of the IPO Watershed is in fact denuded. It has been reported that this alarming rate of deforestation will leave Metro Manila without clear water in 15 years. The reforestation of the Ipo Watershed may take 20 years as it would require the planting of at least 1.5 million tree seedlings.

In cooperation with DENR's Bayanihan Legacy Project, Nature Valley is undertaking the 5 year reforestation of denuded areas in the Ipo Watershed in Norzagaray, Bulacan.  This project does not only help the environment but also supports the local Dumagat community who reside in Ipo as Nature Valley purchased the tree seedlings from the nurseries of the Dumagat folk.

The next tree planting activity is on August 7, 2010.