Forests in the Philippines

Forests in the Philippines1Philippine ForestThe Philippines is one of the most biologically diverse nations in the world. Species endemism is very high covering at least 25 genera of plants and 49% of terrestrial wildlife. The Philippines, 4th in bird endemism, 5th in number of plant species and maintains 5% of the worlds flora.About 121 endemic and 76 threatened species.2Philippine Forest Cover(as of December 31, 2003)Closed Forest = 2,560,872Open Forests = 4,030,588Mangrove = 247,362Plantation Forest = 329,578Total Forests = 7,168,4003Philippine Forest CoverBetween 1990 and 2005, Philippines lost 32.3% of its forest cover, or around 3,412,000 hectares. Measuring the total rate of habitat conversion (defined as change in forest area plus change in woodland area minus net plantation expansion) for the 1990-2005 interval, Philippines lost 7.9% of its forest and woodland habitat.

4DIPTEROCARP

any of a family (Dipterocarpaceae) of tall hardwood tropical trees chiefly of southeastern Asia that have a 2-winged fruit and are the source of valuable timber, aromatic oils, and resins;especially: a tree of the type genus (Dipterocarpus)

Types of Forest in the PhilippinesThe molave forest is a dry, monsoonal forest which is found only in parts of the western Philippine (central Luzon, Mindoro, and Palawan). The molave forest type makes up only 3% of the total area of the Philippines.

7Types of Forest in the PhilippinesThe beach forest used to occur on coastal areas and was a transition between the mangrove forest and other forest types inland.For all practical purposes, beach forests no longer exist in the Philippines.

8Types of Forest in the PhilippinesThere two types of pine native to the Philippines: Benguet pine, found in northern Luzon, and Mindoro pine, found in parts of Mindoro and western Luzon.Altogether pine forests occupy 2,390 km2.

9Types of Forest in the PhilippinesMangroves are restricted to coastal fringes and tidal flats and now occupy approximately 1,391 km2. They have been subjected to increase pressure because their woods are valuable for fuel (charcoal).

10Types of Forest in the PhilippinesThe mossy forest (also referred to as mountain or cloud forest). It is a stunted forest and has no commercial value. It is distributed throughout the Philippines and its primary role is in water-and-soil-holding functions. It presently covers 11,347 km2.

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FORESTS Worldwide, the total forest area in 2005 is just under 4 billion hectares; the rate of deforestation is about 13 million hectares per year. The net change in forest area in the period 2000-2005 is estimated at -7.3 million hectares/year CIDA 2006; WRI 2005; WWF 2005 Tropical forests are home to about 50% of all plant and animal species on the planet Forests cover almost one-third of the earth's land surface; the global area of forest systems has been reduced by one half over the past three centuries Approximately 1.5 billion tonnes of wood is harvested for fuel annually worldwide Forests are among the most notable storehouses of biological diversity on the land - they house over two-thirds of known terrestrial species; they also harbour the largest share of threatened species12Importance of ForestIt provides human beings with many products and services such as:1. food and medicine2. lumber, furniture, paper, etc.3. stop erosion4. refresh air5. control stream and river flowsForest & WoodlandForest crown of trees touch to form a canopy while in woodland trees grow apart, so that the canopy is open.Effects of Deforestation in the Philippines1. Denuded Upland- after several harvests of the forest the cleared land is no longer suitable for planting trees.

2. Degraded Watershed- when forest mountain denuded, watersheds are degraded and this leads to the loss of sustained water supplies for lowland communities.

3. Serious Water Shortage

4. Heavy Soil Erosion- landslides easily happens.

5. Flooding

6. Silting of Rivers and Dams- silting of river sediments deposit which shortens its lifespan and clogs irrigation system.

7. Destruction of Corals along the Coast- effects of siltation which increase flooding during rainy seasons and decreased stream flow in dry seasons.

8. Illegal logging

9. Green House Effect- increases the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. Philippines contributes 50% of CO2 into the atmosphere.

10. Extinction of Thousands of Species

Number of Threatened Plants18DeforestationROOT CAUSES OF DEFORESTATIONCommercial loggingMining operationsTo provide for cattle pasture to grazeTo grow crops like banana, sugar cane, coffee, etc.Intensive logging over decadesUpland migrationAgricultural expansion (conversion)Development policy failures (reconstruction of dams as source of electric power)Inequitable land distribution (housing, industries and roads)Forest fires19Declining wood availability, heavy soil erosion and flashfloods led to logging bans on primary forests with concessions reduced to a few sustainable operations and massive reforestation efforts in the last few decades.

Natural Causes of DeforestationForest Fires

Volcanic Eruption

TyphoonEFFECTS OF DEFORESTATIONNot only the typical giant trees will disappear more and more, also more than 3500 species of plants and animals, many of them only found in the Philippines, will disappear, for always.Some of the threatened animals are:the Tarsierthe Philippine Eaglethe Philippine cockatooflying lemursflower peckersthe Philippine crocodile

22Protected Areas

23RA 7586Also known as National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act which was enacted in June 1992.This law provides for the establishment and management of protected areas in the Philippines.The NIPAS law, serves to "protect outstandingly remarkable areas and biologically important public lands that are habitats of rare and endangered species of plants and animals representative of biogeographic zones and related ecosystems."24RA 9147Also known Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (2001 July).An act providing for the conservation and protection of wildlife resources and their habitats, appropriating funds there for and for other purposes.To conserve the country's wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainability.25TOP 10 MOST CRITICALLY ENDAGERED SPECIES IN THE PHILIPPINES#10: PHILIPPINE CROCODILE

Scientific Name: CrocodylusmindorensisCommon Name: Philippine freshwater crocodileHabitat: Mindoro, only about 100 left#9:THE MINDORO BLEEDING-HEART

Scientific Name: GallicolumbaplatenaeCommon Name:Kulo-kuloHabitat: Mt. Siburan, Mindoro#8:RUFOUS-HEADED HORNBILL

Scientific Name: AceroswaldeniCommon Name:KalawHabitat: Panay, some part of Zamboanga del Norte, extinct in Guimaras#7:HAWKSBILL SEA TURTLE

Scientific Name: EretmochelysimbricataCommon Name:pawikanHabitat: global#6:RED-VENTED COCKATOO

Scientific Name: CacatuahaematuropygiaCommon Name:Katala, KalangayHabitat: Palawan, only about 180 left#5:PHILIPPINE FOREST TURTLE

Scientific Name: SiebenrockiellaleytensisCommon Name: Palawan turtleHabitat: Palawan#4:PHILIPPINE NAKED-BACKED FRUIT BAT

Scientific Name: DobsoniachapmaniCommon Name:kwaknitHabitat: Cebu, Negros Island (very small numbers)#3: VISAYAN WARTY PIG

Scientific Name: SuscebifronsCommon Name: Cebu warty pig, Negros warty pigHabitat: Cebu, Panay, Negros Island#2: TAMARAW

Scientific Name: BubalusmindorensisCommon Name:TamarawHabitat: Mindoro#1: PHILIPPINE EAGLE

Scientific Name: PithecophagajefferyiCommon Name:HaribonHabitat: Philippinestop 10 endangered plants in Philippines

1) Waling-Waling2) Almaciga3) Jade Vine4) Rafflesia5) Kris plant6) Ipot palm7) Agarwood8) Aloewood9) Eaglewood10) Lign-aloes