From digital actions to living forests: UPLB and GCash GForest help restore Sierra Madre by planting over 135,000 trees
A total of 135,000 native trees were planted across the Sierra Madre as the University of the Philippines Los Baños teamed up with GCash, the country’s leading finance app, through its GForest initiative.
This collaboration is part of the shared commitment of UPLB and GCash to restore and maintain the ecological balance of the Sierra Madre Mountain range.
Leading reforestation and restoration with research and technology
UPLB, the premier national university known as the Center for Excellence in Forestry Education, continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to the reforestation and restoration of the Sierra Madre.
In partnering with GCash, the academic institution brings its expertise in the environmental sciences to identify suitable tree species to plant in strategic areas of the Sierra Madre Land Grant, and to implement sustainable practices that can lead to meaningful long-term impact.
“In this partnership, we bring in science from a very practical point of view—we call it action research. So what we have learned, studied, and researched, we find applications in real-life situations, which will help sustain this project with GCash,” said Dean Marlo D. Mendoza of UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources.
According to Mendoza, more than thirty species will be planted across 250 hectares of land and an additional 10 kilometers of road in the land grant. All of these species were identified through thorough research, benchmarking activities, and case studies, ensuring sustainability and lasting impact among communities.
“The partnership between UPLB and GCash is very important because this will accelerate the rehabilitation of Sierra Madre, which has become vulnerable to several threats, like kaingin and settlement. Through this, we are able to bring our story and reach a wider audience who can easily understand our plight, making our work easier to communicate with many Filipinos,” the dean added.
Using tech for good to empower communities
With UPLB’s scientific research and the finance super app’s commitment to using technology for good, the launch of the GForest site demonstrates how everyday digital transactions can lead to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future for today’s generations and those to come.
“Caring for the planet is one of the key sustainability pillars of GCash. We are very mindful of how we operate, and we also want our users to take part in climate action. That is why we created GForest, a unique rewards platform that allows our users to plant virtual trees where our partners, like UPLB, bring those digital trees to life by planting them on the ground,” said Moya Ganzon, Head of Impact Innovations, Sustainability at GCash. “Through GForest, we turn every digital action into real climate impact,” she added.
“Our strategy has always been to create impact through partnerships. We work with experts, like UPLB, because reforestation must be science-based, and they’re the ones who plan and lead on-ground operations to ensure our support creates lasting impact,” he continued.
For every tree planted on GForest, UPLB, and GCash are one step closer to protecting biodiversity and fighting climate change. But most importantly, these strides help protect the lives of hundreds of Filipino communities that call Sierra Madre their home.
“Protecting the planet is a shared responsibility. That’s why we should all work together, use technology, and follow a science-based approach led by UPLB so we can create a greener and more resilient tomorrow,” Ganzon said.
Through GForest, GCash brings together millions of Filipinos under a collective mission: to foster a greener, more sustainable future for all, one tap at a time.
