Filipinos join forces to plant 20,000 bamboo seedlings for world record

The large-scale planting which happend on Friday, October 18, primarily took place in Mindanao, an Island in the southern Philippines to showcase the country’s commitment to sustainability and environmental conservation.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), was part of the nationwide event dubbed "KAWAYANIHAN." The event brought together various government agencies and institutions with a shared goal: to promote bamboo planting as a critical step toward a sustainable, climate-resilient, and circular economy, according to local media outlet Inquirer.

DOST regional director Romela Ratilla emphasised the future benefits of the planted bamboo, stating, "The planted bamboo was geotagged to ensure that growth is monitored, as it will, in the future, become a potential source of raw material for various high-value products."

The Philippine government has actively promoted bamboo planting due to its numerous environmental benefits. Bamboo is known for its ability to sequester carbon, control floods and soil erosion, and serve as a renewable source of material for various everyday products. It has the capacity to store hazardous CO2 in its root system and can absorb up to 35% more greenhouse gases than trees.

The Philippines recognised as one of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries, is home to a wide variety of species and plays a key role in the global biodiversity landscape. It serves as the centre of diversity for crops such as rice, coconut, and bananas in Southeast Asia. However, despite its ecological richness, the country faces significant environmental threats, ranking among the top ten nations with the highest number of species threatened with extinction.

Conservation efforts in the Philippines are ongoing, with the establishment of national parks and protected areas aimed at preserving its unique flora and fauna.