Latest news with #reforestation
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Is the Philippines' reforestation drive coming up short?
Manila: Marlo Mendoza is the architect of one of the world's most ambitious regreening programmes. His office at the University of the Philippines in Laguna is crammed with books about trees and nature conservation. Hunched over his desk, he flicks through a glossy government brochure praising his project's successes, with 1.8 billion seedlings planted over 2 million hectares (approximately 4.9 million acres) across the Philippines. Millions of native trees have been replanted and are now growing into forests, sequestering carbon and supporting wildlife. Indigenous and farming communities cultivate produce among the forests and former timber cutters now manage tree farms. Communities sidelined in reforestation effort This is what Mendoza dreamed of — however, he admits it is far from the reality on the ground. "We mobilised the entire citizenry to plant, but where are all the trees planted?" Mendoza told DW. "I made the manual; many provisions were not followed." The Philippines National Greening Programme (NGP) was launched in 2011 as an ambitious response to decades of deforestation, which had become a huge issue during the 1970s and 1980s. But the NGP struggled with natural resource plundering, which depleted the Philippines' forest cover and replaced community and indigenous forests with plantations of invasive exotic species. An analysis of millions of satellite images suggests that as many as one in every 25 hectares of NGP land experienced a major deforestation event: That is, instead of barren sites being reforested, the opposite occurs — forests are cleared right before or during regreening efforts. More often than not, the sites are managed by communities with only short-term access to the land. They are required to grow single cash crops tied to the volatile global commodity markets, which do not provide a steady income. A group of environmental investigators that carried out the analysis said the results expose a new pattern of "greenwashing" — a marketing tactic used to make a product or service appear better for the environment than it is. The most common commodities grown on the sites, including timber and fruit, have a green stamp of approval, potentially eligible for export across the world. This includes the EU, despite the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which requires traders to prove that products do not come from land that was deforested after 2020. Much of the EUDR's attention has focused on small farmers' challenges with proving that their land has not been associated with previous deforestation. Investigators said the image analysis suggests commodities on these sites have been falsely grown under the sustainable banner. Native trees cleared to grow cash crops Additionally, the analysis suggested that forest loss on NGP sites may be more widespread than previously understood. The clearing of forests included communities trying to take advantage of NGP funds. Eduardo Corona, a forest ranger in Palawan, an area of the Philippines covered in re-greening program sites, said that one of the most frustrating parts of his job was seeing the NGP used to clear native forests and being powerless to stop it, despite trying to raise the alarm. Corona was able to obtain one of the complaints he filed with his superiors, which relates to the UNESCO-recognised Mount Mantalingahan Protected Landscape. The DENR Forest Management Bureau (FMB) told investigators that some forest clearing occurred as part of site preparation, particularly in areas dominated by invasive species. They claimed the clearing was a necessary step taken under technical supervision to allow native species to thrive. The bureau also explained that the monitoring of the program beyond the three-year planting contracts is limited by the scale of the programme and budget constraints, with site inspections done by sampling rather than full verification. In cases where sites failed to meet survival rates, they attributed the underutilized funds to community partners' non-compliance, rather than flaws in program design. The investigation said independent audits and field reports suggest that deeper issues — including poor site selection, limited community support, and weak long-term sustainability planning — remain unaddressed. A major selling point of the re-greening program is that local communities would be given unused land to grow crops, so they would no longer need to chop down forests to survive. But the process for applying is so complicated that most communities give up seeking long-term tenure and only get access to the land for three years. Mendoza recounted cases where community groups were given access to land but not harvest rights. Many became overwhelmed with the application process and finally gave up on trying to get long-term access. This led to despair and sometimes illegal logging activities. "The [community group] may get frustrated then [they] enter into illegal selling transactions and [are] forced to cut trees illegally," he noted. Monoculture undermines sustainable livelihoods The regreening programme was also designed so that communities would be able to grow local produce for their own consumption. Instead, most are forced to grow risky cash crops for export, including exports to the European Union. According to Mendoza, communities would need both time and choices to make NGP work as intended, to figure out a sustainable mix of crops to guarantee income for their families. They got neither. For those who did manage to secure tenure, which guarantees 25-year access to the land, the government's usual mandate for community groups to grow a single cash crop often precluded any hopes for successfully living off the land. Single crop sites — often fast-growing, cheap timber trees — are vulnerable to market crashes, disease and all the other problems that monoculture brings with it, including the loss of biodiversity. Just over half of the 1 million hectares of designated production sites are tenured. Six out of 10 hectares are monoculture — sites that are growing just one commodity crop — which is widely considered unsustainable for local communities. A third of land under the NGP is both untenured and growing a single commodity crop, the least sustainable combination of all. The regreening programme was also intended to regrow and protect native rainforests. Of the 130,000 sites covering over 2 million hectares across the Philippines, some sites designated as protection areas — where indigenous rainforests and the biodiversity that accompanies them were meant to thrive — have little to no tree cover.
Asharq Al-Awsat
21-05-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia, China to Cooperate on Parks, Reforestation and Anti-Desertification
A recent Saudi delegation's visit to China marked a significant step toward deepening environmental cooperation between the two countries, with a focus on reforestation technologies and combating desertification, said Khaled Alabdulkader, CEO of the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC). Alabdulkader said the visit, led by Environment, Water and Agriculture Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, included high-level meetings and site visits to explore China's pioneering experiences in land reclamation and vegetation cover development. In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Alabdulkader described the trip as 'rich and beneficial,' revealing that a memorandum of understanding was signed between the NCVC and China's Gansu Desert Control Research Institute. The agreement follows a Saudi Cabinet resolution passed in December 2023 authorizing the minister to negotiate and sign the MoU to strengthen cooperation in combating desertification. The Saudi delegation met with executives from major Chinese firms to discuss launching joint investment projects in Saudi Arabia, including initiatives in natural resource management, rangeland rehabilitation, and the development of desert parks and eco-resorts, said Alabdulkader. The discussions also explored transferring tree-planting technologies and desertification control methods as part of the Kingdom's broader push to promote green economic growth and sustainability, he added. 'We aim to localize these technologies to help achieve our environmental goals and enhance sustainability in Saudi Arabia,' Alabdulkader said, expressing hope for expanded collaboration and further agreements building on the outcomes of the visit. Talks also covered advanced techniques in mangrove cultivation, which are critical for coastal protection and boosting vegetation, as well as environmental protection innovations and the economic potential of invasive plants, including converting them into eco-friendly products. Additionally, Alabdulkader held discussions with a Chinese environmental design company to explore cooperation on national park and wetland development in Saudi Arabia. The visit, reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), aimed to strengthen the strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and China in the sectors of environment, water, and agriculture. The visit also sought to open new export channels for Saudi products to the Chinese market and facilitate the introduction of more than 20 new food products from Saudi Arabia. As part of the official visit, the Saudi delegation participated in the Saudi-Chinese Forum for Exporting Saudi Products and Agricultural Sustainability. The forum concluded with the signing of 57 agreements and MoUs between 36 Saudi and Chinese entities, with investments exceeding SAR 14 billion ($3.7 billion). These included 26 export agreements and 14 MoUs between the National Center for Palms and Dates and various Chinese companies and government agencies, aiming to boost global visibility and exports of Saudi dates and date-based products.
Hospitality Net
20-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Daniel Johnson Joins Hotels for Trees as Partnerships Officer
Amsterdam, The Netherlands — Hotels for Trees, a nonprofit organization advancing sustainability in the hospitality industry, today announces the appointment of Daniel Johnson as Partnerships Officer - Technology. Johnson, a seasoned hotel technology executive and cybersecurity expert, will play a key role in accelerating the organization's mission of planting trees in exchange for reduced hotel room cleanings through smart technology integrations. Hotels for Trees works with hotels to offer their guests the option to skip daily room cleaning in favor of planting a tree, with each selection resulting in a direct tree donation. This initiative not only reduces the environmental footprint of daily operations but also contributes to global reforestation efforts. Depending on the hotel's setup, this process can be fully automated and integrated into hotel property management systems (PMS) or housekeeping applications, offering a seamless and transparent experience for both guests and staff. Johnson's appointment comes at a pivotal time, as Hotels for Trees continues its work with cloud-based PMS Mews and prepares to scale its model by onboarding additional technology providers and hotel partners. In his new role, Johnson will be responsible for forging strategic alliances between hotel technology companies and hotel operators to embed the Hotels for Trees platform into their systems—simplifying participation and expanding adoption globally. The mission established by founder Floris Licht just four short years ago and driven forward under Linde Borger's (Chief Tree Planting Officer) leadership, inspires. I'm thrilled to join in a role that aligns perfectly with my belief that sustainability must be woven into the fabric of hospitality technology. This isn't just a feel-good initiative; it's a strategic imperative. By bringing technological innovation deeper into our conversations about the environment, we can lead the industry toward a future where every guest interaction helps plant the seeds of real change. Johnson was also recently appointed as Strategic Advisor, EMEA, for ProVision Partners, a global strategic growth and marketing advisory firm for the travel and hospitality sector. The travel and tourism sector is responsible for approximately 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with the lodging industry accounting for about 1% of that total. Sustainability is no longer optional - it's a business imperative. Initiatives like Hotels for Trees demonstrate how technology can drive meaningful environmental change while enhancing guest engagement and operational efficiency. Daniel's appointment underscores our shared commitment to integrating sustainable practices into the core of hospitality operations. Greg Pesik, founder of ProVision Partners We are incredibly fortunate to have Daniel join our team. His deep understanding of hospitality technology and his passion for sustainability will be instrumental in helping us build scalable, long-term partnerships that benefit the planet. Floris Licht, CEO/Founder of Hotels for Trees Prior to joining ProVision Partners and accepting his new role with Hotels for Trees, Johnson was the CEO of VENZA, a leading provider of data protection and regulatory compliance solutions for hospitality businesses and an organization he co-founded. Based in The Netherlands, Johnson holds board positions with VENZA and CyberTek MSSP, and brings a unique combination of technical, strategic, and global market expertise to his work. To learn more about Hotels for Trees and how hotels can join the movement, please visit For information about ProVision Partners and its comprehensive range of business advisory and marketing services for the travel and hospitality industry, visit About ProVision Partners | ProVision Partners is a leading business advisory and marketing firm, specializing in the global travel and hospitality technology sector. Founded in 2019 by a team of seasoned travel and hospitality industry professionals with deep expertise in operations, marketing, business development and technology, ProVision delivers actionable insights and strategic support to drive revenue growth and business transformation. With a tactical, market-driven approach, the firm helps clients across the global travel and hospitality landscape—ranging from hospitality brands, technology providers, private equity firms, asset owners and travel operators—to define and execute growth strategies that align with today's dynamic marketplace. Provision Partners offers a comprehensive suite of services, including go-to-market strategy, market entry planning and M&A support, as well as marketing and public relations, brand positioning, channel optimization and technology analysis/implementation. For more information, email [email protected] or visit Andrea Mane PROVision Partners
Reuters
19-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Brazil reforestation firm re.green gets fresh financing in deal with BNDES, Bradesco
SAO PAULO, May 19 (Reuters) - Brazilian reforestation startup has obtained 80 million reais ($14.13 million) in financing from state development bank BNDES, it said on Monday, in a deal that also involved lender Bradesco as a financial intermediary. The deal is similar to a 160 million real deal announced by Mombak last month, which marked the first reforestation project backed by Brazil's 10 billion real "New Climate Fund" unveiled in 2023 to finance climate-related projects. The deal comes as Brazil's nascent carbon market quickly gains ground and attracts interest from private investors and lenders such as Bradesco and Santander ( opens new tab, which acted as an intermediary for Mombak. Some restoration startups have complained of difficulty getting loans to reduce capital costs and finance operations, as many investors still see it as risky. "We have a mantra that is de-risking, which is how we will, over time, reduce uncertainty and bring more confidence to our market," Chief Executive Thiago Picolo said in an interview. "In our case, we now have the first disbursement from BNDES, also involving Bradesco for the first time. So it is a series of steps that reduce uncertainty, increase confidence, and facilitate fundraising." buys degraded land from farmers and ranchers or partners with them to replant native species in the Amazon rainforest and in Brazil's coastal Atlantic rainforest. By turning degraded land into forests, the company is working to generate "carbon credits" that companies can buy to offset their greenhouse gas emissions. The startup has a deal with Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab to restore forests and is backed by Brazilian billionaire Joao Moreira Salles and asset managers such as Dynamo and Gavea, founded by former Brazilian central bank governor Arminio Fraga. The BNDES financing "shows that we have a powerful tool to enable investments in the recovery of degraded areas in the country," said the state development bank's head, Aloizio Mercadante. "It confirms the great power of this fund made available by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for BNDES to decisively fight the effects of climate change in our country," he added. The bank's program is part of Brazil's 2015 commitment to restoring 12 million hectares (29.7 million acres) of its native forests by 2030, which Lula reaffirmed last year. ($1 = 5.6632 reais)
Geek Wire
14-05-2025
- Business
- Geek Wire
B.C. climate tech startup veritree raises $6.5M and lines up pledges to plant 100 million trees globally
A mangrove nursery in Kenya. (veritree Photo) Veritree, a Vancouver, B.C.-based climate tech startup supporting reforestation, announced $6.5 million in new funding on Tuesday. The company also hit a milestone of lining up commitments to fund the planting of 100 million trees worldwide within five years. The startup's projects are being done at sites including areas damaged by wildfires, mangroves and terrestrial forests, marine kelp beds, and agroforestry initiatives that include crop production. Current planting projects are underway with locally-based partners in Canada, Haiti, Senegal, Kenya, Brazil, the United Kingdom and multiple U.S. states. Veritree uses blockchain technology to provide a public ledger documenting tree planting and details about restoration efforts. Once trees are planted, the startup uses a suite of tech tools including satellites and drones for surveys, remote sensors for monitoring, and artificial intelligence to analyze information. Veritree is even using acoustic monitoring of bird songs as an ecosystem health indicator, and it reports on the community impacts of the work. Through the different tools, customers are able to keep tabs on projects they've helped fund. 'Data integrity in reporting is critical for nature-based solutions to scale,' said Derrick Emsley, CEO and co-founder of veritree, in a statement. 'While corporate investments in nature are on the rise, many lack the technology to confirm and authenticate the impact they are making — and that's where veritree comes in.' A worker using veritree's Collect App software to capture an image of a monitoring device called a dendrometer at the startup's Alberta site. (veritree Photo) The climate sector has struggled to come up with a robust, science-based approach to verifying and quantifying nature-based carbon removal efforts. Veritree avoids some of that debate by marketing tree planting and survival — but not selling carbon credits for specific volumes of carbon dioxide that's removed through reforestation. The startup spun out of a sister company called tentree, which is a sustainable apparel brand that planted trees for each item it sold. The tentree founders built a platform to verify its reforestation efforts, leading to the launch on veritree in 2022. The Series A round was led by Pender Ventures, with participation from Garage Capital, Northside Ventures and Diagram. The startup has raised a total of approximately $11 million and has 60 employees. Its customers include Samsung, SleepCountry, tech businesses and hotel companies, among others.
