LOOKING BACK TO the beginnings of my environment watch two decades ago, I rub my eyes seeing the same festering sores and even more harmfulones of late. Pollution (toxic gases in air, water bodies, industries, cities; plastics everywhere till they mount un-decomposed in dumpsites and oceans).
Ecosystem degradation (mountains denuded for favored extractive activities like mining and logging, slopes and fields sacrificed for uncontrolled real estate development). Biodiversity loss (plants and animals excessively and carelessly uprooted from their habitats for commercial purposes). And the unheard-before Climate change (causing extreme weathers and natural havocs that may collapse the earth system just over two decades from now).
Going into a new year, I thumb down “resilience”, the common escape door, and switch on hope. I believewe humans can definitely make up for our excesses and failures. Yes, environment destruction is largely a human ax. A sin against creation that needs cleansingand making up.
“Going into a new year, I thumb down “resilience”, the common escape door, and switch on hope. I believe we humans can definitely make up for our excesses and failures. Yes, environment destruction is largely a human ax. A sin against creation that needs cleansing and making up.”
RESPECT FOR CREATION: THE GOOD ROOTS
In his encyclical published in 2015 titled Laudati Si (On Care for Our Common Home), Pope Francisaddresses various environmental issues like global warming, pollution, and indigenous communitiesthrough a relational approach that includes God, human beings, and the Earth. Calling Earth our common home, he prescribes both spiritual and practical ways for all people and institutions to care for it. The global movement he inspired, Laudato Si Movement, has continued the advocacy for an environment and community that co-exist in harmony. Specifically, it promotes ecological conversion, divestment from fossil fuels, integration of creation care into Philippine institutions like schools, pushing for nature-based solutions, among others. Spiritual roots, how can they go wrong for God’s amazing creation?
NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS: AN IDEAL STRATEGY
NbsS are emerging as one of the country’s most important strategies for restoring ecosystems, while addressing climate, resiliency, biodiversity, and social challenges. Just last September, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, in partnership with the Forest Foundation of the Philippines and the Canadian government, gathered government leaders, civil society groups, indigenous communities, academics, and development partners to chart a shared path for NbsS. The young environment leaders in the conversation, are for a shift from extractive relationships with nature to stewardship rooted in education.
The call was simple but urgent: work with nature, not against it. NbsS is seen to thrive with collective action.
NbsS or NBS use ecosystems to solve problems like climate change and flooding. They harness the power of nature – like trees, mangroves, and coral reefs– to protect communities and the planet from the impacts of climate change.
Examples are: restoring mangroves for coastal protection and restoring wetlands for flood control, urban greening (developing “sponge cities” with more green spaces, parks, and walkable areas), creating green roofs for stormwater management, and practicing agroforestry for food security.
Isn’t it high time we rational humans get earthwise? If not, our only planet will crumble and worst, have no way out but collapse.