Environmental Legacy

The breathtaking Sierra Madre Mountain Range, which rises above the flatlands of northeastern Luzon, provides a strong barrier against the typhoons that hit the island and a sanctuary for its flora and animals.

It serves as the Philippines’ first line of defense against natural disasters brought on by climate change, especially strong tropical cyclones.

It is the Philippines’ longest mountain range. It makes up Luzon’s eastern backbone. To the east, a continuous mountain range welcomes the Pacific Ocean, vulnerable to the full force of the waves and the northeastern monsoon

The Sierra Madre mountain range, which stretches over 540 kilometers and rises to 6,283 feet, is Luzon’s natural fortress.

"mOTHER OF MOUNTAINS"

The Sierra Madre is frequently referred to as The Backbone of Luzon because of its vital geographic location. From Cagayan in the north to Quezon in the south, the range includes ten provinces, including Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Bulacan, Rizal, and Laguna. However, illegal logging and deforestation weaken this role.

KEY ROLES OF SIERRA MADRE

Biodiversity habitat
Watershed management
Ancestral domain

About 40% of the Philippines’ forests is found in the Sierra Madre, which is also home to 3,500 plant species, 58% of which are unique. It covers 1.4 million hectares and serves as an important carbon sink.

Control Temperature and Weather Patterns

The forests are like the Earth’s breath, taking in carbon dioxide and turning it into fresh air through a special process called carbon sequestration. This magical act not only helps keep the weather calm and steady, but it also creates healthy homes for a variety of wildlife species. By doing this, the forests keep nature in perfect balance, helping the environment stay healthy and peaceful.

Deep within the Sierra Madre, the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park stretches across 71,652 hectares of shimmering coastal waters and 287,861 hectares of vibrant land. Fourteen rivers flow through this peaceful haven, three of them joining the Ilagan River on their way to the mighty Rio Grande de Cagayan, while the other eleven find their way to the vast Philippine Sea, nourishing the land as they go.

Extent of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range outlined in red with selected weather stations labelled (Bernard Racom)

Abundant and Distinctive Flora and Wildlife

Sierra Madre boasts some of the Philippines’ most abundant and distinctive flora and wildlife because of its location and habitat. With 68 protected areas, including national parks, watershed forest reserves, natural monuments, marine reserves, landscapes, and seascapes, the mountain range provides a haven for a diverse ecosystem.

“The Sierra Madre corridor’s high plant diversity—more than 3,500 species have been identified—and the intact forest in its central regions are what give it its biological importance.”

At least 58% of these species are indigenous to the mountain range, making up around 45% of all species known to exist in the Philippines. At least 80% of all resident breeding birds are found in the Sierra Madre, which also has the greatest variety of birds in Luzon. 106 plant and 28 animal species were identified as threatened in a 2001 research conducted by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The Rufous Hornbill, a vital resident of the Sierra Madre (Jay Paul Mantuon)

The Stormwall

High in the mountains, the Sierra Madre stands tall like a wise old guardian, its peaks reaching up to the sky, protecting the lands of eastern Luzon from the fierce storms that come from the Pacific Ocean. The mountains are nature’s shield, slowing down the storms as they roll over, giving the rain more time to spread across the land. This slow, steady process allows the people below to prepare, with more time to hear warnings and evacuate if needed. The Sierra Madre’s protective embrace not only keeps the storms at bay but also blesses the surrounding provinces with abundant water and fertile land. In the Cagayan region, where the forests remain untouched, the earth is rich and ready to provide. It’s here that some of the Philippines’ largest and most abundant rice fields thrive. In fact, during the 1997 El Niño, when much of the country faced drought, the Cagayan Valley was one of the few places that didn’t run short of rain, helping to supply the country with 30% of its rice. The Sierra Madre isn’t just a mountain range—it’s a lifeline, giving life to both the land and the people who live beneath its watchful peaks.

Bagyong Karding 2024 (ABS-CBN News)

Presidential Proclamation 413

It is critical to safeguard the Sierra Madre because doing so is essential to the existence of the local populations as well as ecological protection. As the mountain range serves as a natural barrier against landslides, floods, and typhoons, protecting it is essential to improving our climate resilience. Millions of people depend on the Sierra Madre for protection from climate-related calamities, and by preserving its forests and ecosystems, we not only preserve biodiversity but also ensure the livelihood of these individuals. The Dumagats’ ancestral domain covers over 2,700 hectares of land and 5,700 hectares of protected land and sea along the mountain range.

Presidential Proclamation 413 designates September 26 as Save Sierra Madre Day. This observance was headed by the Save Sierra Madre Network Alliance, Inc. (SMNAI), a group of Indigenous Peoples and Non-Indigenous, People’s Organizations, Government Organizations, Civil Society Schools, Churches, and Individuals dedicated to protect and preserve the Sierra Madre.

Threats to Sierra Madre

Crumbling Backbone of Luzon: The Fight to Preserve its Remaining Strength

The Sierra Madre, as many Filipinos will tell you, is the backbone of Luzon, the primary island of the country. The mountain is even referred to by some as their mother and guardian. Her rough, rocky peaks, which stretch more than 500 kilometers (310 miles) from north to south, are believed to protect the 64 million residents—including those in the capital city of Manila—from the strongest typhoons that lash in from the Pacific Ocean.

1. environmental Degradation

Loss of Forest Cover

The Sierra Madre has lost 90% of its original rainforest due to illegal activities such as mining, quarrying, and logging. This has led to increased landslides and flash floods, as tree roots no longer provide stability and the forest’s canopies no longer absorb heavy rainfall. The destruction of the forest has made the region more vulnerable to natural disasters.

Specific Impacts

The degradation of the Sierra Madre is exacerbated by mining, quarrying, and real estate developments. As of December 2022, there are 57 quarries and two metallic mines operating within the mountain range. Key areas of concern include iron ore extraction in Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan, the Dinapigue nickel mine in Isabela, and limestone, shale, and basalt quarries in Bulacan and Rizal. These activities pose significant threats to the environment and the communities dependent on the range.

2. Government and Corporate Influence

Despite the implementation of logging bans in many areas, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources continues to grant Timber Licensing Agreements and Social Industrial Forest Management Agreements to private corporations. Large-scale infrastructure projects, such as the controversial Kaliwa Dam, endanger ecosystems, Indigenous communities, and threatened species. The dam’s construction is expected to displace the Dumagat people, destroy their cultural and physical heritage, and eliminate vital food and livelihood sources.

3.Threats to Environmental Defenders

The Sierra Madre is a hotspot for environmental conflict, making the Philippines one of the most dangerous countries for environmental and land rights activists. Over the past decade, at least 270 people have been killed while defending forests, including 114 Indigenous activists. Incidents like the shooting of forest guards in the Masungi Georeserve in 2021 underscore the risks faced by environmental defenders. Calls for increased security and arming forest rangers have grown in response to these threats.

4.Statistics on Deforestation

The Philippines loses approximately 47,000 hectares of rainforest annually, equivalent to around 87,700 football fields. Logging remains the primary cause of deforestation, but infrastructure and housing developments also contribute significantly. This ongoing loss not only threatens biodiversity but also diminishes the Sierra Madre’s capacity to protect against natural disasters.

5.Climate Change and Disaster Risk

The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone and climate-vulnerable countries in the world. As climate change intensifies, the Sierra Madre’s protective role becomes even more critical. During November, when six powerful typhoons struck Luzon, the hashtag #SaveSierraMadre trended on social media, highlighting its importance. Experts continue to advocate for balancing development needs with conservation to ensure the mountain range’s survival.

To safeguard the Sierra Madre, experts emphasize the need for sustainable development. Infrastructure projects must be carefully assessed to avoid harming the environment and communities. Awareness and advocacy efforts are growing, offering hope for a brighter future. As environmentalist Mr. La Vina states, “The stakes are much higher now, but with continued efforts, we have a greater chance of success than ever before.” The fight to save the Sierra Madre is a fight to secure the future of the Philippines

References:

Bicker, L. (2023, January 5). Sierra Madre: Fighting to save what’s left of a vital rainforest. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64123652

De Vera, S. (2024, February 15). Sierra Madre: Indigenous Peoples Face Environmental Turmoil in the Philippines. Earth Journalism Network. https://earthjournalism.net/stories/sierra-madre-indigenous-peoples-face-environmental-turmoil-in-the-philippines