 |
| GCash general manager of sustainability and corporate communications Michelle Fernandez with Wovoka chief executive officer Lee Pearson |
Climate tech project development company Wovoka
Philippines and GForest, the sustainability initiative of GCash, signed a
memorandum of agreement to plant over 1 million native trees and mangrove species
over the next 5 years, from 2026-2030, across forest and coastal communities in
the provinces of Oriental Mindoro and Camarines Norte.
The partnership reaffirms the shared commitment
of Wovoka and GCash to nation-building and long-term ecosystem restoration in
observance of Philippine Arbor Day.
Deforestation and coastal degradation continue to
heighten the effects of climate change in vulnerable areas, reducing
biodiversity and exposing towns to floods and storm surges. This ongoing
environmental decline also destroys resources that communities depend on,
directly harming traditional industries and increasing vulnerability to climate
and financial risks.
Ecosystem restoration is one important
nature-based solution that complements broader climate mitigation and
adaptation efforts. Through science-based restoration planning and long-term
monitoring, Wovoka Philippines and GCash will strengthen ecological resilience
by restoring watersheds, improving coastal protection, enhancing biodiversity,
and reducing erosion in Oriental Mindoro and Camarines Norte.
A tech-driven climate partnership
The five-year collaboration establishes a
structured timeline committed to planting native trees across both upland and
coastal zones. This large-scale initiative aims to restore degraded upland
forests and coastal ecosystems, increasing their capacity to naturally store
carbon while strengthening biodiversity and climate resilience.
Through GForest, users can support this
initiative and help local communities simply by earning green energy points
through everyday digital transactions. These points can be converted into
tree-planting efforts, making it easy for more Filipinos to participate in
environmental conservation.
“This tech for good partnership with Wovoka Philippines,
we are utilizing the scale of GCash to build real-world ecological barriers and
secure green livelihoods for the communities that need them most,” said
Michelle Fernandez, general manager of Sustainability and Corporate
Communications of GCash.
Partnering with a dedicated organization like
Wovoka Philippines ensures that all planting efforts adhere to strict
ecological standards, with only native and ecologically appropriate species
planted, which better adapt to local conditions, support indigenous wildlife,
and help restore natural ecological processes.
Empowering communities through green livelihoods
Beyond tree planting, the initiative integrates
local communities directly into the conservation efforts. Community members are
tapped to plant, monitor, and maintain the forests, turning environmental
restoration into a viable, long-term source of income. They will also monitor
tree survival and site health over the life of the project to help ensure
restoration outcomes beyond the initial planting phase.
Local farmers and coastal workers maintaining the
planting sites will receive stable streams of revenue, and families will be
provided with predictable, year-round stipends for nursing care and conducting
regular site patrols, reducing the impact of seasonal income gaps.
By merging digital technology, environmental
science, and community participation, the GCash-Wovoka partnership will serve
as a model for sustainable regional development.
Together, these initiatives highlight how large-scale
public participation can translate into measurable environmental impact, even
redefining corporate sustainability, as digital platforms can move beyond the
screen to support real-world environmental protection and strengthen
climate-resilience in vulnerable communities.
For more information, visit www.gcash.com.
0 Comments