3 Jun 2011

PHILIPPINES / FORESTS

Forests cover a third of the planets land mass and provide over one and a half billion people with a livelihood. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) partners with the government of the Philippines to promote ways to regenerate forests. FAO

Posted at: June 3, 2011 4:17 pm

Duration: 02:00

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: PHILIPPINES / FORESTS 
TRT: 2:00
SOURCE: FAO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 10-14 JANUARY 2011, BOHOL, PHILIPPINES

SHOTLIST:

1. Zoom out, forested hills
2. Wide shot, deforested hillside
3. Close up, deforested hillside
4. Wide shot, sparsely forested hills
5. Close up, trunk of tree
6. Wide shot, forest
7. Wide shot, tree in forest.
8. Wide shot, group of workers clearing grass form around saplings
10. Close up, worker clearing grass form around saplings
11. Various shots, workers treading and clearing down grass around saplings
12. Med shot, sapling free from surrounding grass
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Patrick Dugan, President, Bagong Pagasa Foundation:  
"All these little fellas that are trying to grow get a chance to grow and you can see the result. These are only two years old. And how many species have you got here, all native species."
14. Close up, bush baby
15. Med shot, tourists walking through forest
16. Close up, tourists walking through forest
17. Med shot, tourists walking through forest.
18. Wide shot, tourist bungee jumping above forest
19. Close up, tourist on cable ride through forest.
20. Med shot, women from local community walking through forest collecting Pandanus leaves
21. Various shots, woman cutting Pandanus leaf from tree
22. Wide shot, group of women making baskets
23. Med shot, group of women making baskets
24. Close up, woman making baskets
25. Med shot, baskets on sale in shop
26. Wide shot, baskets and hats on sale in shop
27. Close up, person picking up hat
28. Wide shot, forested hills
29. Tracking shot, trees and forest
30. Pan left, from trees to landscape

STORYLINE:

Forests cover a third of the planets land mass and provide over one and a half billion people with a livelihood.

The United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) partnered with the Philippines government to promote ANR (Assisted Natural Regeneration) as a way of regenerating the forests.

The ANR technique is simple and above all, cost effective. When a small tree is located, a ring is weeded around it and the surrounding grass is pressed down. Finally, nearby grass is cut away so sunlight can penetrate the area, and trees can grow quickly.

As people begin to understand the fragility of our natural systems, they are flocking to see forests. This means new sources of income, along with increased possibilities for eco-tourism.

Communities also benefit from the forest products they are able to collect. The tropical Pandanus plant is used both as food, and to make dozens of household products.

SOUNDBITE (English) Patrick Dugan, President, Bagong Pagasa Foundation:  
"All these little fellas that are trying to grow get a chance to grow and you can see the result. These are only two years old. And how many species have you got here, all native species."

Local women use it to make baskets, now on sale throughout the Philippines. It's an important source of income and it's directly tied to the state of the surrounding forests.

Forests provide essential resources for the planet, and when they are destroyed entire ecosystems can go into shock, this is why 2011 has been declared by the UN to be the International Year of Forests.

The International Year of Forests aims to raise awareness of the fact that healthy forests are an important part of guaranteeing sustainable development. Regeneration projects help to ensure that we can continue to celebrate forests well into the future.

FAO is publishing its State of the Forests Report on 2 February 2011 to coincide with the launch of the International Year of Forests.

The report will paint a picture of forests still in declining, especially in Latin America and Africa but will also point to some positive and encouraging trends, mainly in Asia and Near East, which is showing an increase in forest regeneration and replanting projects.