The Haribon Foundation reported that the Sierra Madre mountain range in Luzon is losing about 9,000 hectares of forest cover each year.
The foundation shared this information during an environmental assessment meeting in Manila. Stretching from Cagayan province in the north to Quezon province in the south, the Sierra Madre serves as a natural storm barrier and carbon sink, helping regulate the local climate and protect biodiversity.
According to Haribon, illegal logging, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development are major drivers of deforestation in the area.
The foundation stressed the importance of the Sierra Madre in shielding the Philippines from typhoons and maintaining ecological balance.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) acknowledged the findings and announced plans to strengthen forest protection and restoration efforts.
DENR officials said new initiatives would involve working closely with local communities to implement sustainable forest management practices. Environmental groups are calling for stricter enforcement of laws and increased funding for conservation projects.
