A species conservation program of the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) has planted more than 4,700 future mother trees to save the country’s native trees and preserve Philippine Forests.
EDC’s Binhi Tree for the Future program aims to rescue and secure the genes of the country’s premium native trees to save the biodiversity of the country’s forest. More than 4,700 trees have been planted by the energy company since 2008.
The EDC said that foreign, exotic tree species in the likes of mahogany, raintree or acacia, or Gmelina may do more harm as they have the tendency to invade and destroy the forests’ biodiversity.
The country’s forest population had a steady decline at the beginning of the 20th century, EDC said adding that this was due to logging activities.
Through a scientific classification system, the Binhi program has selected 96 priority threatened species, but have mechanical strength, high economic and aesthetic value out of about 3,600 native tree species.
Among these 96 species include Malinoag, Philippine Teak, Yakal-yamban, Batikuling, and five endemic iron wood species Mangkono, Bagoadlau, Sierra Madre mangkono and Palawan Mangkono that can only be found in the country.
After identifying threatened native trees is the species rescue and protection, propagation and continuous establishment of future mother trees. This meant narrowing down of vast jungle areas through consulting scientific literature, taxonomy and forestry experts.
Upon banking and securing wildings, these are grown to produce cutting in state – of the – art nurseries. Full – grown seedlings are introduced to real – world forest conditions and are planted in school campuses, biodiversity parks and arboretums.
