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Environmental rehabilitation, especially for degraded forest areas, is often viewed within a reforestation program where fast-growing species that thrive well in other countries are selected for planting. The Philippine experience of massive contract reforestation in the late ‘80s financed by the Asian Development Bank and other development agencies however generated limited impact. The experience generated however the profusion of exotic tree species such as Gmelina sp and Swietenia macrophylla which up till now are dominant species used for reforestation activities.

 

Given the recent disaster in Marikina Valley with typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, ESSC is sharing historical data, however limited, in order to draw other data together to support a value change and commitment to better environmental planning and making Marikina a safer place to live. In site development, landfill and canalling may be viewed as sufficient responses to the construction of a subdivision.

 

The North Cachar Hills of Assam in North Eastern India[1] is an area much troubled for many generations, but there is a young and growing generation in the Manja area that is living all-out for peace.

 

Social reflection is most frequently engaged in through opinion columns that allow us draw a deeper perspective than is assumed by general media and the wisdom of mass communication today. A number of reflections are shared here: (Click the following articles)

1. Jesuit Scholastics Social Apostolate Summer Program, Mindanao, Philippines
2. Reflections on Youth and Peace in Mindanao
3. Climate and Compassion: Victoria Fires, Australia
4. Kutzuki Village: Reworking of Community Values and Opportunities
5. Forest Stewardship in Southeast Asia
6. James O'Brien: Reflections of a Magis visit to the Philippines
7. Ignatian Conversations: Fr. Pedro Walpole
8. Small People and the Broad Road of Development: Fr. Greg Soetomo, S.J.
9. Healing Memories through Dance: Pedro Walpole, S.J. 

These are the forest cover maps of 2002 in the Philippine uplands (1:250,000) that ESSC developed and are now available for download. Now that this initial work is done, the next steps are to develop from this benchmark the next set of more recent forest cover updates and to focus on the ground where specific actions can be designed and implemented.

ESSC is preparing a publication titled "Rainfall, Landslides, Debris Flow, Flooding: Understanding the Real Causes that Put Lives at Risk."