Aboitiz Group, Province of Cebu, Formalizes a Long-Term Partnership for Protected Landscape Reforestation

Aboitiz Group is partnering with Cebu's provincial government on a large-scale, multi-year reforestation and watershed recovery project, which will begin with cooperative efforts to green the Mananga-Lusaran River Project.

The CarbonPH Project is the first large-scale multipartite reforestation and watershed recovery collaboration proposed by the Aboitiz Group and Cebu province.
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Aboitiz Group President and CEO/Aboitiz Foundation Chairman Sabin Aboitiz on Thursday signed the memorandum of understanding for CarbonPH, together with Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, acting Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, and Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas, Jr.’s representative, Vice Mayor Richard Francis Aznar, during the Cebu Investments and Tourism Forum held at the Bai Hotel Cebu in Mandaue City.

Governor Garcia received an acacia tree from Aboitiz during the MOU signing, symbolizing the long-term partnership and the Aboitiz Group's significant commitment to the province. The acacia tree is noted for its persistence, strength, and ability to flourish in harsh conditions.

“More than planting trees, we are planting the seeds of a future where Cebu’s environment can thrive with its people. This partnership with Gov. Gwen and the province of Cebu is a long-term investment in the wellbeing of our communities. We’re turning our shared vision of sustainability into a living, breathing reality,” said Aboitiz, whose family traces its roots to Cebu.

A major component of CarbonPH is the reforestation of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL), encompassing a total land area of around 29,000 hectares. Considered as Cebu’s main water source, CCPL stretches across several areas in the province, including the cities of Cebu, Talisay, Toledo and Danao, in addition to the municipalities of Minglanilla, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela and Balamban.

The protected region also includes the watershed forest reserves in Mananga and Cotcot Lusaran, the Buhisan Dam, and the national parks of Central Cebu and Sudlon. It was designated a protected area in 2007 under Republic Act 9486, also known as the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL) Act.

As a biologically diverse area, CCPL is home to various endemic bird species, such as the Black Shama, Cebu Flowerpecker, Cebu Cinnamon Tree or Kaninga, Philippine Tube-nosed Fruit Bat, and Rufous-lored Kingfisher.
 
The decline in forest cover has resulted in biodiversity loss, with 11 out of 204 bird species and 2 out of 34 animal species on the verge of extinction.

CarbonPH will not only provide clean water, but it will also increase biodiversity, conserve endangered species, and absorb carbon dioxide, thus aiding in the fight against climate change. Local communities near CCPL will benefit from long-term job opportunities in forest management, eco-tourism, and agroforestry, which will help to boost the local economy.
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Residents will be active participants in the reforestation of CCPL, with the goal of building a green economy in which they can transition to more sustainable livelihoods. The long-term relationship will also include the establishment of an environmentally responsible supply chain and the promotion of natural parks and sanctuaries.