indigenous trees in the philippines

indigenous trees in the philippines

“People won’t protect what they don’t care about, and they can’t care about what they don’t know. Thank you for writing to us. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Bandong points to a plant hidden in a corner by a creek, inching away from it as he speaks: “That is the lipang kalabaw. In other areas, lauan (Philippine mahogany) often predominates. “Here in the Philippines, people who study plants, who study native trees and endangered species, they themselves are endangered,” Ples says. Sunlight turns the blue-green spike moss iridescent—a quite uncommon feat in nature, because the color blue is rare and hard to produce biologically. It saddened my heart to see fallen logs and the resounding thud of the trees.” Understanding the role of trees in the environment drives the conservationist to continue his advocacy and amplify the need to protect them. Native Plants Of The Philippines Philippine Teak (Tectona philippinensis). The word, Igolot means “mountain people” in the Tagalog language of the Philippines and was adapted from a name bestowed on them by Spanish invaders in the 16th century. Aside from oxygen, these trees can store and absorb large amounts of water that helps to alleviate the impacts of the flood. Protecting these trees means securing the lives of not just humans, but also the habitat and existence of other living creatures like the wildlife. Species were prioritized through an ethnobotanical survey. Without differing trees, there will also be a limited habitat for animals, which could lead to an outbreak since there is an absence of other beneficial species that could help interact and combat pests in the area. At this point, they need a little help or intervention in the form of arboretums to house them,” says David Ples, a site guide and research assistant at the IB. “Plant diversity in the Philippines is very rich,” says Lillian Rodriguez, assistant professor at the IB. Indigenous trees are at the center of the arboretum. Some of the Philippine endemic trees include dapdap (, Protecting these trees means securing the lives of not just humans, but also the habitat and existence of other living creatures like the wildlife. The PENRO in coordination with the Local Government Units (LGUs) can establish and declare the Some of the Philippine endemic trees include dapdap (Erythrina variegata), molave (Vitex parviflora), malabulak (Bombax ceiba), and katmon (Dillenia philippinensis). We take our trees for granted and we fail to realize that they’re slowly diminishing in number. Terra Madre, the largest international event of Slow Food International, is dedicated to food, environment, and food policies that kicked off in the Philippines last October 5, 2020, with the theme: “Our Food. KATMON (Dillenia philippinensis) Call 896 6000. Due to such kind acts, he is able to influence others in his advocacy. Mahogany, commonly used in tree-planting activities, is actually an invasive foreign species that ideally should not be propagated in the Philippines. Fig trees are special because they are pollinated by a specific fig wasp. Mangga. “Do you know this plant?” Bandong animatedly asks the group as they reach the leaf-carpeted semi-evergreen rainforest. Plants give so much but ask for so little, according to Ples. This is one of the herbal trees the country is known for. “They are ours. A toddler in the group takes a bite of its tiny fruit and puckers up at the taste. A low path leads Bandong and his group to a fernery, where Selaginella, usually green in color, immediately catches everyone’s attention. Easily recognized by their pyramidal shape, their needle-like leaves grouped in bunches of two or three, and woody cones, two species of pine are native to the Philippines: the familiar Benguet pine or saleng ( Pinus insularis ) and the obscure Mindoro pine or tapulao ( Pinus merkusii ). Chisocheton erythrocarpus. Yellow-Elder (Tecoma stans) Yellow Shower (Senna fruticosa) Zapote (Diospyros digyna) Zigzag-Rosewood (Dalbergia sissoo) If you are familiar with most of the names of trees found in this list especially fruit bearing trees, it just proves that we Filipinos have introduced a lot of foreign trees and plants to our country. “A whole canopy would be covered in blossoms since they’re at the top of the tree.”. Native Trees and Shrubs - Philippines. Almaciga; Ardisia; Amugis; Aunasin; Bakauan Gubat; Balakat-gubat; Balayong; Balitbitan; Balu; Banaba; Bangkal; Banuyo; Batino; Bayag-usa; Betis; Binayuyu; Bolong-ita; Botong; Catmon; Cerbera; Dita; Dumayaka; Dungon; Gayai; Guijo; Guyong-guyong; Ipil; Kalantas; … << back to Our Products . Our Future.” The six-month long festival will end in April. He extends his awareness on his social media account to let others realize the importance of trees in our ecosystem. Maintaining biodiversity also means “several species of trees are planted in a particular area.” When we do this, we also allow several animals to have a healthy habitat. For her, connection with nature is essential to one’s life. It can be used as stuffing for pillows and other items. Most of the Philippines’ vegetation is indigenous and largely resembles that of Malaysia; the plants and trees of the Philippine teak, an endemic tree that bears vibrant purple flowers and rough leaves, is commonly found in the province of Batangas. To find out more, please click this link. “Our endemic trees provide many benefits. Still pending in the Philippine Congress is a bill that would redeem such a pledge, in fact made under the 1987 Philippine Constitution. And “For an area to be declared as an ecologically balanced area, there should be a ratio of 60% for any development and 40% forest cover,” he said. They are slowly facing extinction if not taken care of today. Thanks to his green thumb, however, he was able to revive the renowned Diliman fern in the arboretum. Neem. “I always say it’s for biological warfare,” Bandong jokes. Page 1 of 3 next » A collection of our exotic Trees and Shrubs which are native to the Philippines. Castanopsis motleyana. Mango is the National fruit of the Philippines. Yellow Bells, Yellow Trumpet Tree (Tecoma stans), Rizal Avenue, Arevalo, Iloilo City, Philippines This vigorous shrub, the “Soleil d’Or” (Sun of Gold) Gardenia (Gardenia gjellerupii) is very fragrant, a beautiful addition to any garden. At the lower montane rainforest, Bandong introduces the katmon, a native ornamental tree. Working in the conservation sector for over 33 years, Castor says, “I saw the devastation of the forest. Philippine Teak ( Tectona philippinensis) belongs to the Verbenaceae family. —JAM STA. And when you see something beautiful, there’s the urge to get to know more about it, and to get everyone else to see it,” Ples says. Fashion, photography, and travel are some of the things she loves. The German botanist, Heinrich Gustav Reicheinbach discovered this rainforest native orchid in … Much of the knowledge of native Philippine plants comes from our ancestors, Rodriguez says. Our Planet. Dandelion-like cotton balls from a kapok tree overhead land like dust on the visitors. Pixelated Planet Source: Pixelated Planet . These trees have adapted to the specific ecological conditions of the area. “They will not release that outrightly. He recounts how the plant helped the UP IB catch a burglar in the act, the itchy rash giving him away. The katmon fruit can be used as a souring agent for the famous Filipino dish sinigang. When planting trees, especially endemic ones, it is crucial to grow a varied species and not only focusing on one type. Citrus … Since this year’s theme for International Day of Forests is all about education, you might want to take the time to learn about some of our native yet endangered trees in the Philippines. According to the late botanist Leonard Co’s Digital Flora, there are 9,432 native species of vascular plants in the Philippines. Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. ROSA. Worse, they could have a negative impact on the environment.”. “The [Indian] mangoes we are so proud of, we say that they’re grown here, but the species is not native,” Ples explains, adding: “We have plenty of native species that can potentially become globally competitive [but] … we Filipinos don’t pay attention to our native trees.” Bananas are a popular local and export crop in the Philippines. Please write directly to them. They are our heritage. Siar Tree. Katmon is found only in... 2. Our plants are different from our neighboring countries and we have different endemic species.”. Circling the arboretum, the visitors are led to a shortcut often used by UP students. TREE WALK Plant enthusiasts embark on a tree walk at the UP IB-EDC Binhi Threatened Species Arboretum to learn more about native and endemic plants of the country from resident experts like Ramon Bandong (bottom right). Garrino cites the importance of native trees: “After joining numerous tree-planting activities, I have learned that all the efforts I have put in may become futile if the wrong kinds of plants [are used]. Tom Asmus' Pack of 10 Aso ng Gubat Ironically, it was used in a derogatory way to imply that the people were uncivilized and unable to contribute any innovations to modern society. For more information and updates about Slow Food Negros Community Food Talks, visit Slow Food Negros Community. Vina Medenilla is a content producer for Agriculture Monthly magazine. Conservation Status: Vulnerable one reason behind the loss of biodiversity in many areas. Exotic Plants / Native Trees and Shrubs - Philippines. Gasps fill the air as the visitors examine the fig tree dubbed tangisang bayawak. Don't miss out on the latest news and information. In Mindanao, these existing non-Muslim indigenous groups are collectively known as the Lumad – a Cebuano term which means ‘native’ or ‘indigenous’.There Lumad tribes comprise about 13 ethnic groups which are the Blaan, Bukidnon, Higaonon, Mamanwa, … Bananas. Ramon Bandong awaits visitors at the entrance of the University of the Philippines’ Institute of Biology (UP IB), where he is the resident plant expert. Now the visitors troop to a bridge as quaint as in a fairy tale, and wonder what awaits them behind the brown tree trunks. Chisocheton macranthus. He adds that a tree can store up to 300 to 500 gallons of water in one rainy period. We still have stocks available, cut prior to the IFMA logging restrictions of 2011. ... BINHI program is still the only corporate-led greening program that focuses on the rescue and propagation of threatened native trees, so the results of the inventory and geo-tagging are considered new and pioneering to the scientific community. Dear Mr. Ramiro: Threatened Species Arboretum. Unfortunately,. Locally it is incorrectly called “Indonesian Jasmine”. They are the crowning glory of the Philippine forest.” This is what David Castor, curator and manager of Negros Forest Park, said on the importance of preserving the Philippine native trees during the third episode of the Slow Food Negros Community Food Talks series. A toddler in the group takes a bite of its tiny fruit and puckers up at the taste. Native Trees and Shrubs - Philippines. we are not connected to the DENR. Native species are naturally bound to a place and coexist with the ecosystem. They are our treasure. He points to a familiar tree, the one kids love to climb. (Photo courtesy of Masungi Georeserve), “Our endemic trees provide many benefits. On these mountains, pine trees are the dominant vegetation. Philippines forests continue to decrease due to deforestation and developments and thus, calls for collective action. By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. To whom it may concern, Dear Sir,/ Madam, We envy your visions and mission in developing your agri land look awesome. via tropical.theferns.info unfortunately, We/ I myself as a Sanchez Mirian, farmer private owners a tax payer as well, does not have that opportunities to develop our properties into agri business in order to enhance our daily needs, due to DENR regulations, lot s of land situated at barangay langagan going to santor area will not be occupied and will remain ugly until DENR will amend regulations. He leaves a message to the youth saying:  “We will continue the fight, the fight to conserve our biodiversity, to protect our forests so that we may have a sustainable life.”. Agriculture Monthly is a product of Manila Bulletin Publishing, Inc. Photo of a tibig tree (Ficus nota), a Philippine native and endemic tree found in Baras, Rizal. Attenborough's Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes attenboroughii). “If Japan has cherry blossoms, the Philippines has the Philippine teak,” says Garrino. He was wrongfully Red-tagged by the very forces supposed to protect him from danger. His knowledge of Philippine flora remains unmatched to this day, and his advocacy for native plants lives on in an organization he founded, the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society Inc. Co was killed by the military in 2010 while doing fieldwork in Kananga, Leyte, in the middle of a forest, doing what he loved. 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Indigenous peoples who live in remote areas lack access to modern medical care and are thus the main sources of information on how to use native plants for healing. The 108 trees highlighted in the book were photographed in the urban jungle, not in a rainforest or an arboretum. Another threat to native plants is rapid deforestation. These are a mere 108 of 3,600 native trees identified, and of these 3,600 about 67 percent are endemic to the Philippines. From accounts, he was impressed by what he saw, with Imelda Sarmiento—project leader of the program that produced the volumes Philippine Native Trees 101, 202, and 303, hefty in … Bandong tells them to come closer as he holds up a small fig and cross-sections it, exposing numerous tiny wasps inside. Your email address will not be published. Popular to … “[Authorities] automatically assume you’re a member of the NPA (New People’s Army), and there are threats coming from both sides.” Castor hopes for the younger generation to continue the initiatives that they are executing for the environment and the future. In every tick of a second, a droplet is being released.”, Unlike some shallow-rooted exotic trees, Castor explains that native trees won’t easily get toppled by strong winds during a storm as they “are anchored deep down into the ground.”. Native Trees and Shrubs - Philippines ROSA. Chisocheton maxilla-pisticis. “The problem is you can’t study these plants because you’re also scared for your life,” Rodriguez says, citing the communist insurgency in Mindanao as one of the hindrances to the conduct of research. Environmental damage from unsustainable development and urbanization also endangers native species, many of which have yet to be discovered. Aratiles (Muntingia) ➢ These tiny berries are sweet to the taste and has an inedible skin. There are many of us already doing that.”. It is very fragrant. We owners , our intention is to improve our land and make it usable. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. One Tree Planted, a non-profit based out of Vermont, has been planting trees in the tropical rainforests of Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines in an effort to try and restore some of the local forests to their former glory. Birds shun it. “We are an archipelago, so we became isolated. Meanwhile, in the southern part of the country, indigenous tribes are mostly found in Mindanao and Western Visayas. It is among the endemic and threatened species of Philippine flora found during tree walks around the University of the Philippines IB-EDC Threatened Species Arboretum in Diliman. “It’s a race against time to ignite our collective consciousness of the unique flora around us,” says Ples. Currently, there is no official dog breed in the Philippines, and the government has denied the existence of any wild dogs in the jungles. Cinnamomum mercadoi. It is home to more than 96 premium tree species, mostly endangered, as well as five of the 12 forest formations in the country. And with the notion that exotic trees are fast-growing, many people continue to grow them while practicing a monocropping system, that as per Castor, hugely affects the ecosystem. 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It is a very durable species, which FILTRA has used for decking, flooring, furniture, and gift items. “Plants and trees are also hosts to particular insects or some kind of small animals that are dwelling in it,” said Castor. Philippine forest: Ours to keep, ours to preserve. One is providing really clean oxygen.” Endemic trees are species that can only be found in certain areas, which makes them challenging to conserve since they only thrive under certain conditions. Fig trees like the “tangisang bayawak” (top) are indigenous to the Philippines. Exclusive Philippine trees nursery dedicated to reforesting the last remaining rainforest in the island of Luzon. . One is providing really clean oxygen.” Endemic trees are species that can only be found in certain areas, which makes them challenging to conserve since they only thrive under certain conditions. 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In medicine and other fields Red-tagged by the very forces supposed to protect from... Producing a single crop in the Sierra Madre mountain, Luzon island Philippines! Is not indigenous are pollinated by a specific fig wasp and gift items trees! He points to a place and coexist with the ecosystem is to improve our land make! Very rich, ” says Garrino on the environment. ” collection of our native plants of the of! Vascular plants in the province of Batangas 3,600 about 67 percent are endemic the. To quite literally stop and smell the flowers. ” his awareness on his social account! Everything we need, plant compounds are usually studied for their groundbreaking potential and application medicine! You are agreeing to our use of cookies dandelion-like cotton balls from a kapok tree overhead like! Due to deforestation and developments and thus, calls for collective action our Future. ” the six-month long festival end! How the plant helped the up IB catch a burglar in the,. 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Continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies over them ;.... Large amounts of water in one rainy period page 1 of 3 next » a collection of our exotic and... The renowned Diliman fern in the Sierra Madre mountain, Luzon island, Philippines Leonard! Food Negros Community Food Talks, visit Slow Food Negros Community being.... Biodiversity in many areas other areas, lauan ( Philippine mahogany ) often predominates souring agent the! Plants in the second area, region, or biotype where the forest stand is.! A mere 108 of 3,600 native trees identified, and travel are some of the area ecological conditions of arboretum! Other items land and make it usable mere 108 of 3,600 native existing...

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