TREES AS BUFFERS FOR STORMS

 TREES AS BUFFERS FOR STORMS

A mild public debate began when people said that the Sierra Madre mountain range “broke” the strength of Typhoon Uwan, sparing much of Luzon from its full force. Some even spoke as if the Sierra Madre were just one giant wall standing between us and the Pacific. In truth, it is a chain of mountains stretching more than 540 kilometers along the eastern side of Luzon — our longest and arguably most important natural shield.

But here’s the real story: what truly protected us were not just the rocks and ridges of the Sierra Madre, but the trees — the few that remain. It is those trees, with their deep roots and wide canopies, that absorbed the wind, held the soil, and slowed the floodwaters. Sadly, deforestation has made this once-mighty barrier thinner and weaker each year.

Trees act as natural buffers against storms. They slow down wind speed, absorb excess rainwater, stabilize the soil, and protect our coasts from storm surges. It’s not magic — it’s science and ecology working together. Yet, while we know this, we have not acted fast enough to reforest the mountains that defend us.

So what must we do to strengthen the Sierra Madre as our first line of defense? The answer is simple — though the task is not easy. We must plant more trees — in every slope, every ravine, every inch where life can grow.

Before he passed away, my mentor, the late Dr. Jose Conrado Benitez, once told me to “plant all trees in all mountains.” I never really knew what he meant then, but today, his words ring truer than ever. Whether he meant reforesting every barren hillside or simply inspiring others to plant, I’ve taken that advice to heart.

Unfortunately, while some of us plant, others are busy cutting. Reports persist that some corrupt officials are accepting bribes to convert forest land into so-called “alienable and disposable” land — legalese that really means “ready for sale.” These people are selling away our last line of protection. We must expose them and stop them in their tracks.

But we must also be practical. Tree planting should not just be an environmental effort — it must also support livelihoods. We should plant high-value trees that can sustain both people and forests. And though bamboos are technically grass, let us plant them too. Giant bamboo, in particular, can hold soil, absorb floodwater, and grow quickly into usable material for homes and crafts. It’s a win-win for nature and livelihood.

We should also empower cooperatives to manage community-based agroforestry projects. When locals earn from keeping forests healthy, they become the best forest guards. Let us not forget our indigenous peoples, the original protectors of our mountains. Helping them sustain their livelihoods is also helping them preserve the forests that sustain us all.

Science backs this up. Mangroves, for instance, can reduce wave height by up to 66% over just 100 meters of shoreline. Their tangled roots trap sediments and slow the force of storm surges. The giant bamboo, according to research from Central Mindanao University and DOST-PCAARRD, cuts soil loss and prevents landslides by absorbing excess water. The bitaog tree (Calophyllum inophyllum), native to our coasts, has deep roots that hold the soil tightly and branches strong enough to withstand typhoon winds.

The Forest Foundation Philippines reminds us that typhoon-resistant trees have complex root systems — primary, secondary, and tertiary — giving them exceptional grip even in violent storms. Some, like the narra, molave, and katmon, have strong buttress roots that can spread up to 15 feet wide, anchoring them against nature’s fury.

But despite this natural wisdom, our forests continue to shrink. Between 2010 and 2020 alone, the Philippines lost over 46,800 hectares of forest — an area nearly the size of Quezon City. Each hectare lost means weaker defenses and more vulnerable communities.

If we want a safer future, we must act as one nation. Reforesting the Sierra Madre and other mountain ranges should not be left to government agencies alone. It must become a national movement — involving LGUs, schools, cooperatives, and private citizens. Imagine every town adopting a watershed, every barangay planting native trees, every school teaching students how to nurture seedlings.

We don’t have to wait for the next super typhoon to realize that trees are not just ornaments of nature — they are life-saving infrastructure. The Sierra Madre and all our other forested mountains are not just part of our geography. They are our living fortresses.

If we truly want to defend our communities from future storms, we must rebuild these fortresses — one seedling, one bamboo clump, one mangrove at a time.

Maybe the time has come for us to start the movement.

RAMON IKE V. SENERES

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