The Green Wall of Alcala is a community-driven initiative in Alcala, Cagayan, where the people are collectively planting native trees along riverbanks, farms, watersheds, roadsides, schools, and communities. This massive effort aims to create a protective barrier against frequent and severe floods in the region. Alcala, with its 42,092 inhabitants, has experienced devastating floods, including two 100-year floods in December 2019 and November 2020.
During the November 2020 flood, 24 out of 25 barangays were affected, causing displacement of 19,011 persons, submerging 7 barangays, and damaging 6,565 homes, along with Php 52 million worth of crops and livestock. To address these challenges, the local government enlisted the help of scientists from the University of the Philippines, Dr. Fernando Siringan and Keanu Jershon Sarmiento. Their study recommended planting native trees along rivers to create a protective belt.
The Green Wall of Alcala goes beyond tree-planting; it is a long-term climate change adaptation strategy. The goal is to build living, breathing structures — walls of native trees — to serve as natural levees and replace traditional, expensive concrete river walls. This initiative is a commitment to securing the town’s future and protecting the lives of its residents from the impacts of floods.