Each storm is an opportunity (Plant a native/endemic philippine tree)

[jaypee10]

abokado tree.sobrang lamig sa ilalim dahil sa malalaki ang mga dahon nito.at may benepisyo kapa kapag namunga.

[kagalingan]

Ito yung book

List of native/endemic trees.

[kagalingan]

Native, exotic | INQUIRER.net

Native, exotic
By: Michael L. Tan / *inquirerdotnet
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 12:08 AM August 08, 2014

When Typhoon “Glenda” roared through the Philippines last month, it left a trail of uprooted trees. We counted 138 of those uprooted trees at the University of the Philippines Diliman campus.

The mildest adverse effect of the uprooted trees was road obstruction. Other forms of damage were more serious, the trees falling on houses and vehicles. A number fell on electric posts, complicating the efforts of the Manila Electric Co. to restore electricity. Fortunately, there was no human casualty from the falling trees.

Topping the list of uprooted trees were the acacias, those much-beloved trees planted by the pioneer batches of UP students who first came to the new Diliman campus in 1948. You find them all over the campus, especially around the academic oval, providing shade for hundreds of joggers who come to Diliman every day

Also among the uprooted trees were a number of star apple or kaimito trees, again much-loved by UP students, especially those who lived in dorms. There are so many of these trees on UP property that informal settlers in the area have been able to harvest (without UP permission) the fruits every summer, and to sell them on the roadside.

So common are the acacia and star apple trees that we tend to think of them as “Filipino” trees. Turns out they’re not. Biologists call them “exotic,” meaning they were introduced into the Philippines.

I have to clarify that “native” trees do not necessarily mean the plants are found only in the Philippines. Such plant and animal species would be called “endemic.” When we say “native,” we mean native to the geographical region where we are. What we call “native” are plants that may be distributed through Southeast Asia, and sometimes even further into New Guinea and the South Pacific islands.

Plants introduced from Central America, the other side of the world, are no longer called “native” but exotic. These exotic species may thrive well after they’re introduced into the Philippines because some of the conditions in their original habitat might be found here as well. Plants native to Central America found a hospitable semitropical climate here, so the plants can survive… until they meet our climactic extremes, like Glenda and its strong, sustained winds.

The acacia trees had relatively shallow roots, which made them easy to uproot. I haven’t quite figured out why star apple trees are so vulnerable, but I do remember many of them surrounding the houses I lived in and being damaged by typhoons.

Amok trees

Back at UP Diliman, several gmelina trees also came crashing down…. much to the relief of several building administrators. The gmelina, together with mahogany, have been favorites for tree-planting projects because they grow rapidly.

Too rapidly, unfortunately. The gmelina trees grow quickly because their roots spread out quickly. They’re voracious in sucking up water, depriving nearby plants of their fair share and causing them to stunt. The roots, meanwhile, snake their way to incredible distances, sometimes destroying other plants or, in urban areas, the pavements.

Sounds like a horror movie, right? Plants gone amok, on a rampage.

I don’t want to demonize these exotic species. What’s important is planning our tree-planting more carefully. Sixty years ago, even UP’s biology professors were not aware of the implications of planting acacia trees. They probably knew these would become grand, towering trees, and that was what was important for a university campus.

What we’re seeing is evolution, and natural selection, at work. Native tree species adapted, across thousands of years, to local conditions, from the types of soil to the climate. Biology professor Perry Ong recently showed me a computerized analysis of aerial surveys of forest areas in various parts of the country. What is most striking is the way trees of the same species tend to cluster together.

The trees flourish together in a particular area because each species has its own optimum amount of sunlight, water, and other environmental conditions. In a way, they “search” for those conditions, thriving when these are found. Seeds that unfortunately get dispersed to a less optimum environment might germinate and develop into seedlings, but are less likely to survive.

Growing environmental awareness means a better appreciation of studies concerning plant interactions with their environment. The findings of the scientists are slowly finding applications. Sometime last year, I ran into some environmentalist-friends in a restaurant. They were meeting with officials of an upper-class subdivision, who were interested in learning about native trees for their residential area.

Learning and planning

There are books now on native trees. In 2012, Green Convergence for Safe Food, Healthy Environment and Sustainable Economy published “Philippine Native Trees 101,” featuring that number of species. That same year, Aboitiz Foundation came out with “Shades of Majesty: 88 Philippine

Native Trees.”

According to “Philippine Native Trees 101,” we have some 3,600 native trees, two-thirds of them endemic. To name some of the native trees, we have agoho, tindalo, almaciga, lumbang, batino, dita, bignai, antipolo, marang, yakal, and, of course, our national tree, narra. “Plant-smart” readers will recognize many of the plants as having many uses, from edible fruits to resins to lumber.

In UP Diliman, Washington SyCip and friends put up a garden of native trees, and commissioned a manual to describe the plants. All these books have lavish photographs to show the trees in their natural conditions.

Learn more about native trees, and plan your own backyard, or community. Recently a friend texted me about his plans to plant mahogany in a newly acquired property. My friend’s text came in just as I was meeting with Emil Sotalbo, the retired former head of our Campus Maintenance Office who continues to advise Diliman on landscaping and plants. He shook his head and said: “Introduced,” pausing almost ominously, “and invasive.”

It makes sense going native, not just for sentimental or even nationalistic reasons, but also for very practical considerations of reducing the risks of losing life, and property.

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E-mail: mtan*inquirer.com.ph

[kagalingan]

Mangkono Tree = The hardest tree in the philippines (Iron wood) Sa san beda para alam ko meron nito or kalantas tree ata yun.



6 Facts About Surigao del Sur's Magkono, The Iron Wood Tree In The Philippines

in Surigao del Sur, you will find the hardest tree in the Philippines.

The Magkono (Xanthostemon verdugonianus) is an endemic tree that is found only in select localities in the Philippines such as Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Palawan, Samar, and Dinagat Island. It’s a rare and endangered species due to deforestation and overcutting.

The magkono tree is considered one of the most valuable trees in the world not just because of its rarity. Find out how valuable the magkono is here:

1. Tall and Skinny

The magkono is a small to medium-sized tree—about 20-36 inches in diameter and can reach up to 30-40 feet. Its bark is hard, thin, and smooth. But don’t be fooled by how skinny it looks compared to other hardwood trees; the magkono is extremely durable. Even under the most severe weather conditions, they remain standing tall.

2. Strength and Tenacity

Due to its density and hardness, it takes some time to cut down the magkono tree even with the use of modern methods. It takes four days to cut down it with the use of diamond-tipped saws and plenty of water for lubrication. A twenty-foot magkono tree would need lots of water and plenty of time to cut it down. The dark-colored wood is extremely durable that even termites can’t penetrate it.

3. Wooden Heirlooms

Furniture made of magkono trees are extremely valuable and are considered as heirloom pieces. Such furniture and other novelty items are well-known among the towns of Surigao del Sur since they last for generations. And not just for generations but even for centuries. There’s a display of items made of magkono wood in the National Museum in Butuan that is a testament to the wood’s long-lasting abilities.

4. Scarcity

The magkono is considered an endangered tree species due to loss of habitat. As such, local furniture makers can’t meet the demand for magkono-made furniture. The scarcity has only been worsened by the entry of large scale mining and logging in Surigao. It has become increasingly rare to see a mature magkono tree in the wild.

5. Founded in Magkono

Even back then, the magkono was already highly valued by our ancestors. They used it as the foundation for houses and poles used in the balangay (boat). They also used it as caskets for the departed. Before the existence of plastics, the magkono was used as propeller shafts for steamships, tool handles and bowling balls. The iron wood was already prized for its durability and strength.

6. Tree of Life

The magkono gains this title for being the source of livelihood for several communities in Surigao del Sur. They use it for their woodcraft, although the people use abandoned slabs of magkono instead. Wood artists fashion magkono wood into commercial products such as chopping boards, centerpieces, paperweights, and other elaborate pieces.



The magkono tree is not just one of the valuable hardwood trees that we have today; it’s also an important part of the cultural landscape in Surigao del Sur. The iron wood is the representation of the resiliency and strength of the Surigao people.

[ArchiDeos]

Mangkono Tree = The hardest tree in the philippines (Iron wood) Sa san beda para alam ko meron nito or kalantas tree ata yun.



6 Facts About Surigao del Sur's Magkono, The Iron Wood Tree In The Philippines

Nice tree.. Eto rin yata yung tinatawag nila sa norte na "Sagat". Matibay at matatag talaga to. Pero it takes time para lumaki at mapakinabangan. Were hoping na maginitiate man lang ang government natin like for every schools to plant a tree program every year. Naala ko pa nung ROTC namin, may tree planting activities din kami nun.. Kaso after itanim napabayaan din. Di tuloy malaman kung tumubo or namatay yung mga tinanim namin. Lets hope for the best..

Sent from my F3212 using Tsikot Forums mobile app

[kagalingan]

Ngayon umiinit na panahon lumalabas ganda ng mga puno.

Ganda talaga ng talisay tree. Yung isa inalagaan ko bandang sidewalk eh pinag-aagawan na ngayon kasi apat na sasakyan kasya magpark dahil lilim eh. Considering na iput lang ng paniki yun. Dinilig-dilgan ko lang dati buong summer.

Pero ngayon summer eh kailangan religiously magdilig lalo na pag maliit pa kasi pag nalimutan tigok.

May nabasa ako para gumanda lupa ko eh taniman ko combination ng nitrogen-fixing legume, papaya/pineapple(potassium). Pero ang gusto ko gamitin na legume eh native/endemic din. Research research na naman. Trial and error. Tanong tanong.

Naiinis pa din ako napolitica manila seedling bank. Sobrang aliwalas ng lugar na yun. Ngayon gagawin condo/business district na. Concrete jungle at high rise na naman.

[kagalingan]

Ok pala itong kupang ah. "Can fix its own nitrogen requirement. "

Philippine Native Forest Trees: Q&A: What native Philippine tree to plant when starting up a RAINFORESTATION PROJECT? .... KUPANG (Parkia Timoriana) is what I would suggest.

Q&A: What native Philippine tree to plant when starting up a RAINFORESTATION PROJECT? ....

In my opinion, I would suggest "KUPANG" with scientific name Parkia Timoriana (also known as P. Javanica) as ONE OF THE BEST PHILIPPINE NATIVE SPECIES TO PLANT WHEN STARTING A RAINFORESTATION PROJECT. This is due to the following reasons:

Leguminous tree. It is able to fix its own nitrogen requirements with the help from a soil bacteria called rhizobium that live within the roots of leguminous plants and trees, thus it can grow with even the poorest type of soil. The roots together with its fallen leaves will provide nitrogen that will be beneficial for other trees within its proximity, bringing back soil fertility that was lost from continued harvesting of crops.

Sun loving and shade tolerant. It is able to grow under full sunlight and is also able to adjust under shaded areas, therefore this tree will still thrive under opposite conditions.

Easy Access. Seedlings are readily available at the Manila Seedling Bank. Since the tree is able to produce numerous seeds within seedpods, there will always be a steady supply of seedlings to grow. A fairly common tree especially in Metro Manila, Laguna and other parts of the country.

High germination rate and good viability of seeds upon long storage. Some seeds that I have stored for two years now are still germinating upto today when sowed.

Unreceptive to pests and diseases and will easily outgrow grass and vines. I think that this is a common characteristic that leguminous tree species share and possess. They are very hardy especially when established in full sun.

Branches are flexible and strong enough from wind breakage. Branches and trunk seem to sway whenever there are strong winds. It can hold its stance and never have I seen it topple down or break its limb. However, I must admit that I haven't seen a mature Kupang tree under the mercy of a strong typhoon. (will follow-up on this issue upon confirmation)

Medicinal. I have read that the bark and leaves of this tree is made into a poultice and applied to skin infections and sores. The bark is also used to treat diarrhea and dysentery. Seeds are said to treat persistent abdominal pain.

Edible. According to some literature, the pods and seeds are edible. Although I haven't tried it, I will certainly welcome the idea of tasting this delicacy. Roasted seeds are used in Africa similar to coffee called Soudan coffee.

Source of lumber. The lumber from this tree is often used for light construction.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kupang is not a softwood but a hardwood. Softwood refers to the conifers and hardwoods to the broad leaves and therefore the terms (softwood and hardwood) refers to the botanical groupings. The terms "soft wood" and hard wood" refers to the mechanical properties of wood.

Dennis P. from Leyte

Rico said...

Hi Dennis! Thanks for reading my blog. Thank you also for correcting me that Kupang is not a softwood, but is considered a hardwood species. I have made the necessary changes above.

Thank you again and happy reading.

[ArchiDeos]

Ok pala itong kupang ah. "Can fix its own nitrogen requirement. "

Philippine Native Forest Trees: Q&A: What native Philippine tree to plant when starting up a RAINFORESTATION PROJECT? .... KUPANG (Parkia Timoriana) is what I would suggest.

Yan na lang itanim mo paps. Yung nga pag hardwood is medyo matatagalan lumaki.. Pano ba itsura nito pag lumaki..

Sent from my F3212 using Tsikot Forums mobile app

[kagalingan]

^

Hangggang picture lang nakita ko.

Tuwa ako ngayon pag gising ko ulan pala dire-direcho. Kaya pala ganda sayaw ng malunggay ko.

Yung dalawa ko tinanim talisay sa secondary road ginawa pala lilim ng sidewalk vendor. In just 2 years grabe na dahon umbrella na umbrella .

Tama ito ilan weeks na puro init tapos ulan ngayon.

[_Cathy_]

I don't know what this tree is called but now I know why no car parks under that tree. It has pink flowers that sticks like bird sh1t to the car's paint. Now I know better to park under the sun instead

[kagalingan]

Ang pinaka ok na tree na magpark kotse = Talisay

Ang concern ko lang pag sa mga flowering tree like mabolo and duhat. Ang dami maliit na flower...buds = magclog sa drain ng widshield. Yung paint naman kung madamage pwede papinturahan pero windshield naku baklas na.

-

Maganda timing ng ulan ngayon. Super sunny kanina tapos pag dating 6pm umulan.

[kagalingan]

Molave (endangered)

It’s fast-growing, requires only partial sunlight, and drought-resistant. What more can you ask for? The sturdiness of the Molave tree has been part of local knowledge for centuries. In fact, it was even mentioned in President Manuel L. Quezon’s speech: “I want our people to grow and be like the molave, strong and resilient, rising on the hillside, unafraid of the raging flood, the lightning or the storm, confident of its own strength.”

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After Ondoy: Hope for the Upper Marikina Watershed

After Ondoy: Hope for the Upper Marikina Watershed
Years after deforestation in the watershed contributed to Ondoy floods, the trees are making a comeback



FOREST GUARDIANS. Tess Argota (foreground) and a village volunteer look at a growing seedling in a reforestation site in Calawis, Antipolo in the Upper Marikina Watershed. All photos by Pia Ranada/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – Forester Tess Argota walks through murmuring streams and lush green forest paths in the Upper Marikina Watershed to a reforestation site she has tended for 3 years.

Though the 26,125-hectare reserve is only an hour from Metro Manila, it feels removed from civilization. Mists veil rolling hills of green. Sunlight filters weakly through rain clouds to shine upon empty mountain valleys.

Argota is helping the village of Calawis in Antipolo City reforest 800 hectares of the watershed.

The seedlings, all indigenous species like kupang, narra, palosapis, lauan and molave, have thrived. Some are taller than human height, invigorated by the mountain air, moist climate and rains.

These young trees may be high up in the mountains, but their survival could mean the survival of Metro Manila down in the lowlands.

When Typhoon Ondoy struck in 2009, it was the deforested Upper Marikina Watershed that contributed to the unprecedented flooding that submerged entire homes and claimed hundreds of lives. (READ: What have we done since Ondoy?)

The loss of trees from decades of illegal logging, burning of trees to make charcoal and slash-and-burn farming (kaingin) left the watershed unable to absorb rain water. With nowhere else to go, the water flowed to the lowlands – to devastating effect.

Awakened to the deadly consequences of a deforested watershed, the government poured millions of pesos to rehabilitate the reserve. In 2011, it declared the Upper Marikina Watershed a protected landscape through Presidential Proclamation 296.

When Typhoon Ondoy struck in 2009, it was the deforested Upper Marikina Watershed that contributed to the unprecedented flooding that submerged entire homes and claimed hundreds of lives. (READ: What have we done since Ondoy?)

The loss of trees from decades of illegal logging, burning of trees to make charcoal and slash-and-burn farming (kaingin) left the watershed unable to absorb rain water. With nowhere else to go, the water flowed to the lowlands – to devastating effect.

Awakened to the deadly consequences of a deforested watershed, the government poured millions of pesos to rehabilitate the reserve. In 2011, it declared the Upper Marikina Watershed a protected landscape through Presidential Proclamation 296.

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continuation

COMMUNITY-BASED REFORESTATION. Forester Tess Argota and village organization president Virginia Banaga in the village office in Calawis where they keep the seedling nursery

The foresters deal directly with the local organizations that grow the seedlings and recruit their fellow villagers as forest guards (bantay gubat).

In the office of the Calawis village organization Argota is helping, tiny narra seedlings wait in neat rows for their turn to be planted in the watershed.

Seedlings are purchased by the DENR or PDRF for around P10 (US$0.23) to P13 ($0.30) depending on the type of tree. This provides income for the village organizations.

PDRF has so far managed to plant seedlings in around 750 hectares of the reserve. Argota says they've been able to achieve at least 85% survival rate of the seedlings.

Only 3 years into the program, it may be too soon to call the initiative a success, but the tall, young trees and positive monitoring records of the foresters give hope.

Forest protection

The Upper Marikina Watershed's future looks bright given the efforts now devoted to its regeneration. The same cannot be said of other watersheds in the country. (READ: Runners race to save endangered watershed)

A visit to the Ipo Watershed in Bulacan last June revealed the rampant illegal logging and charcoal-making happening right under the noses of the DENR and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), the two groups in charge of protecting the watershed.


GROWING. Foresters report 85% survival rate among indigenous seedlings they planted

These destructive activities are still ongoing in parts of the Upper Marikina Watershed but the PDRF has at least been able to establish a system for forest protection.

Through the local organizations it partners with, the PDRF hires locals as forest guards who watch over the reforestation sites round the clock. They are paid P2,000 ($46) every 3 months, said Virginia Bañaga, president of the village organization Tulungan sa Kabuhayan ng Calawis (TSKC).

Forest guards make rounds of the hectares of land assigned to the village organization they belong to. Depending on their capability and manpower, organizations may be put in charge of from 10 to 150 hectares.

When forest guards find out about a forest fire in another part of the watershed or during summer months when forest fires are likely to happen, they establish fire lines around the reforestation site to prevent the scourge from reaching the seedlings.

Foresters like Argota meanwhile make quarterly reports on the growth of the seedlings, recording them faithfully in ledgers submitted to the companies funding the reforestation.

Based on their contract, local organizations should report a survival rate of at least 90%.

Being able to get locals on the side of reforestation is crucial for efforts to succeed.


ON DUTY. Villagers who volunteer to be forest guards follow a daily schedule

Some 90% of the villagers who live around or within the watershed depend on charcoal-making as a source of livelihood.

This is why Jorge Maragondon, president of another partner village organization (in San Jose, Antipolo City), says it's a good strategy to get locals to guard the reforestation sites.

"Madali lang kasi kilala rin namin ang mga nagkakaingin o nang-uuling. Diplomasya lang ang kailangan. Sinasabi ko sa mga miyembro ko, huwag sila magsuway na parang nananakot kasi lalakas lang yung galit ng tao," he said.

(It's easy because we also know the people who do slash-and-burn farming or charcoal-making. Diplomacy is enough. I tell my members not to threaten them because it will only make them angry.)

[kagalingan]

last part......

Regeneration

It's the presence of a forest protection system that makes the Upper Marikina Watershed's situation more hopeful compared to watersheds like Ipo.

Martin Francisco, president of Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society, said reforestation efforts will go to waste without the forest protection component.

In fact, forest protection may be even more important than reforestation.

"Nature has a way of returning to its former beauty. If you just leave it alone and protect it, the trees will grow back by themselves," he said during a visit to the Ipo Watershed.

In a reforestation site in Calawis, Argota showed Rappler kupang trees that were not planted by the village organization but sprouted from the ground anyway.

"This is what you call regeneration, when the trees native to the forest just grow back on their own. They're usually from seeds blown by the wind or dropped by birds," she told me as we look up at the trees' cheerfully swaying branches.

Such trees would never have reached their present height without effective forest protection, given the intense pressure still being felt by the watershed from charcoal-makers and kaingineros.

The Marikina Initiative is also working towards reducing this pressure by providing alternative livelihood for the villagers, said Lim.


DRIFTWOOD ART. Joselito, a Dumagat, holds a piece of driftwood art

Payment for seedlings and the hiring of locals as forest guards are just some of the options. PDRF has also taught locals how to process and package products from the forest like wild honey, sweet syrup from the lipote fruit (similar to duhat) and fermented turmeric extract from yellow ginger.

Members of the Dumagat tribe who used to be charcoal-makers now turn dead wood gathered from the forest floor into driftwood art. PDRF got artist Rey Contreras to teach them how to carve fanciful shapes from the wood.

So instead of burning living trees to earn a living, they carve dead ones into sculptures depicting a mother and child or a fish emerging from a coral. The Dumagats' art work will soon be exhibited in Ayala Malls within the next few months.

Despite these efforts, the Upper Marikina Watershed is still in danger.

The more than 3,000 people living inside the watershed increase in number every year, making pollution and deforestation harder to manage.

Charcoal-making, kaingin and even small-scale gold mining still threaten its trees. The watershed's cool climate, majestic mountain-top views and proximity have even attracted real estate interest.

But the Upper Marikina Watershed is a hopeful work-in-progress. Catalyzed by a calamity, present efforts aim to prevent another one.

Can other watersheds benefit from the same attention? Or will it take another devastating typhoon? –

Rappler.com

[5000rpm]

Mangrove tree.. have been trying to plant one near the sea shore, but it always get swept away by the waves..

[5000rpm]

Is Magkono Tree the same as "Tugas"?

Are there any place here in manila that sells wide selection of seedlings? particularly narra, molave, tugas?

[kagalingan]

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Sa manila seedling bank - go to west avenue office muna nila. Yung sa agham road kasi hawak na ng qc govt. So hindi basta nagpapapasok... (binenta sa ayala group tatayuan ng bulok na condo)

Cainta plant nursery- search mo sa yahoo.... Madami-dami dito kaso probinsya-ish sa layo......

[5000rpm]

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may office pa pala manila seedling sa west ave.. buti naman.. i thought totally nawala na sila sa area..thanks!

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Oo meron sa west ave.

Dalawa kasi naiwan sa agham road - manila seedling and puentespina farm ( the maker of malagos cheese and chocolate.) Matibay eh lumaban sa qc govt tatapusin yung lease.

Pati ata sa denr and bureau of plants meron ata.

Naghahanap nga ako mangkono seedling.... Ang bagal pala lumaki nyan......Mga 1 feet per year.