SM Foundation Inc. in partnership with the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Social Welfare Development  ) has launched the Grow-A-Million-Trees project aimed at reforesting at least six areas in different parts of the country.

In the signing of the Memorandum Of Agreement on the project, SMFI Executive Director Deborah Sy said the project is part of SM’s commitment to the greening efforts of the government.

The signing of the MOA was attended by DENR Director  Ricardo Calderon representing  Secretary Ramon Paje and DSWD Undersecretary Parisya Taradji representing Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman. It was held at the Events Center of SM North Edsa.

Under the MOA, DENR will identify a permanent 20-hectare portion in six provinces where trees can be planted and nurtured.  These areas include Pampanga, Batangas, Laguna, Camarines Sur, Bacolod and General Santos City.

Sy said the aim is to plant and grow one million trees within the next three years in the six areas mentioned.

SMFI will then conduct the seedling production and tree planting activity with close coordination with the DENR which will provide the necessary technical assistance in nursery operation, plantation establishment and plantation maintenance and protection.

Sy pointed out that SM will “allocate funds for the various activities such as survey, mapping and planning (SMP), site preparation, seedling production, hauling of seedlings to planting sites including the maintenance and protection of the established plantations.”

A people’s organization or environmental group within the selected area will plant and nurture the trees for the duration of the agreement.

DSWD for its part will closely coordinate with SMFI and DENR sharing their Community-Driven Enterprise Development (CDED) approach to the people’s organization members in the area, comprised of Pantawid and non-Pantawid Pamilya members.

The project will employ disadvantaged individuals in the respective local communities, including Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, as a way of empowering them through social entrepreneurial skills preparation and capacity building activities.

Sy said Grow A Million Trees project is part of its continuing partnership with the DENR in the carrying put the National Greening Program in order to pursue sustainable development for poverty reduction, food security, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation and adaptation, with the DENR as lead agency.