DR. BRYAN CEPEDOZA
MEDICAL INSIDER
A Question & Answer Session
with Dr. Bryan Cepedoza
on Climate Change and Lung Diseases
(Part 9)
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): As I have said, Dr. Bryan, we
hope people will realize the dangers of climate change.
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: Hopefully, yes! We hope people
will realize that eating more vegetables, fruits, whole
grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, and less meat and dairy,
can significantly lower your environmental impact.
“Producing plant-based foods generally results in fewer
greenhouse gas emissions and requires less energy, land
and water.”
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): I am just very curious, Dr.
Bryan. I hope you don’t mind. You are encouraging people
to plant trees. Do you also do the same – plant trees?
Most busy people don’t have time for this.
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: Of course! I spend my free time
planting trees. Mananum ko ug kawayan, ma’am oyi. I
love to plant trees. This is my hobby. Some of my free
time is being spent planting trees. I see to it that the
members of my family see the importance of planting trees
for the environment. I treasure the sight of my plants grow
big.
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): It’s inspiring to hear that from
you, Dr. Bryan. Just imagine, a busy person such as you,
still finds time to plant trees. How do trees help improve
the environment, Dr. Bryan?
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: The quality of air is being
enhanced by trees aside from the fact that trees help
reduce the heavy rains and help prevent the flooding.
Trees prevent excessive heat as they provide shade and
remove carbon from the atmosphere. Trees provide
advantages to practically everything here on Earth: from
the sea creatures, land creatures and most of all to the
human beings. If you still remember our elementary class,
we were taught photosynthesis. This means that as trees
contribute to a clean environment, they do it through
the process of photosynthesis – producing oxygen and
taking in carbon dioxide.
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): That reminds me of the
beautiful poem of Joyce Kilmer entitled “Trees”. One line
says: “I think that I shall never see, a poem lovely as a
tree.”
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: I also remember that. And in
addition to the carbon dioxide which trees capture, trees
also help the soil catch and store carbon. I read from an
article this declaration: “Despite not doing such an
incredible job as oceans do – absorbing around 90% of all
carbon emissions and then suffering the impacts of ocean
acidification – trees are extremely important to help stop
climate change.” To me, this factual statement is a miracle
happening everyday in the environment.
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): That’s amazing, Dr. Bryan.
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: To our radio listeners and
newspaper readers, let us all plant trees because of th
advantages and benefits trees bring. Another article I read
identifies the benefits of planting trees. Allow me to share
these benefits (that I have read) with you. Planting trees
will do the following to our environment. Reduce Climate
Change; Purify Air; Cool Down the Streets; Give us
Natural Air Conditioning; Save Water; Prevent Water
Pollution; Provide Shelters for Wildlife; Provide
Source for Renewable Energy; Reinforce Soil and
Control Erosion. (To be Continued)