No V-Day plans? DENR-FMB is holding a tree-hugging event for the entire week of Valentine's
Don't have any Valentine's Day plans just yet? The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has an event that'll help nature and soothe your heart while you're at it.
The Forest Management Bureau (FMB) of the agency will be holding a week-long virtual tree-hugging event from Feb. 14 to 18 as part of their awareness-raising efforts on the importance of nurturing forests.
In case you're weirded out by the idea, the tree-hugging movement has been a longstanding tradition for tree conservators and nature lovers. In the 1970s, Northern India activists revolutionized tree-hugging through the "Chipko Movement" that saved their forests by emphasizing the interdependence of humans and the environment.
A person who hugs trees can also experience a number of health benefits such as releasing oxytocin, the hormone associated with trust-building, relationships, and calmness. Who needs a date when you've got a tree?
Meanwhile, the DENR-FMB's event is an online challenge to encourage the act of showing appreciation to our oxygen-providing trees during love this month. To join DENR-FMB's Valentine's event, the mechanics are as follows:
- Like the FMB Facebook and follow their Instagram account
- Share the event post from the FMB page or Instagram;
- Post a photo showing a creative way of hugging a tree with a short description of the importance of tree-hugging along with the hashtags #TreeHuggingDay #PunoNgPagmamahal, and #ValentinesDay
DENR-FMB will then be providing tokens to selected participants with outstanding entries in their Tree Hugging Campaign.