The recent devastating floods in the cities of Davao and Cotabato cannot be ultimately explained by any factor other than the large-scale destruction of tropical rain forests in their watersheds.
More and more we are realizing the importance of tropical rain forests in absorbing and storing the water produced by very heavy rainfalls.
Those of us who have had experience with tropical rain forest will know why these forests are the best natural systems to absorb or hold large quantities of rain water; they are the most complex forest type in the world because they have features that allow retention of water, most of which eventually is released into mountain streams and springs.
The mossy parts of this forest at middle and high altitudes are practically wet through the year irrespective of seasons, storing enormous quantities of water that become part of the water cycle.
Ecologists have in the past recommended that 40 percent of the land area should be covered with tropical rain forest to maintain a stable environment, and to prevent occasional unusual natural events such as flooding.
None of our government agencies and experts on natural resources have, to my knowledge, ever publicly advocated a minimum of 40 percent primary rain forest area relative to total land area to be left untouched as a hedge against flooding and water shortage.
On the other hand, practically all have endorsed farming, or use of flat and sloping land for agricultural purposes.
The argument for land use is almost always for agriculture, and at the same time, large areas of cogon land remain barren of trees.
One of the results of this point of view is the very small area of primary forest left for water generation. Even dams are highly dependent on rainfall.
As a result of the poorly balanced use of our land, we are now experiencing an increased occurrence of destructive floods caused by excessive runoff.
Recently, two areas, which in the past were hardly hit by floods, Davao City and Cotabato City, have suffered substantial damage.
Aside from floods, our biodiversity has suffered, increasing their rates of species extinction with the loss of forest.
Our response has been too little and too late. But destructive floods throughout the country will surely continue unabated during these times of rapidly-changing climatic patterns.
The present plan of the Department of Environment to plant millions of trees, although too late, would help; but because our native trees that should be the choice for species to be planted are slow-growing, we have to put in place other means to prevent destruction of lives and property in the meantime while the planted trees are slowly growing to maturity.
One impediment to the DENR massive reforestation plan is the behavior of our own people. In the early 1990s, the DENR went into tree planting which was, unfortunately, not too successful, largely because those contracted to plant trees did not care for the young trees. Many of the plantations were even burned by the people.
I hope the destructive floods these days will serve as lessons how not to plant and care for trees.
The other negative behavior trait of people is that they never learn past lessons. They continue to cut large trees in parks and watersheds, and DENR personnel are either too few or too inefficient or corrupt to implement forestry laws.
There is continuous, unabated cutting of trees in the CARAGA region, as well as in other regions still with primary forests based on my intelligence network.
There should be an effort to make sure planted trees are protected from undesirable elements of our population. This requires changing the value systems of our people, who seem to find pleasure in violating the laws of the country.