Community-led reforestation started years ago by priest revives Negros sanctuary

What was once a mountainside in Negros Occidental has been transformed into a thriving forest sanctuary, thanks to years of collective effort that was started by a missionary priest and the local community.

According to Kuya Kim’s report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, satellite images taken in 2010 revealed the devastating condition of a mountain area in Kabankalan City.

More than a decade later, the same mountain tells a different story.

Now covered with lush vegetation and thousands of native trees, the area has become home to the Santuario de San Columbano de Bantolinao, a restoration project that serves not only as an environmental haven but also as a source of livelihood for local residents.

The sanctuary traces its roots to the efforts of Irish missionary priest Fr. Brian Gore and eight companions collectively known as the "Negros Nine."

“They are the three priests and six lay workers who were falsely accused of murder in 1980s,” said Columban Lay Missionary President of Negros Nine Development Foundation John Din.

After being acquitted, the group established a foundation aimed at helping poor farmers in the region.

“They started promoting the organic farm here in this place,” Din shared.

As they worked to improve agricultural productivity, they realized that protecting the area's water source was essential. However, the watershed was surrounded by bare forestland.

“It’s all bald because of laging use of charcoal,” Din said.

To address the problem, the group launched a reforestation program around 2007.

Together with hundreds of residents from nearby communities, Fr. Gore spearheaded the planting of native tree seedlings across the mountain slopes.

“Hundreds of people are involved at that time. They started also bringing seedlings from outside native trees. Then they started planting,” Din said.

What began as a simple environmental initiative gradually evolved into a large-scale restoration project more than a decade later.

Today, an estimated 40,000 native trees stand in the area, creating a flourishing ecosystem that continues to regenerate naturally.

"It's unbelievable how the project has flourished over the years. We don't seem to see it growing, but it did,” Din said.

“We are here now standing on the result of the efforts of hundreds of people in the different communities. There's around 40,000 native trees planted in this area,” he added.

The restored forest has also attracted wildlife back to the area.

"We've also realized that birds and other animals, they're back. They're actually helping us in bringing more seeds to the place," he shared.

Beyond environmental benefits, the sanctuary has become a destination for visitors. A viewing deck offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including Mount Kanlaon.

Plans are also underway to transform the site into a field laboratory for forestry students from Central Philippines State University.

“We did have an initial meeting to explore that. We need scientific assessment of what's existing here,” Din said.

Fr. Gore passed away last year, but his legacy continues through the people committed to sustaining the sanctuary.

Despite the growing challenges posed by climate change, community leaders remain determined to preserve the forest.

“We have a continuous awareness raising and program to help them realize the importance of keeping this place. We need the forest to be there to sustain it,” Din said.

“And to help the people take care of the forest, we need good food to sustain the people to take care of the forest. It's like a cycle,” he added.

—Jade Veronique Yap/CDC, GMA News