Welcome

to the

Ili ni Gaia Rainforest Farm

We prioritize the health of our environment by implementing sustainable practices that protect the rainforest while enhancing our farm's productivity.

We take seriously our environmental stewardship. Since we started, we have planted hundreds of native trees, some rare and endangered, to contribute to the regeneration of the rainforest. We have also planted bamboo trees to stop soil erosion. In some parts, we carefully chose trees with deep roots to raise the water table.

We have countless birds, but unfortunately the sound pollution (among other reasons) from the highway nearby drives some away. Still, we have had several sightings of the rare and endangered kalaw (Rufous hornbill/Buceros hydrocorax)iand one summer, a lawin (Philippine hawk, in photo, also endangered) visited us for several days.

We employ only local people and pay fair wages. This is our way of supporting our community. We hope to help the community more in the future through projects that are in the pipeline.

Our resources are limited, but we do what we can.

We farm for our food security. We sell our excess. Since we eat our own products, we ensure that we produce safe, healthy, and qualify food. We do not use any artificial fertilizer. Our farming philosophy integrates ecological, social, and economic elements to create a balanced and sustainable system that benefits everyone.

Ili ni Gaia is located at the Sierra Madre mountain range.

The Sierra Madre (Spanish for "mother of mountains") stretches to over 540 kilometers and spans ten provinces from the north to the south of the island of Luzon, Philippines. Its highest peak is 6,283 feet above sea level.

The Sierra Madre is Luzon's natural barrier against tropical cyclones. Millions of people, including those in the national capital region, rely on the Sierra Madre's protective shield against the destructive force of typhoons, including flooding and landslides.

The Sierra Madre is home to thousands of plant and animal species. It also provides livelihood to thousands of people.

Since the 1980s to this day, the Sierra Madre has suffered from extensive illegal logging and deforestation.

We at Ili ni Gaia hope to contribute to the protection and regeneration of the forests of the Sierra Madre.

Source: https://climate.gov.ph/news/934