PHILIPPINES This country report is prepared as a contribution to the FAO publication, The Report on the State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources. The content and the structure are in accordance with the recommendations and guidelines given by FAO in the document Guidelines for Preparation of Country Reports for the State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources (2010). These guidelines set out recommendations for the objective, scope and structure of the country reports. Countries were requested to consider the current state of knowledge of forest genetic diversity, including:  Between and within species diversity  List of priority species; their roles and values and importance  List of threatened/endangered species  Threats, opportunities and challenges for the conservation, use and development of forest genetic resources These reports were submitted to FAO as official government documents. The report is presented on www. fao.org/documents as supportive and contextual information to be used in conjunction with other documentation on world forest genetic resources. The content and the views expressed in this report are the responsibility of the entity submitting the report to FAO. FAO may not be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained in this report. Publisher Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Bibliographic Entry and Citation Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau. 2012. Philippine Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources, ERDB, College, Laguna. 162 p. ISBN 978-971-8831-36-6 This publication is produced through the project: “Philippine Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources” implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau and funded by FAOPhilippines thru the Country Representative’s Technical Cooperation Programme Facility. Printed by Lobster Printing, Pasay City, Philippines FRONT and BACK COVER PHOTO: Seed Production Area of A. mangium in Bansud, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources iii Foreword T he world’s forest genetic resources are in a state of siege. For too long a time, the forests of the world have been subjected to severe exploitation to satisfy the needs of an ever growing population. This is not surprising as indeed the forests are springs of resources that can satisfy most basic needs of man. History tells us that the forests have been the dominant habitats of the early human civilization. Before the advent of sedentary agriculture, the forest resources have largely supported the nomadic life of human beings. In most countries of the world, the forests and the various natural resources they contain have also provided the foundation for progress and development. Even in these current times, people have been turning to the forests for their sources of livelihood, and food and fuel during periods of scarcity. It is no wonder then that in the course of history, we have seen the steady decline in both the quantity and quality of the forests around the world. Nowhere in the world could such be true as in the Philippines. Significant stages in the economy of the country in the past could be tied with the state of forest and forest resources use. It was in the Philippines where systematic logging of the tropical forests in Southeast Asia had been first demonstrated. For a time during the early part of the last quarter of the previous century, the forestry sector has been the top contributor to the Philippines’ gross domestic product. Back then, the Philippines had been exporting quality logs to countries abroad. Other than being the top dollar earner for the country that time, the forest industries had been providing work to several thousands of Filipinos and boosting the economy in the local areas where timber concessions were operating. But that was long ago. From a high of about 19 million hectares or about 65% of the total area of the country at the start of the last century, the forests of the country have steadily been decimated through the years. At the end of the last century, the forest of the country was down to a measly 17% of the total area of the nation. A belated recognition of the implications of such sobering circumstance was the irreversible consequences of such to the forest genetic resources of the country. It cannot be denied that Philippines iv Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Foreword with the systematic and indiscriminate cutting of the country’s forests in the past, a huge part of these genetic resources has been removed never to benefit the Filipinos again today and in the years to come. That the Philippines has been declared as one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world points to the fact that it had lost a significant portion of such forest genetic resources, and that the loss will continue unless drastic measures are instituted to reverse such phenomenon. The Philippines’ forest genetic resources are indeed not inexhaustible resources as they were once perceived to be. Today, there are indications of an increasing awareness on the need to conserve and protect whatever remains of the forest genetic resources of the country. Several big initiatives, both by the government and the private sectors, are achieving limited gains in so far as curbing the further depletion of the Philippines forest genetic resources is concerned. But more needs to be done. It should be obvious to everyone that the current efforts towards forest genetic conservation in the country are still wanting, with the current programs and activities largely fragmented in nature. There is the felt need to harmonize all these initiatives and formulate and implement seriously a national program on the conservation of forest genetic resources in the country. The preparation of this country report on the state of the forest genetic resources in the Philippines as part of the program of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on the “State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources” could very well be the means to jumpstart a meaningful national initiative. Other than providing this impetus, this country report also hopes to strengthen further the current awareness on the value of forest genetic resources and the urgent need to sustainably manage and/or conserve such. The report can very well provide the foundation for a more concerted effort on the sustainable management and conservation of the Philippines forest genetic resources. This needs to be done, and undertaken in the immediate future, before it becomes too late. RAMON J. P. PAJE, CESO I Secretary Department of Environment and Natural Resources Philippines Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources v Preface T he Country Report on the State of the Forest Genetic Resources is the Philippines contribution to the preparation of the “The State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources (SoW-FGR)” by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The latter is a response of the FAO to the felt need to continually guarantee the sustainable use and conservation of the world’s forest biological diversity to insure that such is able to provide for food security, poverty alleviation, environmental conservation, as well as the economic and social advancement and the maintenance of cultural and spiritual values in the communities that depend on them. As envisioned by the FAO, the country reports were to provide the foundation for the drafting of the SoW-FGR. To provide for a common framework on the reporting process and to insure the uniformity of the information that shall be used in the writing of the Sow-FGR, the FAO prescribed a set of guidelines in the preparation of the country reports. This report endeavored to conform mostly to the framework and prescriptions in the guidelines. In addition to heightening the awareness on the critical need for more sustainable use and management of the country’s forest genetic resources, the Report also provides a platform for the planning and implementation of activities that should lead to the conservation of the same on a national level. In keeping with the FAO instituted guidelines, the Philippine Country Report has attempted to provide a comprehensive assessment of the following: the state of forest genetic resources in the Philippines and their roles in the forest and forestry production systems in the country, including the associated biodiversity and the factors driving the changes; the current contribution of forest genetic resources to sustainable forest development, and food, and agriculture; how the contribution of forest genetic resources to sustainable forest development, and food and agriculture can be enhanced, identifying opportunities and obstacles, as well as strategies to realize the opportunities and overcome any obstacles, and; the needs and priorities for capacity building to enable the conservation, sustainable use and development of forest genetic resources. Philippines vi Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Preface The Report contains insights on the past and current management of the forest genetic resources in the Philippines, the different insitu and ex-situ forest genetic resources conservation programs, a description of the few tree improvement and breeding activities undertaken, existing infrastructures and facilities as well as laws, rules and regulations and other policy issuances related to forest genetic resources use and conservation, the country’s participation in regional and international agreements and collaborative projects, existing knowledge base and education programs, research and development programs and projects, and the different capacity building initiatives on the sustainable use and conservation of forest genetic resources in the country. The Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources took the lead in the drafting and finalization of the country report. The completion of this Report would not have been possible without the help of a number of persons and institutions. Their work is acknowledged with much appreciation. They have contributed so much in advancing the cause of conserving and managing the forest genetic resources of the Philippines in a sustainable manner. MARCIAL C. AMARO, JR., CESO III Director Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources vii Executive Summary T he need to conserve forest genetic resources has long been seriously recognized. Taking the lead in the efforts to stem the tide of the continuous loss of and/or conserve the world’s forest genetic resources is the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations which has organized the Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources or the Forest Gene Panel as early as 1967. This urgent concern was further translated into action with the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture agreeing on the preparation of a report on “The State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources.” The global report will draw from the country reports that shall be prepared by the member countries. This is the Country Report on the Forest Genetic Resources (FGR) of the Philippines. This country report was prepared in accordance with the Guidelines for the Preparation of Country Reports for the State of the World’s Forest Resources prepared by the FAO. The FAO designed the Country Reports to cover genetic resources of environmental, economic, social and cultural values. Specifically, the country reports were expected to bring insights on current management activities of forest genetic resources, in-situ and ex-situ genetic conservation as well as improvement and breeding activities, support facilities, and participation and/or involvement in regional and international cooperation and collaboration pertaining to forest genetic resources, and capacity building needs on both knowledge and genetic resources management. In keeping with the guidelines, this report is an attempt to assess the state of the Philippine’s forest genetic resources and their roles and values. In the assessment, “aspects of forest biodiversity, the production systems and the environment in which these resources are used, the range of products and services which they provide, the consumption patterns and socio-cultural practices associated with them, the ecosystem functions which they sustain and their roles in achieving sustainable forest management, food security and poverty alleviation” were likewise discussed. Philippines viii Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Executive Summary The Philippines lies just above the equator between 4°30’ and 21°20’ North latitude and 116°40’ and 126°34’ East longitude and is made up of over 7,107 islands. Of the total land area, 94% comes from the 11 largest islands. The land area is 300,000 square kilometres (sq km) or 30,000,000 hectares (ha). Water within the land occupies an area of 1,830 sq km. The coastline measures 36,289 km. The prevailing climate is tropical rain monsoon from November to April and Southwest monsoon from May to October. There are only two seasons, wet and dry as per the monsoon rains. The terrain is mostly mountainous with narrow coastal lowlands. Natural hazards include 20-22 cyclonic typhoons per year, landslides, flooding, active volcanoes, destructive earthquakes and tsunamis. Current environmental issues include uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas, soil erosion, air and water pollution in major urban areas, coral reef degradation, and increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important as fish breeding grounds. In situ conservation of forest genetic resources in the Philippines largely takes place in protected areas in the Philippines. In situ conservation in protected areas started in the Philippines as early as 1932, through the institution of the National Parks System. In totality, 60 national parks and 8 game refuges and bird sanctuaries were established under this system. These parks, refuges and sanctuaries became a core component of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) which was established in 1992 through Republic Act (RA) 7586. The objective of NIPAS is to “integrate outstanding remarkable areas and biologically important public lands that are habitats of rare and endangered species of plants and animals, biogeographic zones and related ecosystems whether terrestrial, wetland or marine, all of which shall be designated as protected areas”. The national parks established before 1992 became the initial components of NIPAS. Currently, there are 302 of these in the NIPAS with a total area of more than 5.5 million ha, including natural parks, protected landscapes and seascapes, natural monuments or landmarks, resource reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, natural biotic areas, and marine parks and mangrove swamps. Only about 93 have, thus far, been given Presidential Proclamation or Congressional actions covering some 2.95 million ha or just 9.8% of the total land area of the Philippines. Constraints in the in situ conservation of forest genetic resources in the country include inadequate inventories of their plant biodiversity or detailed information on which rare and threatened species occur in which protected areas, the abundance of rare, endangered, or threatened species in production forests, the threat of alien invasive species in PAs, lack of knowledge and skills of field personnel doing timber cruising on rare, endangered and threatened tree species, non-delineation on the ground of the boundaries of the PAs, encroachment of farming activities into the PAs, and institutional and management limitations. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Executive Summary ix Ex situ conservation efforts for forest genetic resources in the Philippines generally involve establishment of field genebanks or plantations, botanical gardens, and seed banks. For a time genebanks mostly of commercial fast growing exotic species in the form of tree plantations were maintained by large integrated wood industries (e.g. PICOP Resources, Inc.) in the country. But such living collections were also subjected to harvesting. To date, there may still be a few remaining collections but they are no longer being maintained and that records pertaining to accessions in such areas are mostly missing. There are now three rattan genebanks, a field genebank of agroforestry tree species, two palmetum, two mangrovetum, and three bambusetum. All are adequately maintained. There are botanic gardens in several areas in the country notable of which is the Makiling Botanic Gardens of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in the Province of Laguna. There are clonal multiplication gardens of dipterocarps and tree plantation species. There are seed production areas identified but their maintenance and documentation are inadequate. There are a few seed orchards established by ERDB. There are significant efforts on clonal propagation, both macro- and micropropagation. Few researches related to ex situ conservation have been undertaken so far. Initiatives on the ex situ conservation of forest genetic resources in the Philippines are largely fragmented and clearly, more needs to be done along this area. Much needs to be done also when it comes to the sustainable use and management of forest genetic resources in the country. The continuous destruction of the environment poses a great threat to the availability of forest genetic resources. Destruction is mainly caused by land conversion for settlement, agricultural development, shifting cultivation, logging, forest fire, and to some extent mining, energy projects, and pest and diseases. The country’s forest genetic resources are threatened by overexploitation for commercial purposes (e.g. collection of wild orchids for export), land conversion (logging and shifting cultivation) and habitat fragmentation. Furthermore, previous efforts and current activities on the genetic improvement and/or breeding of forest species in the Philippines are few and largely fragmented. The country doesn’t have a national tree improvement program as yet to tie in all the initiatives on forest genetic improvement including forest genetic resources conservation. There are several types of organizations that are known to be conducting field and laboratory works on forest genetic resources conservation. These are the Department of Environment and Natural Resources through its Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau and its regional field research units (Ecosystems Research and Development Services), the academic institutions (e.g. the UPLB, the Visayas State University in Leyte Province, and other state colleges and universities), conservation-oriented NGOs Philippines x Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Executive Summary and a few private wood industries in the past. The government’s NIPAS program is a positive force in the efforts towards in-situ conservation of FGR. The recently launched National Greening Program seeks to contribute to ex-situ conservation. There are few organizations that have undertaken serious FGR conservation initiatives with some being national in scope. The achievements of these organizations and their programs are potential building blocks for reinforcing FGR conservation efforts in the country in the future. Institutionally, the Philippines has also established the structure to guarantee the continuity of initiatives towards the conservation of forest genetic resources in the country. Various laws have been enacted and local ordinances have been promulgated that are designed to safeguard such resources. These efforts are complemented by a continuing program on information, education, and communication designed to promote the conservation of forest genetic resources. The Philippines is also a party to a number of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) which aims to conserve and sustainably use biological diversity. These include the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In like manner, the country is a member of international organizations whose thrusts include the sustainable use of FGR like the IUFRO and the APAFRI and has been collaborating with regional initiatives whose objectives are to seek better understanding of FGR related topics. The latter includes the International Neem Network, the ASEAN Peatland Forests Project, and the ASEAN Biodiversity Centre. All these involvements have given a boost to the government’s efforts geared towards implementing programs and projects designed to create better appreciation of the value of and the need to conserve and sustainably use the country’s forest genetic resources. The formulation and implementation of a National Forest Tree Improvement Program is an imperative to tie in all the past and present efforts on the conservation and the sustainable use of country’s forest genetic resources. This report also highlights the wealth of the Philippines in terms of its forest genetic resources. From its forests comes a multitude of goods – food, wood, medicine and “cosmeceuticals”, non-wood forest products, and raw materials for the handicrafts and novelty items. Methods are now evolving towards the effective valuing of the services that come with the sustainable management of the forest genetic resources. With this development is the increasing appreciation of the concept of payment for environmental services that will work towards more vigorous efforts towards the sustainable Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources xi use of such resources. In the Philippines too, current interest on REDD+ very well complements the thrust on the conservation of existing forest genetic resources of the nation. Executive Summary In the face of such developments are challenges that the country will have to address to further the moves towards such conservation efforts. These include the need for more skills and knowledge on forest genetic resources among the country’s environmental managers and the general public, the conduct of more scientific studies aimed at generating additional basic knowledge on forest genetic resources and producing better technologies to address the regeneration of the same including more efficient utilization schemes, the need for more surveys of the protected areas in the country, establishment of more facilities for the ex-situ conservation of forest genetic resources, and the implementation of an efficient and effective monitoring system of conservation priority protected areas. Philippines xii Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Contents iii Foreword v Preface vii Executive Summary xv List of Tables xvi List of Figures xvii List of Appendix Tables xviii List of Acronyms 1 Introduction 2 Basic Geographic Description 3 Climate and Weather Conditions 4 Topographic Features 4 Population and Economy 4 The Philippine Forestry Sector 6 References 7 Chapter 1. The Current State of Philippine Forest Genetic Resources 7 Introduction 7 Types of Forest Vegetations and their Genetic Resources 10 Forest Resources 11 Factors Influencing the State of Forest Genetic Resources 12 Current and Emerging Technologies 14 Main Value of Forest Genetic Resources 16 References 19 Chapter 2. In Situ Genetic Conservation 19 In Situ Conservation in Protected Forest Areas 20 In Situ Conservation in Production Areas 22 Priority In Situ Conservation Areas 22 Constraints to In Situ Conservation 23 Priority R & D Areas for In Situ Conservation Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources xiii 24 Capacity Building Needs 24 References 27 Chapter 3. Ex Situ Genetic Conservation 27 Field Genebanks and Plantations 28 Botanical Gardens 29 Seed Banks, Clone Banks, and In Vitro Genebanks 30 Plant Rescue 30 Clonal Propagation 31 Research Gaps 33 Education and Training 33 References 35 Chapter 4. The State of Use and Sustainable Management of Forest Genetic Resources 35 Utilization of Conserved Forest Genetic Resources and the Major Constrains to their Use 36 The State of Forest Genetic Improvement and Breeding Program 37 Tree Improvement 38 Seed Production Areas 39 Seed Orchards 40 Species and Provenance Trials 41 Seed Collection, Processing, Storage, and Distribution 42 Research and Development Activities 44 Mass Propagation of Improved Varieties 46 References 51 Chapter 5. The State of National Programs, Research, Education, Training and Legislation 51 The Department of Environment and Natural Resources 52 National Programs on Forest Genetic Resources Conservation 55 Research, Education and Training 62 Legislation 67 Needs for Developing Forest Genetic Resources Legislation 67 References 69 Chapter 6. The State of Regional and International Collaboration 69 Regional and Sub-Regional Collaborations 70 International Collaborations 72 Needs and Priorities for Future International Collaboration Philippines xiv Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 75 Chapter 7. Access to Forest Genetic Resources and Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Use 76 International Agreements 77 National Legislations and Policies 81 Chapter 8. The Contribution of Forest Genetic Resources to Food and Health Security, Poverty Alleviation, and Sustainable Development 81 FGR Contribution to Food and Health Security, Poverty Alleviation, and Sustainable Development 81 Philippine Wildfood Plants 82 Contribution to Health and Security 82 Forest Based Industries/Activities Supporting Poverty alleviation 85 Initiatives towards sustainable development and people-oriented forest development program 89 Issues and challenges 89 References Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources xv Tables Page Table No. Title 2 1 Philippine forest cover as of 2010 5 2 Breakdown of Philippine forests into types 10 3 Forest ownership and area 15 4 Summary of number of threatened Philippine plants per category 16 5 Annual quantity of seeds produced and current state of identification of forest reproductive material of the main forest tree and other woody species in country 17 6 Annual number of seedlings (or vegetative propagules) planted and the state of identification of the reproductive material used for the main forest tree and other woody species in the country 20 7 Summary of proclaimed protected areas in the Philippines 28 8 Species found in the Mangrove Genebank at Pagbilao, Quezon 29 9 Botanic gardens in the Philippines 30 10 Summary of Acacia mangium seeds records and acquisition by PTFI-SMH in Mindoro oriental 31 11 Provenances and Seedlots of Acacia mangium used in PTFI-Talacogon Plantation 32 12 Summary of dipterocarp species planted in the ERDB hedge garden 45 13 Tree species studied using tissue culture in the Philippines 67 14 Needs for developing forest genetic resources legislation 73 15 Needs and priorities of the Philippines for international collaboration on forest genetic resources 88 16 Various forest tenurial instruments implemented, as of 2010 Philippines xvi Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Figures Page Table No. Title 2 1 The location of the Philippines in Southeast Asia 3 2 Climate types in the Philippines 5 3 Extent of forest cover in the Philippines from 1990 to 2010 5 4 Development of forest plantations in the Philippines from 1990 to 2010 51 5 Forest genetic conservation and management framework showing both the in situ and ex situ strategies (Pollisco, 2009). Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources xvii Appendix Tables Page Appendix Table No. Title 11 1 Forest species in the Philippines with economic importance and/or uses 93 2 Forest species used for plantation, agroforestry or enrichment planting in natural forests 96 3 Main tree and other woody forest species providing environmental services or social values 104 97 4 List of tree and other woody forest species considered to be critically endangered in all or part of their range from genetic conservation point of view 103 5 List of forest species whose genetic variability has been evaluated 105 6 Priority areas for plant conservation (Important Plant Areas or Important Plant Sites (DENR–PAWB, CI, & UP–CIDS 2002) 108 7 Potential seed production areas/seed sources by region 112 8 Policy issuances related to forest genetic resources conservation and sustainable use promulgated by the Philippine government 120 9 Wildfood plants in the Philippines forest 129 10 Forest species used as raw materials for holiday decors, wearables, gifts, and other novelty items Philippines xviii Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources List of Acronyms ACB ADB AFFLA AFTA APAFRI APFP ASEAN ATSAL ATSC BFI BK BMS CADT CALT CBD CBFM CBFMP CBFMA CDM CFNR CFP CIA CITES COP CPPAP C&I CSC CSIRO CSO DAO DENR DOST EC EO ERDB ERDS EU FAO FGR ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity Asian Development Bank Agroforestry Farm Lease Agreement ASEAN Free Trade Area Asia Pacific Association of Forest Research Institutions ASEAN Peatland Forests Project Association of Southeast Asian Nations Agroforestry Tree Seed Association of Lantapan Australian Tree Seed Centre Bukidnon Forests, Inc. Bantay Kalikasan Biodiversity Monitoring System Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title Certificate of Ancestral Land Title Convention on Biological Diversity Community Based Forest Management Community-Based Forest Management Program Community Based Forest Management Agreement Clean Development Mechanism College of Forestry and Natural Resources Community Forestry Program Central Intelligence Agency Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna Conference of Parties Conservation of Priority Protected Areas Project Criteria and Indicator Certificate of Stewardship Contract Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization Clonal Seed Orchard DENR Administrative Order Department of Environment and Natural Resources Department of Science and Technology European Commission Executive Order Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau Ecosystems Research and Development Services European Union Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Forest Genetic Resources Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources FLD FLAgT FLGMA FMB FORTIP FPE FRA FPRDI GDP GEF GMO GO ICC ICRAF IEC IFMA INBAR IPA IPB IPRA IPS IRR ITPLA ITTO IUCN LGU MBG MEA MIS NAMRIA NCIP NEDA NEP NIPAS NIPAP NGOs NGP NIA NPC OGAs PA PACBRMA PAMB PAMP PAWB PCARRD PCHM xix Forest & Landscape Denmark Forest Land use Agreement for Tourism Forest Land Grazing Management Agreement Forest Management Bureau Regional Project on Improved Productivity of Man-Made Forests Through Application of Technological Advances in Tree Breeding and Propagation Foundation for Philippine Environment Forest Resources Assessment Forest Products Research and Development Institute Gross Domestic Product Global Environment Facility Genetically Modified Organisms Government Organization Indigenous Cultural Communities The World Agroforestry Centre Information, Education, and Communication Integrated Forest Management Agreement International Network for Bamboo and Rattan Important Plant Area Institute of Plant Breeding Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act Important Plant Site Implementing Rules and Regulations Industrial Tree Plantation License Agreement International Tropical Timber Organization International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Local government unit Makiling Botanic Gardens Multilateral Environmental Agreements Management Information System National Mapping and Resources Inventory Authority National Commission on Indigenous People National Economic Development Authority National Ecotourism Plan National Integrated Protected Areas System National Integrated Protected Areas Project Non-government Organizations National Greening Project National Irrigation Administration National Power Corporation Other government agencies Protected Area Protected Area Community-Based Resource Management Agreement Protected Area Management Board Protected Area Management Plan Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development Philippine Clearing House Mechanism for Biodiversity Philippines xx Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources PCSD PICOP PES PNG PNOC PSLP PTFCF PTFI RA RDE REDD RP R&D SBMA SCU SIBF SIBP SIFMA SINP SLP SFM SME SoW-FGR SPA SSO SUDECOR SUSTEC TFLA TLAs UNDP UNEP UNFCC UP UPLB USD USDA WB WTO WWF Philippine Council for Sustainable Development Paper Industries Corporation of the Philippines Payment for Environmental Service Papua New Guinea Philippine National Oil Corporation Public Sector Linkage Program Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation Provident Tree Farms, Inc. Republic Act Research, Development, and Extension Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Republic of the Philippines Research and Development Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority State, colleges , and universities Samar Island Biodiversity Foundation Samar Island Biodiversity Program Socialized industrial Forest Management Agreement Samar Island Natural Park Special Land use Permit Sustainable Forest Management Small and Medium Enterprises State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources Seed Production Area Seedling Seed Orchard Surigao Development Corporation Sustainable Ecosystems International Corporation Tree Farm Lease Agreement Timber License Agreements United Nations Development Programme United Nations Environment Programme United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change University of the Philippines University of the Philippines Los Baňos United States Dollars United States Department of Agriculture World Bank World Trade Organization World Wildlife Fund Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 1 Introduction F orest genetic resources have long played a key role in the history of the world. Significant events in the past have seen how mankind has been intricately woven with the forests of the world and all the resources thereat. It is no wonder then that the phenomenal increase in the global population has been accompanied by the continuous diminution of the forests of the world. And with the shrinkage of the forests is the inevitable reduction or even the virtual loss of valuable genetic resources in the said areas. In this report, forest genetic resources represent the entire “genetic variation in trees which are of potential or present benefit to humans” (FAO, 1989). The FAO, the Forest & Landscape Denmark, and the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, now the Bioversity International (FAO, FLD, IPGRI, 2004) define forest as denoting a stand, population or landscape of trees, and typically other associated woody plants. The term genetic in the same report refers to “variation of genetic (DNA) origin, and variation of genes at different levels: (1) variation between species, (2) variation between populations within species and (3) variation between individual trees within populations. The largest variation is between species, and loss of whole species is therefore also the most dramatic loss of future options.” Finally, resources refers to the “use of genetic variation—in the broad sense stated above—considered to be of potential value for humans at present or in the future.” These concepts are adopted in this report. The need to conserve forest genetic resources has long been seriously recognized. Taking the lead in the efforts to stem the tide of the continuous loss of and/or conserve the world’s forest genetic resources is the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations which has organized the Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources or the Forest Gene Panel as early as 1967. This urgent concern was further translated into action with the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture agreeing on the preparation of a report on “The State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources.” The global report will draw from the country reports that shall be prepared by the member countries. This is the Country Report on the Forest Genetic Resources of the Philippines. This country report was prepared in accordance with the Guidelines for the Preparation of Country Reports for the State of the World’s Forest Resources prepared by the FAO. The FAO designed the Country Reports to cover genetic resources of environmental, economic, social and cultural values. Specifically, the country reports were expected to bring insights on current management activities of forest genetic resources, in-situ and ex-situ genetic conservation as well as improvement and breeding activities, support facilities, and participation and/or involvement in regional and international cooperation and collaboration pertaining to forest genetic resources, and capacity building needs on both knowledge and genetic resources management. In keeping with the guidelines, this report is an attempt to assess the state of the Philippine’s forest genetic resources and their roles and values. In the assessment, “aspects Philippines 2 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources of forest biodiversity, the production systems and the environment in which these resources are used, the range of products and services which they provide, the consumption patterns and socio-cultural practices associated with them, the ecosystem functions which they sustain and their roles in achieving sustainable forest management, food security and poverty alleviation” were likewise discussed. Researchers and technical staff of the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) spearheaded the preparation of the report. Initially, an extensive literature search and retrieval of documents from research and development organizations in the country, as well as academic institutions engaged in activities on forest genetic resources conservation and management and related fields. The information collected were then consolidated and formed the bases in writing the draft of the country report. This was also referred to the DENR Regional Research Sectors nationwide for comments and improvement. A National Consultative Workshop on the State of the Philippine Forest Genetic Resources (FGR) was then convened for the purpose of validating and enriching further the contents of the draft country report. Key researchers and staff from the ERDB and other scientists whose expertise and experiences relate to FGR participated during the National Workshop. The draft country report was presented in a plenary session. Discussion groups were formed and each chapter of the draft country report was comprehensively assessed as to the contents. The country report was finalized with inputs from the national workshop. about 1,000 kilometers from the southeast coast of the mainland of Asia. It lies between 21°20’ north and 4°30’ north latitude and 116°55’ east and 126°36’ east longitude (Fig. 1). It is bounded on the west and north by the South China Sea, on the east by the Pacific Ocean; and on the South by the Celebes Sea and the coastal waters of Borneo. The country straddles important shipping lanes both in the China Sea and the Pacific Ocean making it a strategic location for trading of goods and other commercial activities . This is the reason why the Philippines is sometimes referred to as the “Pearl of the Orient Seas.” With its total land area of 115,830 square miles (300,000 square kilometers), it constitutes two percent of the total land area of the world and is classified as a medium sized country. The entire archipelago of 7,107 islands is Basic Geographic Description Forming part of the Southeast Asian region, the Philippines is located Fig. 1. The location of the Philippines in Southeast Asia. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources divided into three major island groups, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The largest island of Luzon is where the capital city of Manila is located. It is also the most populous among the island groups. Industrial activities are mostly concentrated in the regions surrounding Metro Manila, as well as in the central part of the Philippines, particularly in the Island of Cebu in the Visayas. Climate and Weather Conditions Using temperature and rainfall as bases, the climate of the country can be divided into two major seasons: (1) the rainy season, from June to November; and (2) the dry season, from December to May. The dry season may be subdivided further into (a) the cool dry season, from December to February; and (b) the hot dry season, from March to May. Based on the distribution of rainfall, four climate types are recognized. The description of each type and the prevailing types in the different regions of the country are described in Fig. 2). 3 Based on the average of all weather stations in the Philippines, excluding the City of Baguio, the mean annual temperature is 26.6°C. The coolest month is January with a mean temperature of 25.5°C while the warmest month occurs in May with a mean temperature of 28.3°C. Latitude is an insignificant factor in the variation of temperature while altitude shows greater contrast in temperature. The difference between the mean annual temperature of the southernmost station in Zamboanga and that of the northernmost station in Laoag City is insignificant. In other words, there is essentially no difference in the mean annual temperature of places in the island groups of Luzon, the Visayas, or Mindanao measured at or near sea level. The Philippines has a high prevailing relative humidity throughout the year mainly due to high temperatures and the surrounding bodies of water. The average monthly relative humidity varies between 71 percent in March and 85 percent in September. The combination of warm temperature and high relative and absolute humidities give rise to high sensible temperatures throughout the archipelago. It is especially uncomfortable during March to May, when temperature and humidity attain their maximum levels. The mean annual rainfall of the Philippines varies from 965 to 4,064 millimeters an-nually. Baguio City, eastern Samar, and eastern Surigao receive the greatest amount of rainfall while the southern portion of Cotabato receives the least amount of rain. At General Santos City in Cotabato, the average annual rainfall is only 978 millimeters. Fig. 2. Climate types in the Philippines. Philippines 4 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources The Philippines is often visited by tropical cyclones which exert a great influence on the climate and weather conditions of the country. A huge portion of the rainfall, humidity and cloudiness are due to the influence of these weather disturbances that generally originate from the east in the region of the Marianas and Caroline Islands of the Pacific Ocean which have the same latitudinal location as Mindanao. Their movements follow a northwesterly direction, sparing Mindanao from being directly hit by majority of the typhoons that cross the country. org/wiki/Geography_of_the_Philippines_30 December 2011). The country's most extensive river systems are the Pulangi River, which flows into the Mindanao River (Rio Grande de Mindanao); the Agusan, in Mindanao which flows north into the Mindanao Sea; the Cagayan in northern Luzon; and the Pampanga, which flows south from east Central Luzon into Manila Bay. Laguna de Bay, east of Manila Bay, is the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines. Several rivers have been harnessed for hydroelectric power. Topographic Features Population and Economy Topographically, the Philippines is broken up by the sea, which gives it one of the longest coastlines of any nation in the world. Most Filipinos live on or near the coast, where they can easily supplement their diet from approximately 2,000 species of fish. Off the coast of eastern Mindanao is the Philippines Through, which descends to a depth of 10,430 meters. The Philippines is part of a western Pacific arc system that is characterized by active volcanoes. Among the most notable peaks are Mount Mayon near Legazpi City, Taal Volcano south of Manila, and Mount Apo on Mindanao. All of the Philippine islands are prone to earthquakes. The northern Luzon highlands, or Cordillera Central, rise to between 2,500 and 2,750 meters, and, together with the Sierra Madre in the northeastern portion of Luzon and the mountains of Mindanao, boast of rain forests that provide refuge for numerous upland tribal groups. (http://en.wikipedia. In the year 2008, the Philippines has a population density of 303 people km2, and an annual population growth rate of 1.8% (FAO, 2010). It was also estimated that of the total population, 35% lives in the rural areas. In the same year, per capita GDP in the country was determined at 3, 513 USD with an annual growth rate of 3.8%. The Philippine Forestry Sector The Global Forest Resources Assessment of the FAO (2010) estimated that the Philippine forests cover an area of 7,665,000 hectares or 26% of the total land area of the Philippines (Table 1). Other wooded lands occupy 10,128,000 hectares or 34% of the total land mass. From 1990 onwards, a progressive increase in forest cover has been observed (Fig. 3) from Table 1. Philippine forest cover as of 2010 (FAO, 2010). Total Land Area (1000 square kilometers) Total Forest Area (1000 ha) Percent Forest Cover Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha) Primary Forest, % total forest Other wooded land (1000 ha) Other wooded land % total forest Philippines Area (1,000 has.) 29817 7665 26 861 11 10128 34 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Fig. 3. Extent of forest cover in the Philippines from 1990 to 2010. 6,775,000 hectares to 7,665,000 hectares (FAO, 2010). Naturally regenerated forests occupy the bulk (84%) of the total forest area in the country (Table 2). The old growth forests in the Philippines account for 11% of the total forest area with 861,000 hectares. The rest are established forest plantations with an area of 352,000 hectares (5% of the total forest area). The large bulk of the plantations (99%) are planted with exotic species (Eucalyptus, Acacias, Paraserianthes falcataria, Gmelina arborea, and Swietennia macrophylla). Over the years, the area of the planted forests has Fig. 4. Development of forest plantations in the Philippines from 1990 to 2010. also increased (Fig. 4). The FAO Global Forest Resource Assessment of 2010 also indicated that 76%, 8%, and 16% of the forests of the country are primarily devoted to production, soil and water protec-tion/ conservation, and biodiversity conserva-tion, respectively. Furthermore, 85% of the forests are publicly owned and the rest are of private ownership. Of the total forest area, 24% or 1,804,000 hectares are within protected areas and that 29% (2,250,000 hectares) are being utilized under existing fo-rest management plans, either by the government, or the private sector. Table 2. Breakdown of Philippine forests into types (FAO, 2010). Forest Type Area Primary forest (1000 ha / % of forest area) Other naturally regenerated forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) Planted Forest (1000 ha / % of forest area) 5 % Total Area 861 11 6452 84 352 5 Philippines 6 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources References FAO, FLD, IPGRI. 2004. Forest genetic resources conservation and management. Vol. 1: Overview, concepts and some systematic approaches. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy. Internet http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_ the_Philippines http://www.fao.org/forestry/fra/fra2010/en/ http://kidlat.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/cab/climate. htm Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 7 Chapter 1 The Current State of Philippine Forest Genetic Resources forest losses but also the degradation of forest genetic resources (FGR). Introduction T he Philippines lies just above the equator between 21°20’ north and 4°30’ north latitude and 116°55’ east and 126°36’ east longitude and is made up of over 7,107 islands. Of the total land area, 94% comes from the 11 largest islands. The land area is 300,000 square kilometres (sq km) or 30,000,000 hectares (ha). Water within the land occupies an area of 1,830 sq km. The coastline measures 36,289 km. The prevailing climate is tropical rain monsoon from November to April and Southwest monsoon from May to October. There are only two seasons, wet and dry as per the monsoon rains. The terrain is mostly mountainous with narrow coastal lowlands. Natural hazards include 20-22 cyclonic typhoons per year, landslides, flooding, active volcanoes, destructive earthquakes and tsunamis. Current environmental issues include uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas, soil erosion, air and water pollution in major urban areas, coral reef degradation, and increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important as fish breeding grounds. The pressures of a growing population which has reached 101,833,938 million people (CIA, 2011) have resulted in much of these forests being cleared for shifting cultivation, cash cropping, fuelwood collection, livestock grazing, unsustainable logging and the frequent occurrences of anthropogenic fires. Rapid urbanization vis-a-vis land conversion developments has further escalated not only Types of Forest Vegetations and their Genetic Resources Lowland evergreen rain forest This is the most common of the tropical rain forests in the Philippines which includes the Dipterocarps and the mixed Dipterocarps. It could be found at elevations from 0 to 900 m above sea level and is well observed in sites with evenly distributed rainfall or those with short dry season. This forest type is situated along the typhoon belt. The canopy structures are diffused and allow more light penetration in the understory. These light conditions promote a dense growth of rattans, lianas, epiphytes and herbaceous plants on the forest floor and arecoid tree palms and seedlings and saplings as emergents. Semi-evergreen rain forest These forests are dominated by a single dipterocarp species, Dipterocarpus grandiflorus or Shorea contorta. This forest type is found in the western side of the archipelago including the provinces of Palawan and Zambales in Luzon which have seasonally dry climate. Semi-deciduous forest The species growing in this forest type are capable of growing in water-stressed conditions. They are often on the leeward side Philippines 8 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources of the mountains or on dry coastal hills. In western Mindoro, this forest type is dominated by Pterocarpus indicus, Intsia bijuga, Toona calantas, Koordersiodendron pinnatum, Pometia pinnata, Dipterocarpus validus, Bischofia javanica and Alstonia scholaris. Vitex parviflora dominates this forest type in the northwestern coastal hills of Luzon and near the East coast of Mindoro. Associated species include Wallaceodendron celebicum, Litchi chinensis ssp. philippinensis, Pterocarpus indicus, Intsia bijuga, Lagerstroemia piriformis, and Kingiodendron alternifolium. In Palawan, patches of this formation are still present in the Irawan Valley, Calauag and south of Roxas with the common emergents including Pterocymbium tinctorium, Pterospermum diversifolium, Garuga floribunda and Intsia bijuga. flora including among others Planchonella sp. and the heavy metal indicators Scaevola micrantha, Brackenridgea palustris and Exocarpus latifolius. Other tree species include Neissosperma glomerata and species of Gymnostoma, Surregada, Archidendron and Pouteria. The Mt. Victoria area is the largest region of ultramafic forest in Palawan and is home to the endemic tree Embolanthera spicata one of only two species in the genus (the other being in Indo-China). The ultramafic forests in north eastern Mindanao are taller, reaching 15 to 20 m, and include Tristamiopsis micrantha, Sararanga philippinensis and Terminalia surigaoensis. In Dinagat Island and also in the northeastern tip of Mindanao and Leyte the ultramafic forest contains the endemic tree Xanthostemon verdugonianus. Beach forest Forest over limestone This formation occupies low, karst limestone hills, either coastal or bordering large uplifted river valleys, which are mainly composed of crystalline covered by a shallow or very thin soil. A number of leguminous trees are dominant in this formation, namely Afzelia rhomboidea, Sindora supa, Intsia bijuga, Albizia acle, Wallaceodendron celebicum, Pterocarpus indicus and Kingiodendron alternifolium. Other dominant species include Pterocymbium tinctorium, Zizyphus talanai, Toona calantas, Mimusops elengi, Maranthes corymbosa, Wrightia pubescens ssp. laniti, Lagerstroemia piriformis and Heritiera sylvatica and such smaller trees as Diospyros ferrea, Pterospermum diversifolium and Mallotus floribundus. This formation is apparently similar to the so- called Molave (Vitex parviflora) forest. Forest over ultramafic rocks This forest type occurs in Palawan, Eastern Isabela and Northern Zambales in Luzon, northeastern and Southeastern Mindanao and in Dinagat Island. This forest type is found on soil high in heavy metals. Some of the ultramatic forests on Palawan are only about 2-5 m of height and contain a unique The principal species occurring in the Philippine beach forests are Terminalia catappa, Erythrina orientalis, Barringtonia asiatica, Thespesia populneoides, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Calophyllum inophyllum, Pongamia pinnata, Tournefortia argentea, Casuarina equisetifolia and Scaevola frutescens. They are usually found along the sandy beaches of seacoasts. Terminalia catappa may occur in small patches of pure stands. Dendrolobium umbellatum and Pandanus doratissimus also occur commonly in the beach forest. On the accreting sand there is usually a narrow strip of herbaceous vegetation dominated by Ipomoea pescaprae. Mangrove forest A total of 39 mangrove tree species has been recorded for the Philippines. The following are the common and abundant tree species: Rhizopora apiculata, R. mucronata. Bruguierra cylindrica, B. gymnorhiza, B. parviflora, B. sexangula, Ceriops decandra, C. tagal, Avicennia marina, A. officinalis, Sonneratia alba and S. caseolaris. The seaward side where the soil is generally mixed with sand or coral limestone is occupied by species of Avicennia and Sonneratia. Osbornia octodonta of Australian affinity is the associated species, which forms Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources almost pure thickets. Rhizophora stylosa also invades sandy shores and coral terraces and does not occur inland. On the inner edges of the mangrove formation the following species can be found; Bruguierra and Ceriops, as well as Lumnitzera littorea, L. racemosa, Aegiceras corniculatum, A. floridum, Camptostemon philippinense, Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea, Excoeria agallocha, Heritiera littoralis and Cerbera manghas. The following species may be rare to frequent and occur along the borders: Glochidion littoralis, Dolichandrome spathacea, Barringtonia racemosa, Xylocarpus granatum and X. moluccensis. In cut over areas and along the edges, the swamp fern Acrostichum aureum and two species of the spiny scandent Acanthus are prominent. On the inland edge of the mangrove and the upper tidal limit of estuaries, extensive pure stands of Nypa fructicans occur, especially along water courses. Peat swamp forest The importance of the peat swamp forests in the Philippines has just been recently appreciated with the participation of the Philippines in the ASEAN Peatlands Forests Project. (APFP) The IPAS surveys in 1991 briefly described peatland near Bunawan in the Agusan Marsh, whilst surveys during the consultation workshops for the APFP in November and December 2005 yielded more information on additional areas of peatlands in the Agusan Marsh (Caimpugan Peat Dome) and the Leyte Sab-a Basin peatland. However, these have mostly been brief studies and there has been very little or no work on the flora and fauna of the peatlands, nor their hydrology or pedology. The ASEAN Peatlands Forests Project has reported two areas in the Philippines where substantial areas of peat have been found: the Agusan Marsh and the Leyte Sab-a Basin. The Sab-a Basin is a west-east elongated basin close to the north coast of Leyte separated from it by a metamorphic ridge. The total area is about 3,088 ha of which 44% has been reclaimed for agriculture. The remaining 9 unutilized peatland (1,740 ha) in the eastern half of the basin consists of small remnant areas of swamp forest and sedge/grass peat swamp (ADB 2000). The two smaller peat basins in the area Daguitan (210 ha) and Kapiwaran (430 ha) have mostly been converted to agricultural land. The Agusan Marsh holds the largest area of peatland in the Philippines. Two areas of peatland within the marsh have been confirmed – one just to the north of Bunawan, the vegetation of which has mostly been cleared and burned, and the other to the west of Caimpugan, which exhibits the characteristics of a peat dome, the forest of which is mostly intact except close to the Hibong River. This tract of forest is estimated to have an area of 5,300 hectares. There may be other areas of peat within the marsh, especially in Terminalia copelandii/Metroxylon sagu forests in the northwest portion of the marsh. In a recent survey led by the late Botanist Leonard Co, four generic record of plant species have been made in the Caimpugan Peat Forest. These are Thoracostachyum cf. sumatranum, Lepironia articulate, Syzygium zeylanicum, and Tristaniopsis aff. micrantha (http://www. aseanpeat.net/index.cfm?&menuid=38) Freshwater swamp forest The middle Agusan Valley and west of Pagalungan, both areas in Mindanao, as well as the Candaba and Liguasan Marshes, were cited to have freshwater swamp forests. Mineral rich fresh water from rivers and streams regularly and occasionally inundate this formation. The floristic composition of this forest type is likely that of Metroxylon sagu a dominant component. The freshwater swamp forest is occasionally dominated by Terminalia copelandii and Nauclea orientalis. Other codominants are Albizia saponaria and Sesbania cannabina. Common sedges and grasses found in the marshland include Phragmites vallatoria, Eriochloa procera, and Scirpodendron ghaeri. Philippines 10 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Lower montane rain forest This forest formation found at elevations ranging from 400 to 950 m and extending up to 1500 meter above sea level (masl) is dominated by Shorea polysperma together with oaks (Lithocarpus), oil fruits (Elaeocarpus), laurels (Litsea) and makaasim (Syzygium). The understory is composed of epiphytic ferns, herbaceous shrubs of Rubiaceae (e.g. Psychotria) and Acanthaceae (e.g Strobilanthes). Sauraria and species of Urticaceae including climbers such as Freycinetia are common in gaps and gullies. Pinus kesiya occurs as a fire climax tree species in pure stands in the Cordillera Mountains of Luzon. Pinus merkusii on the other hand, occurs on the driest sites in Western Mindoro and Luzon (Zambales and Abra). Upper montane rain forest This forest formation considered as mossy forest occurs in elevations greater than 1,500 m. The topograpy is rough with steep ridges and canyons. High rainfall pattern and humidity promote growth of mosses, liverworts, ferns and other epiphytes on the tree trunks. Strong winds prevent tall trees; hence, most of the trees are dwarf. Ferns and grasses occupy open areas. Dacrydium, Dacrycarpus and Podocarpus and broad leaf genera such as Lithocarpus, Symplocos, Engelhardtia, Syzygium and Myrica are the most common tree species. Additionally, species of Ericaceae (Rhododendron, Vaccinium and Diplycosia) and Melastomataceae (Astronia, Medinilla and Melastoma) are common, and so is the tree fern genus Cyathea. Subalpine forest Found in very high elevations (2,470-2,587 m asl), the vegetation of subalpine forests is generally characterized by the dominance of small, woody dicots with microphylloussclerophyllous leaves which form a low, dense canopy. This forest formation is found in the Mt. Halcon-Mt. Sialdang range, in Mindoro Island and some sites in Mt. Pulag in Mt. Province, and Mt. Mantalingahan in the southern portion of the Island of Palawan. The more common woody dicots in Mt. Sialdang subalpine rain forest are Styphelia suaveolens, Rhododendron, Quadrasianum, Vaccinium myrtoides, Myrica javanica, Leptospermum flavescens, Taxus sumatrana and Eurya coriacea. The plant community is quite similar to those of Mt. Kinabalu (4,101 m) in Borneo and Mt. Kerinci (3,800 m) in Sumatra). Forest Resources The country’s forest is considered among the richest terrestrial ecosystems in terms of biological diversity. Flora in the Philippines is Table 3. Forest ownership and area Forest ownership Total Land Area Alienable and Disposable Land (Private) Forest Land (Public) Unclassified Forest Land Classified Forest Land Established Timberland Established Forest Reserves National parks/GRBS/WA Civil Reservations Military Reservations Fishponds Area (ha) 30,000,000 14,194,675 15,805,325 755,009 15,050,316 10,056,020 3,270,146 1,340,997 126,130 165,946 91,077 Reference: Forest Management Bureau (DENR). 2009. Philippine Forestry Statistics. Philippines % of Area 100.00 47.32 52.68 2.52 50.17 33.52 10.90 4.47 0.42 0.55 0.30 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources approximately 14,000 species, which is about 5% of the world’s flora. It is estimated that there are over 8,000 species of angiosperms, 33 species of gymnosperms,1,100 species of pteridophytes, 1,271 species of bryophytes, more than 3,550 species of fungi and molds, about 1,355 species of algae and 79 species of lichens. There are 26 genera of flowering plants and ferns that are endemic to the Philippines. Flowering plant endemism ranges from 45% to 60%. About 15,900,000 ha of the country’s land area are classified as forest lands. However, only 7,665,000 ha of this area are actually covered by forest as mentioned earlier. This represents 24% of the total land area or 0.1 ha of forest per capita (FAO, 2007). This proportion is the second lowest in the Southeast Asian Region, higher only to Singapore which does not really have any forest at all. The optimal forest area for the Philippines is believed to be about 12,000,000 ha, or 40% of the land area. This means that an additional 4,832,000 ha of land should be reforested. Historically, forest tenure and ownership in the Philippines was based on the Regalian doctrine during the colonial period in allocating and managing its natural resources, including forest and forest land. The present distribution of forest ownership in the Philippines is a result of a series of decentralization from a highly regulatory and centrally controlled policies to a more participatory and peopleoriented approach. Table 3 shows the present distribution and classification of forest ownership in the Philippines. Factors Influencing the State of Forest Genetic Resources The forestry situation in the Philippines has been shaped and continues to be shaped by a number of forces. These drivers of change do not work separately but often in combination with one another. One factor creates a situation which drives another factor to exert its pressure on the sector. 11 The combination of forces that had tremendous impact on the forestry sector is rapid population growth and destructive logging. Many of the population that had no place else to go in the lowlands migrated into the uplands. The influx of people in the uplands was made easier due to the presence of logging roads and loggedover areas became faster and easier to clear for agricultural purposes with the use of fire. This brought destruction to the forest and during the 1960s the rate of forest destruction reached as high as 300,000 ha annually. The Philippines, which has a population growth rate of 2.35% a year, has yet to come up with an effective population program. If the situation is not addressed, it is estimated that the population will double in 29 years. The intensity of logging activities has declined because the forest has deteriorated. The migration into the forest, however, continues. It is estimated that the population in the uplands is more than 20 million now. The economy is also a driver of change. Since the middle of the 1990s the economy of the Philippines has been improving. This was brought about by strides in industrialization with foreign investors establishing factories and manufacturing facilities in the country. The economy has also been helped by the huge remittances of overseas Filipino workers which were reported to be more than US$18 billion in 2010. With the increase in industrialization many prime agricultural lands were converted to industrial parks and economic zones. The increased purchasing power of families of overseas workers contributed to the increase in demand for housing. Factory workers also required housing. Thus, many of the agricultural lands were also converted to real estate developments including shopping centers. However, the industries could not create enough jobs for the rapidly increasing population. Many of the displaced farmers and those who could not find employment in the urban areas migrated into the uplands. The improved economic condition of some families allowed them time for recreation. They also became aware of the health benefits Philippines 12 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources of forests and made demands for recreational services. This also resulted in the establishment by the government of mini-parks especially in urban areas, the planting of green zones in government and school grounds and other open spaces. Another driver of change that has great impact on the forestry sector is the energy situation. The escalating price of fossil fuel has made the Philippine Government focus its attention on the development of alternative sources of fuel. Thus, it passed the Biofuels Act of 2006 which mandates the replacement of a certain percentage of gasoline and diesel with biofuels. To supply the biofuels the government has started a program on the development of plantation of jatropha (Jathropa curcas) as a source of raw material for biodiesel. The government has targeted about 2 million hectares of jatropha plantations in forestlands. In response to this, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has allocated 375,000 ha of open forestlands for this purpose. Since this area is within forestlands, this certainly will change the vegetative structure. The increase in prices of fossil fuel has also directed the attention of people to the use of fuelwood for cooking and for industrial uses. This will certainly aggravate the forestry situation as more communities will gather fuelwood from the forest areas. It is expected that the price of fuelwood and charcoal will consequently increase the demands for fuelwood and thus, there will be more fuelwood collection from the forests. One positive note is that the government is now contemplating the establishment of more fuelwood plantations. With increased prices of fuelwood and charcoal, the private sector may be encouraged to invest in fuelwood plantations. It is also expected that the energy crisis will see the resurgence of biomass-to-energy systems that were tried in the late 1970s and early 1980s. These were not vigorously pursued because fossil fuel was still cheap then and the biomass-to-energy systems were inefficient and expensive to operate. Besides the biomass-to-energy technologies need improvement. The deteriorating global environment and in particular the destruction of forest resources around the world has generated concern among governments. This has led to many conventions whose aims are to stop the destruction of biodiversity and habitats. The Philippines is partly to many of these conventions. The nature and progress of the participation of the country is described in greater detail in Chapter 7 of this report. The commitments of the Philippines to improve the environment of the country and pursue conservation and protection of biodiversity and its habitat saw the enactment of a number of laws one of which is the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act (Republic Act No. 7586) of 1992. The implementation of this law brought about the establishment of protected areas. As of July 2007 there were 77 terrestrial protected areas covering 1.85 million ha. Many more areas are lined up for proclamation as protected areas. Most if not all of the protected areas have natural second growth dipterocarp forests as components. While protected areas could provide protection and better management of the natural second growth forest within their boundaries, the proclamation of protected areas has certainly reduced the area of natural second growth forests for timber production. Current and Emerging Technologies Technologies are drivers of change and positive changes in the forestry sector could well be initiated and sustained by the application of production and utilization technologies. This section reviews technologies that when applied or pursued further in the field could trigger much awaited positive changes in the sector. Some technologies developed outside of the sector could also have tremendous impacts when applied in the forestry sector. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources The success of plantation development often lies in the right choice of the species, the quality of seedlings or planting materials, correct planting procedures, maintenance of the planted trees including their protection and the quality of the site. To ensure sustainable supply of improved seeds, establishment of seed orchards is necessary. To ensure production of high quality planting materials, and get exact replica of the plus trees, cloning is recommended. Besides, the technology is the most appropriate alternative propagation method for species that have limited seed sources or with seeds difficult to propagate. Fertilization is a very important component in successful plantation development. However, the use of inorganic fertilizer aside from being expensive could also deteriorate the soil and pollute water systems. Bio-N has been developed for agricultural crops particularly rice, corn and vegetables. It increases the growth of the root system of the plant by increasing its ability to absorb soil nutrients and water resulting in faster growth. Bio-N has possibilities for use in the nursery during seedling production and during plantation establishment thus reducing the cost of plantation development and faster increased in forest cover. One kilogram of Bio-N is enough to fertilize a hectare of rice field, otherwise needing 4 sacks of inorganic fertilizer for the same area. Indigenous mycorrhizal inoculants for seedlings have been developed for reforestation and similar activities. The “Mykovam” and the “Mycogroe” which are based on mycorrhiza, a fungal association in the roots of plants have been developed and are now being mass produced. Their use however needs to be further promoted in forest development activities in the country. Another technology that has been developed for plantation establishment is computer software that assists would-be plantation developers to identify the species suitable for various sites in the country. This serves as a guide for plantation development in the 13 country guaranteeing the success of such and contributing to increased forest cover. Technologies that expand the resource base promote sustainable forest management. The use of species that have not been considered commercial before has reduced pressure on the few species that have been traditionally used. Processing technologies have been developed for lesser-used species as well as small diameter logs, tree tops and branches. Nonconventional raw materials such as climbing bamboos and forest vines have been studied and technologies developed for their use in the manufacture of handicrafts. A detailed discussion on this aspect is made in Chapter 8 of this report. Similarly, the use of these raw materials will ease pressure on the use of rattan poles sourced from the natural stands. In addition to expanding the raw material base they also provide new opportunities for livelihood for upland communities through collection and sale of these raw materials. In forest product utilization, technologies have been developed to improve efficiency in processing, consequently lessening wastages. The use of such technologies ultimately would lead to the expansion of the resource base. Use of alternative species and materials for handicrafts provides additional materials that ease pressure on the dwindling resource of traditional species. Processes that lengthen the service life of construction materials have the effect of expanding the resource base since replacement of these materials is reduced. Several advances in biotechnology in the forestry sector could help the sector achieve its goal of increased forest cover and self-sufficiency in wood and other forest products. These are in tissue culture, cloning and organic fertilizers. Protocols for tissue culture of bamboo, rattan and a number of plantation tree species have been developed and field trials of tissue cultured seedlings have been made. Cloning is already a well developed technology for the production of high quality planting materials in the forestry sector. In fact commercial plantations have used cloned seedlings. A company has been Philippines 14 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources set up in North Central Mindanao to produce cloned Gmelina arborea for sale to plantation developers. The Ecosystems Research and Development Service (ERDS) of DENR Region 10 particularly the research center in Bukidnon is now selling cloned Swietenia macrophylla seedlings. The challenge in this area is the wider use of these biotechnologies for the establishment of forest plantations which will reduce their development cost and increase their productivity. This depends on information campaign by the government on the use of these technologies by small farmers and large plantation developers and on the conduct of further research in these areas. If the government embarks on a nationwide campaign based on the use of cloned seedlings and biofertilizers or the use of these technologies and appropriate plantation management in government reforestation projects, there will be higher survival rates and better quality of plantations. Furthermore, if the government provides more funds for further research on biotechnology there will be greater chances of improving the forest cover of the country. One of the reasons the Philippines had failed in its forest protection efforts is its inability to monitor its forest resources at the site level. Monitoring has been limited to surveillance of the movement of forest products through check points and recently through a computerbased monitoring system. The use of satellite images and/or aerial photographs to monitor the changes in forest cover of tenure holders especially the Timber License Agreements (TLAs) and Integrated Forest Management Agreements (IFMAs) as well as CommunityBased Forest Management Agreements (CBFMAs) and those of the military and civil reservations and other forest managers like the National Power Corporation (NPC), the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has not been widely and regularly undertaken. NAMRIA regularly acquires satellite images that can be used to monitor changes in forest cover. The large tenure-holder such as the TLAs and IFMAs are required to submit to the DENR aerial photographs of their areas. These should be used to monitor forest areas and make the tenure-holders accountable for whatever unauthorized operations that result in negative impacts in their areas. The DENR should be able to institute a corresponding system of disincentives, sanctions, and penalties for those who do not protect their forest or those who abuse the use of their tenure. Failure to do this will result in further degradation of the country’s forest resources. The above technologies improve success in forest plantation development and thus, the ability to increase forest cover. They also increase the efficiency of the utilization of forest products with the effect of expanding the resource base. The overall impact is the conservation of the forest leading to sustainable forest management. Main Value of Forest Genetic Resources The main forest tree species actively managed for productive purposes are given in Appendix Table 1. Some of these are trees, while others are bamboos and rattans. Some are exotics while others are native to the Philippines. For their utility; some are used in pulp and paper, furniture, fuelwood, charcoal, general construction, plywood, windbreak, erosion control, tannin, matches, wooden shoes, reforestation, veneer, medicines (bark and leaves) mine props, wood carving, cabinets, basketry, fences, spear and flutes, musical instruments, cigar boxes, paper making, bamboo shoots for food, building construction and handicrafts. Appendix Table 2 shows the list of species that are commonly used either in plantation, agroforestry or enrichment planting (this includes windbreak, shelterbreak, hedgerows, etc.). The main forest tree species actively managed or identified for environmental services are in Appendix Table 3. They are either exotic or native to the Philippines. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources In 2007, the DENR came out with DAO 2007-01 which established a national list of threatened plants (Table 4). The DAO also prohibited the collection and trade of species in this list unless a permit is granted by the DENR pursuant to the Wildlife Act. (http://chm.ph/ index.php?option=com_content&view=artic le&id=68:forest-and-mountain-biodiversityoverview&catid=36:biodiversity-in-the-philipp ines&Itemid=90_30dec2011) Table 4. Summary of number of threatened Philippine plants per category (DAO 2007-01) Category Critically endangered Number of Plant Species 99 Endangered 187 Vulnerable 176 Other threatened species Other wildlife species 64 169 Ninety nine (99) species were identified as critically endangered. Most of these belong to Family Dipterocarpaceae, Orchidaceae and Palmae species. Some critically endangered Dipterocarps are Hopea acuminata, Shorea astylosa and Vatica pachyphylla. Genus Paphiopedilumhas the most number of critically endangered species in the Orchidaceae Family and Genus Hetorospathe and Pinanga for Palmae. Under the category of endangered, many species belong to Family Orchidaceae, Cyatheaceae, Asclepiadaceae and Melastomataceae. The main forest tree species considered critically endangered in the country are listed in Appendix Table 4. These include trees, orchids, ornamental plants and rattans. The trees are sources of timber, lumber and construction materials; the orchids and ornamental plants are for environmental purposes such as for landscaping/beautification. A very rough estimate of the quantity of seeds that have been collected for use by the DENR 15 in its current National Greening Program indicates a limited number of species yet that is being used (Table 5). Estimates of seedling production are also reflected in Table 6. Some species are exotic such as Acacia mangium, and Gmelina arborea. The list of forest species for which genetic variability has been evaluated is shown in Appendix Table 5. Other noteworthy projects include the following as enumerated in the following sources from the internet: (http://chm.ph/index. php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4 00%3Aforest-and-mountain-biodiversity-proj ects&catid=87&Itemid=90#0_30Dec2011) • Samar Island Biodiversity Project (SIBP) • Mt. Apo Natural Park Restoration and Development Cum Livelihood Project • Cave Management and Conservation Program • National Ecotourism Programme (NEP) Phase 1 • Mainstreaming Ecotourism in Communitybased Natural and Cultural Resource Management Phase 2 • Developing Ecotourism Strategies for Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihood Opportunities • Ethnobotanical Study of Plants in Aurora • Ecological Analysis of the Lamao Forest Reserve as Ecotourism Site for Biodiversity Conservation • Ecosystem Diversity Assessment of Aurora • Comprehensive Wetland Resource Inventory and Assessment of Vascular Plants in Casiguran and Dilasag, Aurora • Expanding and Diversifying National System Of Terrestrial Protected Areas of the Philippines (EDNSTPAP) Project • Vulnerability Assessment of Tignoan Watershed in Real, Quezon Province • Visayan Warty Pig (Negros Origin) Conservation Program • Philippine Cockatoo Conservation Program • Philippine Tarsier Conservation Program • Philippine Spotted Deer Conservation Program • Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center • Tamaraw Conservation Program • Philippine Raptors Conservation Project Philippines 16 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Table 5. Annual quantity of seeds produced and current state of identification of forest reproductive material of the main forest tree and other woody species in the country. Scientific name Native (N) or Exotic (E) Acacia mangium Alstonia macrophylla Alstonia scholaris Bauhinia malabarica Bauhinia monandra Cassia javanica Diploknema ramiflora Erythrina subumbrans Eucalyptus urophylla var. urophylla Eucalyptus urophylla var. wetarensis Gymnacranthera paniculata Kibatalia gitingensis Lagerstreomia speciosa Myristica elliptica Oroxylum indicum Pithecelobium dulce Planchonella duclitan Samanea saman Sesbania grandiflora Sterculia foetida E N N E E N N N E E N N N E N E N E N N Total quantity of seeds used (Kg) 200 400 2 200 2 7 1 9 500 3 9 50 4 5 11 5 3 Quantity of seeds from documented sources (provenance/ delimited seed zones) 22 300 500 2 200 2 7 2 370 2 10 500 5 10 50 5 6 14 5 3 Reference: ERDB Seed Laboratory Report 2011 and Seed Production Areas of A. mangium and Eucalyptus spp. of Science 138 (1): 23-28, June 2009. ISSN 0031 – 7683. References Abasolo M.A., 2007. Genetic diversity of Parashorea malaanonan (Blanco) Merr. (Dipterocarpaceae) in the Mt Makiling Forest Reserve Philippines using microsatellite markers derived from Shorea species. MSc Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Management, Graduate School, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna. 117 pp. Abasolo M.A., E.S. Fernando, T.H. Borromeo and D.M. Hautea. 2009. Cross-Species Amplification of Shorea Microsatellite DNA Markers in Parashorea malaanonan (Dipterocarpaceae). Philippine Journal Baja-Lapis, A.C., N.M. Calinawan, Ma. T. Delos Reyes and M.O. Quimado. 2009. Genetic Variation in Populations of Narra (Pterocarpus indicus Willd.) from Five Selected Provinces in the Philippines Using Isozyme Analysis. Paper presented during the International Symposium on Forest Genetic Resources held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from Oct 05-08, 2009. Baja-Lapis, A.C.; M.E. David; C.G. Reyes and B.N. Servas-Audije. 2004. ASEAN Most Precious Plants. ASEAN Regional Center for Biodiversity Conservation. 221 p. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 17 Table 6. Annual number of seedlings (or vegetative propagules) planted and the state of identification of the reproductive material used for the main forest tree and other woody species in the country. Scientific Name Acacia mangium Albizia procera Alstonia macrophylla Antidesma bunius Bauhinia purpurea Cassia fistula Cassia spectabilis Cynometra ramiflora Diospyros discolor Dracontomelon dao Gmelina arborea Heritierra sylvatiuca Instia bijuga Kibatalia gitingensis Micromelum inodorum Oroxylum indicum Parashorea malaanonan Parkia timoriana Piliostigma malabaricum Pittosporum pentandrum Polyscias florosa Polyscias nodosa Ptrocarpus indicus Samanea saman Sesbania grandiflora Swietinia macrophylla Syzygium nitidum Syzygium polycephaloides Terminalia microcarpa Vitex parviflora Quantity of seeds Quantity of Native (N) Total quantity from documented vegetative or of seedlings sources reproductive Exotic (E) planted (provenance/ materials used delimited seed zones) E N N N N N N N N N E N N N N N N N N N N N N N N E N N N N 4,143 4,728 2,399 4,482 4,055 2,902 13,469 120 10 227 270 304 30 20 49 772 350 1,629 1,500 190 65 12,191 330 15,749 3,314 2,901 10 2,295 1,419 312 4,143 4,728 2,399 4,482 4,055 2,902 13,469 120 10 227 100 304 170 30 20 49 772 350 1,629 1,500 50 140 65 12,191 330 15,749 3,314 2,901 1,885 1,419 312 10 410 Reference: ERDB Seed Laboratory and National Greening Program Reports 2011. Central Intelligence Agency. 2011. The World Factbook: Philippines. Updated August 16, 2011, Retrieved August 18, 2011, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ rp.html. De Guzman N.M. 1996. Mating system of narra (Pterocarpus indicus Willd.) in Mt Makiling, Philippines. MS thesis, UPLBCFNR, College, Laguna, Philippines. De Guzman, B.D.; E.S. Fernando and J.V. Santos. 1986. Guide to Philippine Flora and Philippines 18 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Fauna. Natural Resources Management Center, Institute of Natural Resources, University of the Philippines. JMC Press, Inc. 388 Quezon Ave., Quezon City, Philippines. 256 pp. Delos Reyes, Ma.T.A,; A.C. Baja-Lapis and N.M. Calinawan. 2010. Isozyme Analysis of Palasan (Calamus merrillii Becc.) from the Provinces of Bukidnon, Albay, Compostela Valley and Quezon, Philippines Using Starch Gel Electrophoresis. Paper presented during the Regional Rattan Conference of the ITTO- Philippines ASEAN Rattan Project, ITTO PD 334/05 Rev. 2(1) held at Dusit Thani Hotel, Ayala Centre, Makati City, Philippines on 29 August to 01 September, 2010 Delos Reyes, Ma. T. A.; A.C. Baja-Lapis,; N.M. Calinawan and M.O. Quimado. 2010. Isozyme Analysis of Limuran (Calamus ornatus Blume var. philippinensis Becc.) PALMAE: Calamoideae from Three Seed Sources in Luzon Island, Philippines. Paper presented during the Scientific Forum on Climate Change and Biotechnology on November 24, 2010 held at the Events Room NIDO Fortified Science Discovery Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City in celebration of the 6th National Biotechnology Week held November 22-28, 2010. Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau. 1998. Development and Management of Forest Plantations: A Guidebook. College, Laguna: DENR-ERDB 208 p Forest Management Bureau (DENR). 2009. Philippine Forestry Statistics. Visayas Ave., Diliman, Quezon City, Philipines. Gamboa-Lapitan, P. and Hyun Jo. 2005. Mating system of Parashorea malaanonan (M. Blanco) Merr. (Bagtikan) in Mt. Makiling, Laguna, Philippines. Philipp Agric Sci 88: 109-121. Madulid, D. 1985. A Pictorial Encyclopedia of Philippine Ornamental Plants. 2nd Ed. Bookmark, Inc. pp. 211:225-226 Madulid, D. 1985. A Dictionary of Philippine Plant Names. Vol. 1 & 2. Bookmark, Inc. Quimado, M.O. 2002. Characterization of LargeLeaf Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) Populations in Luzon Island, Philippines Using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Markers. PhD Thesis, UPLB College, Laguna, Philippines. Quimado, M.O.; A.C. Laurena and AC BajaLapis. 2011. Assessment of Genetic Diversity of Benguet pine (Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gord.) Seed Production Areas in the Philippines Using Microsatellite Markers. Paper presented during the 2011 SALIKSIK-HAYAGAN: CFNR Faculty and Staff Research Conference in Celebration of the International Year of Forests organized by the members of the UPLB CFNR Research and Extension Committee and sponsored by the UPLBCFNR and CFNR Alumni Association held at the UPLB-CFNR Auditorium on April 28, 2011. Rojo et al. 2000. Philippine Erect Bamboos: A Field Identification Guide. Forest Products Research and Development Institute, Depatment of Science and Technology, College, Laguna, Philippines. 161 pp. Salvosa, F.M. 1963. Lexicon of Philippine Trees. Bulletin No. 1 Forest Products Research Institute, College, Laguna, Philippines. 136 pp. _________. 1992. Trees and Their Management. Agroforestry Technology Information Kit (ATIK) No. 2. 195 p. Internet: http://chm.ph/index.php?option=com_co ntent&view=article&id=400%3Af orest-and-mountain-biodiversityprojects&catid=87&Itemid=90#0 Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 19 Chapter 2 In Situ Genetic Conservation I n situ or on-site genetic conservation means the conservation and management of the species or its populations or individuals in their original or natural habitats and recovery of viable populations of species in their natural surroundings and, in the case of domesticated or cultivated species, in the surroundings where they have developed their distinctive properties. The establishment of protected forest reserves has been the main strategy of conserving forest genetic resources in many parts of the world. In situ is the preferable longterm genetic conservation solution for most species and especially those that are rare and endangered. This is because by dedicating the sites containing the populations to be conserved, one is also preserving, in effect, the set of ecosystems in which the selected species populations are growing. This then allows for the continuation of genotype and environment (GxE) interactions, adaptations, and evolution of the conserved populations. Thus, the in situ approach provides for a long-term dynamic situation wherein the populations continue to evolve in nature. In Situ Conservation in Protected Forest Areas In situ conservation in protected areas started in the Philippines as early as 1932, through the institution of the National Parks System. In totality, 60 national parks and 8 game refuges and bird sanctuaries were established under this system. These parks, refuges and sanctuaries became a core component of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) which was established in 1992 through Republic Act (RA) 7586. The objective of NIPAS is to “integrate outstanding remarkable areas and biologically important public lands that are habitats of rare and endangered species of plants and animals, biogeographic zones and related ecosystems whether terrestrial, wetland or marine, all of which shall be designated as protected areas”. The NIPAS is the major legal instrument for in situ conservation of plant biodiversity in general in the country (Catibog-Sinha 1994) and forms a significant component of the Philippine National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PAWB-UNEP 1997). It is worthy to note that the Philippines has one of the oldest national park system in South East Asia established in the early 1900s. The 4,244 ha Makiling Forest Reserve in Luzon Island is one of the earliest having been established in 1910. This and other national parks established before 1992 became the initial components of NIPAS. Currently, there are 239 of these in the NIPAS with a total area of more than 5.42 million ha, including natural parks, protected landscapes and seascapes, natural monuments or landmarks, resource reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, natural biotic areas, and marine parks and mangrove swamps. Only about 112 have, thus far, been recognized under various Presidential Proclamations while 12 has been established through legislative Philippines 20 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources acts. These cover approximately 3.54 million ha or just 11.8% of the total land area of the Philippines (Table 7). For the large majority of the protected areas in the Philippines, there are no complete inventories of their plant biodiversity or detailed information on which rare and threatened species occur in which protected area. Efforts are being pursued by country. Thus, in 2000, timber harvesting in old growth forests, mossy forests, and in those located in areas over 1,000 m of elevation and with more than 50% slope was banned by the Philippine government to conserve forest genetic resources (FGR). Although many protected areas in the Philippines, especially those identified as initial components of the NIPAS, were not determined based solely on plant biodiversity consideration, such, nonetheless, serve as de facto plant genetic resource conservation areas or genetic reserves for many commercial timber trees and other economically important species that continue to be exploited in the In situ Conservation in Production Areas Some programs for the management of the protected areas in the Philippines Table 7. Summary of proclaimed protected areas include the Conservation of in the Philippines (DENR-PAWB 2011). Priority Protected Areas Project (CPPAP) funded by the World Bank Protected Buffer Zone and the Global Environmental Region No. Area Area Facility (WB–GEF), the National (ha) (ha) Integrated Protected Areas Program (NIPAP) funded by Total 112 3,542,967.2 223,843.5 the European Union (EU), and the Samar Island Biodiversity Project (SIBP) funded by the CAR 1 77,561.0 3,465.5 United Nations Development Region I 8 18,455.8 Programme (UNDP) and the Region II 10 980,235.5 Global Environmental Facility Region III 6 23,989.2 (GEF). Subsequently, other conservation projects have come into Region IVA 8 79,185.3 reality examples of which are the Region IVB 10 588,823.4 11,677.0 Administration and Development Region V 10 31,108.9 of the Hinulugang Taktak ProtecRegion VI 5 154,363.3 169.0 ted Landscape, and Mt Apo Region VII 9 70,823.8 788.0 Restoration and Development Poject to name a few. Non-goRegion VIII 10 450,400.0 125,400.0 vernment organiztions such as Region IX 12 293,966.3 16,593.3 the Haribon Foundation, Inc., the Region X 9 103,122.1 51,354.7 local network of Conservation Region XI 8 102,008.9 10,035.5 International, the Foundation for Region XII 2 231,550.0 Philippine Environment, Philippine Foundation for Tropical Forests Region XIII 3 337,351.1 4,360.6 Conservation and many other NCR 1 22.7 smaller local organizations are actively involved in the restoration and protecthe Philippine Plant Conservation Committee tion work. to address this issue. Despite the expansion of the network of protected areas in the Philippines, these remain very limited in their coverage, especially for many commercial timber trees of the lowland dipterocarp forests (Fernando, 2001). A consensus has been growing that protected areas alone will not be sufficient to effectively Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources conserve biodiversity and forest tree genetic resources in the Philippines. For example, the great bulk of the genetic resources of commercial timber trees (e.g. dipterocarps) are not found in currently declared forest reserves or protected areas. These timber species are usually restricted to the lowland rain forests where much of the large-scale commercial logging in the Philippines has been undertaken for many decades. The challenge, therefore, has been to include biodiversity conservation measures, even as timber is harvested from natural forests. Many around the world including the Philippines, have begun to develop measures to maintain biodiversity within the practice of forestry. In the Philippines, the Sustainable Ecosystems International Corporation (SUSTEC), a nongovernment organization, and the Surigao Development Corporation (SUDECOR), a private logging company, in cooperation with the government’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), undertook a pioneering work in biodiversity conservation in a natural tropical rainforest. The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)-funded project, although managed primarily for timber production, has shown through empirical evidence, that forest production and biodiversity conservation can go together to a large extent. A sustainable forest management plan was formulated to further improve the biodiversity conservation capacity of the forest area (ITTO and SUSTEC, 2002). The sustainable forest management plan and the guidelines that integrate biodiversity and genetic resource conservation measures with timber production are currently being developed, specifically by SUDECOR in its timber concession areas. The plan includes, among others, very specific management strategies for the timber production zone within the logging concession. There are proposed strict standards in pre-logging inventory and tree marking (of trees to be cut) and felling. Among the specific guidelines being designed are the following: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) 21 Tree marking will be governed not only by the volume, number, class-size of the trees, and replacement growth rates, but also by the species and its biodiversity and genetic resource conservation value. For instance, tree species characterized by small populations or restricted distribution (e.g. rare species) will be marked as trees to be left; Adherence to the minimum 60 cm diameter breast height requirement for trees to be cut. The Philippines follows a selective logging limiting the diameter of trees to be cut to 60 cm and above; Deviation from high grading or cutting of the largest or best trees all the time. This is to ensure that the phenotypically superior trees in the site are not completely depleted; Exclusion from marking for cutting both individual flowering and fruiting trees and those in the priority list for conservation; Directional felling to minimize damage to saplings, especially those of timber species with high commercial value or in priority list for conservation; and At least one mother tree of not less than 40 cm dbh per timber tree species per hectare will be marked as residual. This is to guarantee that prelogging timber tree species will continue to exist in the area and at the same time promoting a better distribution of tree species across all cutting areas. This will be on top of the tree-marking goal estimated for the area (Umali-Garcia et al. 1998; Fernando and Balatibat, 1998; Fernando, 2001). The development and implementation of a sustainable forest management using the criteria and indicators system was another step towards a more vigorous conservation effort for forest genetic resources in the country. With funding support from the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), the DENR through the Forest Management Bureau implemented a project that led to the development of the Philippine C & I System. Philippines 22 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources In the Philippine C & I System, a set of criteria has been formulated that should work towards the attainment of sustainable management of the concerned forest management unit. In each criterion, a set of indicators has further been identified to help identify changes in the forest being managed. Criterion 5 in the Philippine Criteria & Indicator System specifically deals with the maintenance of biological diversity in the forest management unit. The conservation of ecosystem diversity can best be accomplished by the establishment and management of a system of protected areas (combinations of IUCN Categories I to VI) containing representative samples of all forest types linked as far as possible by biological corridors or ‘stepping stones’. This can be ensured by effective land-use policies and systems for choosing, establishing and maintaining the integrity of protected areas in consultation with and through the involvement of local communities. The indicators include the following: (1) Protected areas containing forests; (2) Protected areas connected by biological corridors or stepping stones; (3) Existence and implementation of procedures to identify and protect endangered, rare and threatened species of forest flora and fauna; (4) Number of endangered, rare and threatened forest dependant species; (5) Measures for in situ and/or ex situ conservation of the genetic variation within commercial, endangered, rare and threatened species of forest flora and fauna; (6) Existence and implementation of procedures for protection and monitoring of biodiversity in production forests by retaining undisturbed areas, protecting rare, threatened and endangered species, protecting features of special biological interest (e.g. nesting sites, seed trees, niches, keystone species, etc), and assessing recent changes in (a) to (c), of previous page through inventories, monitoring/ assessment programs, and comparison with control areas, and; (7) Extent and percentage of production forest which has been set aside for biodiversity conservation. Priority In Situ Conservation Areas In 1988, 18 sites were identified by the Threatened Plants Unit at Kew (Cox, 1988) as centers of plant diversity in the Philippines. During the conduct of the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Priority Setting Programme in 2002, 43 priority areas for plant conservation have been listed for the Philippines (Appendix Table 6). These are usually sites that include unique threatened habitats, exceptional botanical richness, high in species endemism, or include rare and endangered species. These are also referred as Important Plant Areas (IPAs) (Plantlife International 2004). Of the 88 conservation priority sites for plants or IPAs, only 39 sites are currently within established protected areas. Constraints to In Situ Conservation Our forest genetic resources are further threatened by over-exploitation for commercial purposes (e.g. collection of wild orchids for export), habitat destruction mainly caused by land conversion for settlement and agricultural development, logging and shifting cultivation or slash-and-burn farming, habitat fragmentation, forest fire, chemical pollution, and to some extent mining, energy projects, pests and diseases (DENR PAWB, 2006). Another constraint is the threat posed by non-invasive or alien invasive species due to the disturbed state of the forest ecosystems. The 2000 IUCN Red List included 227 species of such plants in the country. As of 2005 as earlier mentioned, the Philippine National List of Threatened Species of Plants prepared by the DENR-PAWB through the Philippine Plant Conservation Committee includes 526 species. Of these, 99 are critically endangered, 187 are in the endangered, 176 vulnerable and 64 other threatened species Many field personnel lack the necessary knowledge and skills in identifying thousands of other plants (and even lower forms of flora, microflora animals) for conservation and in appreciating their importance. Information on inventory and actual state of these plants Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources is likewise limited. This is critical and could have formed part of the prescriptions during forest inventory works as part of the Philippine Selective Logging System. An actual ground demarcation of conservation (protected) areas from the production areas seldom exists. Protected areas are frequently occupied by people who practice continuously upland agriculture. Their numbers are increasing in some areas. Institutional and management limitations restrict protection in biodiversityrich areas. Budget constraint and political will are the common causes of insufficient and inadequate forest protection programs. The National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS) and the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) clash with each other in many respects, particularly along the issues of actual management, administration, rights of extraction and exploitation, and protection of conservation forests. Conflicts in claims and interests between major stakeholders result in stalemate in conservation programs. As the forest genetic resources hang precariously, this delicate balancing act of harmonizing interests, claims, vision, policies and programs among the major stakeholders is sorely longing for immediate and stable resolution. With the rapid decline of its habitats, in situ conservation through the protected areas system in the Philippines remains as the best hope for conserving plant biodiversity and genetic resources. The protected areas, however, are still limited in their scope, often excluding lowland dipterocarp forests that harbor the majority of the commercial timber trees. The recently identified Conservation Priority Areas for Plants or Important Plant Areas not yet covered under the NIPAS must be integrated into the protected area system. Sustainable forest management systems involving integrated and careful planning of timber harvesting operations that incorporate plant genetic resource conservation measures are a promising strategy. Although there is a high diversity of plant species and habitats in the Philippines, the financial resources for plant biodiversity conservation are often limited. 23 Priority R & D Areas for In Situ Conservation The production of planting materials for endangered, indigenous and other forest genetic resources and the development of in situ conservation stands shall be a primary priority. There is a need for a holistic strategy for wood production which also prevents the eminent danger of the irreversible loss of forest genetic resources. The fundamental problem to be addressed at this point is the lack of supply of improved planting materials for production purposes, and of planting materials for conservation of endangered indigenous and other forest genetic resources. To address the abovementioned concerns, priority R & D areas for the conservation of FGR in situ have been identified as follows: • • • • • • • Extinction of species and their respective genetic resources. That is, critical habitats of Mindoro pine (Pinus merkusii), Philippine teak (Tectona philipinensis) in Lobo and San Juan, Batangas and Occ. Mindoro where it is endemic, narek (Hopea cagayanensis), apitong (Dipterocarpus grandiflorus) in Bohol and Palawan, and other local endangered tree species need to be protected; Specific access and benefit-sharing from forest biodiversity development; conservation biology and demography or population studies; on threatened endemic plants, Research on economically important species; Periodic assessment of conservation status of all known Philippine plants periodically (e.g. inventory, taxonomy, database of FGR on in situ conservation sites); Ecological studies of Important Plant Sites(IPS) and Important Plant Areas (IPAs) (carbon sink, watershed and environmental services, ecotourism, genetic diversity); Policy assessment and formulation in support of FGRs (e.g. bio-prospecting, rescue centers) ; Development of a database for FGRs; Philippines 24 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Economic valuation studies of FGRs (for bioprospecting purposes, ecological services, etc.); Assessment of socio-economic and cultural practices and their impacts to FGR conservation (e.g. ethno-botany); and Survey, inventory and mapping of rare and endangered species. • To complement these R & D areas, important management strategies are needed as follows: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Prevention of biological pollution; Ground demarcation of forest lands, e.g., production areas, protection areas, restoration areas; Protection of residual forests and other conservation areas which are biodiversityrich areas; Harmonization of the NIPAS Act and the Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA); Habitat rehabilitation and restoration; Management of biodiversity in areas not declared as protected areas; Identification and designation Important Plant Sites (IPS) or Important Plant Areas (IPA) or in situ Plant Conservation Centers; Development and implementation of conservation and management plan for each of the designated IPS. Such plan must include mechanisms that will ensure active participation of concerned local government units and other stakeholders; and Coordination, communication and networking among institutions, scientists and policy makers on FGR in situ conservation. More participation by local government units on conservation activities More aggressive and sustained IEC on conservation of tree genetic resources Capacity Building Needs The capacity-building needed to enhance FGR conservation in situ are as follows: • Education & Training (e.g. skills and knowledge on species identification and inventory) • • Public Awareness (Information, Education and Communication, IEC) Resource mobilization to support FGR conservation activities Management Information System (MIS) Inclusion of FGR conservation in academic curriculum Other extension programs – demonstration farms, cross site visits Strategies on FGR conservation (in situ) and results of R & D technology Stakeholders’ participation in FGR conservation Advocacy of FGR conservation – policy makers, implementers of conservation activities, e.g. forest managers, local government units and communities, academe, research and science community Policy issues on FGR conservation – Bioprospecting, biosafety References Catibog-Sinha, C.C. 1994. Implications of the NIPAS law for the conservation of forest genetic resources in the Philippines. In: Drysdale R. M., John S.E.T. and Yapa A.C. (Eds.). Proceedings: International Symposium on genetic conservation and production of tropical forest tree seed. ASEAN-Canada Forest Tree Seed Center Project, Muak Lek, Saraburi, Thailand. pp. 214–220. Cox, R. 1988. The Conservation Status of Biological Resources in the Philippines. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. DENR-PAWB. 2003. Statistics on Philippine Protected Areas and Wildlife Resources. 234p. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Quezon City, Philippines. DENR–PAWB. 2004. 2004 Statistics on Protected Areas and Wildlife Resources. Department of Environment & Natural Resources – Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources DENR–PAWB. 2006. Framework for Philippine Plant Conservation Strategy and Action Plan. Department of Environment & Natural Resources – Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau. Quezon Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. DENR–PAWB, CI, & UP–CIDS. 2002. Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Priorities: A Second Iteration of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. 113 p. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Conservation International – Philippines, and U.P. Center for Integrated Development Studies. DENR–UNEP. 1997. Philippine Biodiversity: An Assessment and Action Plan. 298p. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the United Nations Environment Programme. Bookmark, Inc., Makati, Philippines. Fernando, E.S. 2001. Genetic resource conservation for timber in the Philippines. In: Thielges BA, Sastrapradja SD, Rimbawanto A, editors. In situ and Ex situ Conservation of Commercial Tropical Trees. International Tropical Timber Organization and Faculty of Forestry, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, pp 69–82. 25 Plantlife International. 2004. Identifying and Protecting the World’s Most Important Plant Areas. 7p. Plantlife International, Salisbury, U.K. Tolentino, E.L. Jr. 2009. Status of Philippines forest genetic resources: their conservation and management practices. In: Forest Genetic Resources Conservation and Management: Status in seven South and Southeast Asian countries. Editors R. Jalonen, K.Y. Choo, L.T. Hong and H.C. Sim. A publication of APFORGEN. FRIM, Bioversity International and APAFRI. pp. 103-135. Umali-Garcia M, Melegrito L, dela Cruz R.E. 1998. Vegetative propagation and clonal testing of different Gmelina arborea provenances under nursery condition. In: Proceedings of Joint Seminar of 7th Annual Bio-Refor and JSPS Scientific Seminar on “Sustainable Development of Biotechnology in the Tropics”. Traders Hotel, Manila. November 3–5, 1998. Fernando, E.S. and J.B. Balatibat. 1998. Resource inventory and assessment of biodiversity in the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. Annual Report. DOST– PCARRD–SBMA, Philippines. ITTO, SUSTEC. 2002. Final technical report for the conservation and maintenance of biological diversity in tropical forests managed primarily for timber production Surigao del Sur, Philippines. (ITTO Project PD 35/96 Rev 2 (F). DGSP Graphics Printing, Pasig City, Philippines. 175p. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 27 Chapter 3 Ex Situ Genetic Conservation E x situ conservation means the conservation of species germplasm outside of its natural habitat. Such conservation stands serve to capture and maintain genetic variation in planted gene or seed banks. Most ex situ collections are active collections especially those that are being used for tree improvement wherein accessions are immediately available for multiplication and distribution for production, educational and research uses. Bambusetum, mangrovetum, palmetum and rattan genebank are examples of base and active collections because they serve both purposes of being conserved and preserved for future use and at the same time as immediate sources of planting materials for distribution. Ex situ conservation efforts for forest genetic resources in the Philippines generally involve the establishment of field genebanks or genetic resources plantations, botanical gardens, and seed banks. Field Genebanks and Plantations The then Paper Industries Corporation of the Philippines (PICOP), a Timber License Agreement (TLA) holder in Mindanao was one of the first few logging concessionaires which established large-scale forest plantations in the Philippines to support its own pulp and paper mill in the early 1970s. The species in PICOP’s plantations were Swietenia macrophylla, Pinus caribaea, Gmelina arborea, Acacia mangium, Falcataria moluccana and Eucalyptus deglupta. PICOP’s industrial tree plantations in the 1980s totally covered more than 46,000 ha of mainly of the last two species (Reyes 1987). The forest plantations were supported by PICOP’s own forest research and tree improvement programs such as species provenance trials, progeny testing and plus tree selection for potential mother trees. However, the company stopped operations sometime in 2008 due to some legal problems with the government. Since then, the status of the plantations has not been monitored. Undoubtedly, living collections of excellent genotypes of the different plantation species which were sources of seeds and materials for vegetative propagation have already been cut. A collaborative effort of DENR and the New Zealand government on plantation development and management gave rise to the Bukidnon Forest Inc. (BFI). Among its significant contributions is the domestication of exotic acacias, eucalyptus and pines for planting in open grassland (Imperata cylindrica) sites. An extensive study on species selection and suitability of seed origin was conducted. Based on the two-year results, the most promising species were Acacia aulacocarpa, A. auriculiformis, A. crassicarpa, A. mangium, Eucalyptus urophylla, E. camaldulensis, E. tere-ticornis, E. pellita, E. grandis, E. deglupta, crosses E. deglupta × pellita, E. grandis × urophylla, and Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis and var. bahamensis. Information gathered from the project revealed that the BFI had adequate genetic resources of E. urophylla, A. Philippines 28 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources mangium and A. crassicarpa to establish seed production areas and seedling seed orchards (Cuevas, 1999; Crizaldo, 1999). In 1997, the BFI started a trial planting of indigenous species, such as Shorea contorta, Anisoptera thurifera and Vitex parviflora (Cuevas 1999). The plantings are being monitored by BFI staff for growth and development. A rattan genebank has been established in a 5-ha area in the ERDB Experimental Forest in Los Baños, Laguna. It contains 444 rattan plants composed of 47 taxa of endemic and exotic species. A duplicate rattan genebank has been established in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. and being maintained in Mt. Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna. (include the location/source of the propagules) As an ex situ conservation strategy, a pilot demonstration area was established in Biñan, Laguna using eight indigenous species and application of mycorrhizal isolates and compost. The species are: ipil (Instia bijuga), akleng parang (Albizia procera), batino (Alstonia macrophylla), dungon (Tarrietia sylvatica), molave (Vitex parviflora), narra (Pterocarpus indicus), bitaog (Callophyllum inophyllum), and malapapaya (Polyscias nodosa). Botanical Gardens In addition, bambuseta have been established in Los Baños (6 ha with 29 species), Baguio City (7 ha with 70 species) and Davao (3 ha with 32 species) to preserve indigenous and introduced bamboo species. Mangrove species are maintained in experimental forest reserves, one of which is in Pagbilao, Quezon with 17 species (Table 8). Palms are collectively stored in a palmetum established in the Los Baños Experiment Station Table 8. Species found Pagbilao. 1. Nilad 2. Api-api 3. Buta-buta 4. Tangal 5. Bakauan-lalaki 6. Bakauan-babae 7. Pagatpat 8. Piapi 9. Nipa 10. Malatangal 11. Bungalon 12. Busain 13. Bakauan-bangkau 14. Pototan 15. Tinduk-tindukan 16. Tabigi 17. Pedada The Philippines has ten botanical gardens (Table 9) with a total of 16,000 taxa (Fernando and Balatibat, 1998). Many of these are small collections of plants for public display, while others are living collections for plant genetic resource conservation research and education. Most, if not all, remain poorly-funded and under-staffed; in the greater majority there are no scientific activities and no documentation or inventory of collections. in the Mangrove Genebank at Scyphiphora hydrophyllacaea Avicennia officinalis Excoecaria agallocha Ceriops tagal Rhizopora apiculata Rhizopora mucronata Sonneratia alba Avicennia marina var. rumphiana Nypa fructicans Ceriops decandra Avicennia marina Bruguiera gymnorrhiza Rhizopora stylosa Bruguiera sexangula Aegiceras floridum Xylocarpus granatum Sonneratia caseolaris Philippines The Makiling Botanic Gardens (MBG) in Los Baños, Laguna is the only fully developed botanical garden in the country. It has approximately 5-ha of recreational area and arboretum and about 200 ha of natural forest. It was formally established in 1963 through RA 3523, “for the purpose of supporting professional instruction and research relating to forestry and plant sciences generally and for serving the needs of tourists as well as the educational and recreational needs of the general public”. On the average it receives up to 103,000 visitors each year, more than 60% of which are primary and secondary school students and nearly 50% Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 29 Table 9. Botanic gardens in the Philippines. Botanic Garden Administrator Location Arboretum of the University of the Philippines University of the Philippines-Diliman Quezon City La Union Botanical Garden City Government of San Fernando La Union Makiling Botanical Gardens University of the PhilippinesLos Baños Laguna Manila Zoo and Botanical Garden Public Recreation Bureau, City of Manila Manila Pation Botanico Garden Philippine National Museum Manila Philippine Bambusetum Department of Environment and Natural Resources Baguio City The Hortorium University of the PhilippinesLos Baños Laguna University of Santo Tomas Botanical Garden University of Santo Tomas Manila Siit Arboretum Botanic Garden Eric Hanquinet Negros Oriental Source: Catibog-Sinha and Heaney, 2006 come from the Metro Manila area. The Makiling Botanic Gardens maintains an arboretum of Dipterocarpaceae representing more than half of all the species known in the Philippines. It also has plantations of Swietenia macrophylla representing probably the earliest seed lot of this species first introduced in the Philippines in June 1913 from the Royal Botanic Gardens in Calcutta, India (Ponce, 1933). MBG’s collections of commercial timber trees also include, among others, Vitex parviflora, Pterocarpus indicus, Afzelia rhomboidea, Intsia bijuga, Sindora supa, Madhuca betis, Petersianthus quadrialatus, Agathis philippinensis, Tectona grandis, Tectona philippinensis, Cedrela odorata, and Endospermum peltatum (Fernando, 2001). Seed Banks, Clone Banks and In Vitro Genebanks In the Philippines, there are currently no known forest tree seed banks and in vitro genebanks. While there are facilities in the ERDB for short term storage of tree seeds, these are mostly used for orthodox seeds. In vitro methods and tissue banks are not mainly used by ERDB as conservation strategies. Tissue banks are not viable options for the long-term conservation of forest genetic resources. Furthermore, seed storage problems especially for recalcitrant species like dipterocarps and lesser known species, including non-timber species need further research studies. The investment needed in the laboratory in terms of manpower, equipment and supplies, especially power generators for ensuring the integrity of in vitro collections, are reasons for their non-utilization. The Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, through its National Plant Genetic Resources Laboratory, is maintaining a genebank for agroforestry species such as Gliricidia sepium and a collection of indigenous and endemic fruit tree species. Philippines 30 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources The Institute also has facilities for storing seeds and tissues for an indefinite length of time. Currently it is keeping specimens of cereals, horticultural and ornamental collections, but none yet on timber species. Nevertheless, the Institute, in collaboration with the MBG, is going to implement a program on the conservation of biodiversity of high value crops, including indigenous palms and selected forest species (Garcia, 1999). Table 10. Summary of Acacia mangium seeds records and acquisition by PTFI-SMH in Mindoro YEAR 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 TOTAL Plant Rescue Scientists at the National Museum in Manila have started a Plant Rescue Operation which was triggered by the recent Mt. Pinatubo eruption. No similar activities have been planned for other volcanic areas in the Philippines to prepare for future natural events (Garcia, 2000). Clonal Propagation Clonal propagation involves utilization of the vegetative portion of plants in producing trueto-type plants. It is used to produce high quality planting materials from outstanding/ recommended mother trees. The Provident Tree Farms Inc. (PTFI) in southern Philippines ventured into an Industrial Tree Plantation License Agreement (ITPLA) in 1982 (Nuevo 1997). This private company included tree improvement in its long-term management strategy to meet the challenges of increasing volume and quality of logs and fibre. The company focused on Gmelina arborea and Acacia mangium. Table 10 presents the Acacia mangium seedlot acquisition of PTFISMH, in Mindoro from as early as 1982 through 1987. The table shows considerable number of various acquisitions in a span of six years. The various provenances could provide genetic base wide enough for a starting program in tree improvement. Table 10. Summary of Acacia mangium seeds records and acquisition by PTFI-SMH in Mindoro. The PTFI made an extensive first generation selection of landraces of G. arborea throughout NO. OF SEEDLOTS OR PROVENANCE 87 15 2 66 45 8 223 Mindanao (Southern Philippines) and a high intensity selection of A. mangium from the best trees among the provenances introduced from Australia and Papua New Guinea Table 11 presents the provenances used in plantation from 1983 to 1988. Planting made in 1989 and onwards originated from seeds collected from the earlier plantations in Mindoro and finally from Talacogon. For G. arborea, the journal only indicated the sources of the land races as having emanated from Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, from the local sources in the vicinity, and from Canlubang, Laguna. Similarly for Falcata moluccana, seeds came from local sources, Nasipit, Mindoro and PICOP area. The PTFI also developed a technology for the cloning of terminal shoot utilizing unsterilized shoot tips and mass-growing them in unsterile rooting medium of ordinary river sand. The company’s ramet multiplication garden has been able to produce in total one million stecklings, which is sufficient to fulfill its planting stock requirements with some surplus for external demands (Nuevo, 1997). Clonal multiplication gardens composed of selected genotypes with desirable phenotypic characteristics are established near field nurseries. These are ready sources of propagules for macro and in vitro propagation, adding Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 31 Table 11. Provenances and Seedlots of Acacia mangium used in PTFI-Talacogon Plantation. PLANTATION STAND NOS. 1983 54 1984 1, 3 Australia, Olive River PH1H518200165 35 Australia, Olive River PH1H518200168 9 Australia, Olive River PH1H518500165 10, 11 Australia, Olive River PH1H518500170 PNG, Oriomo, River PH1H518500150 Australia, Olive River PH1H518500002 1985 12 1986 61, 62, 64 1987 5, 66, 67, 68 1988 7, 8, 32, 45, 69, 70 72, 76 PROVENANCE SMH REGISTRATION/ SEEDLOT NO. YEAR PNG, Oriomo River Australia, Syndicate Road Australia, Rex Range, Mossman PNG, Oriomo River efficiency in propagation. It eliminates the need for frequent travels to very far sources just to collect shoots for clonal propagation. Endangered indigenous tree species are collected as wildlings or seeds/seedlings and placed in the vicinity of nurseries as hedge gardens. ERDB and Regional DENR-ERDS have established hedge gardens in their nurseries, mostly of dipterocarps. Table 12 shows the dipterocarp species planted at the ERDB hedge garden. Philippine teak stockplants from Lobo, Batangas are also added, as well as molave from Dasol, Pangasinan. Selection is not practiced when it comes to conservation and not intended for tree improvement. Research Gaps The following R & D areas are hereby recommended for more improved ex situ conservation efforts in the country: • Effects of forest fragmentation on genetic diversity, since fragmentation would affect PH1P51830004 PH1H518200052 PH1H518600018 PH1H518600050 abundance, composition and behaviour of many pollinating species; propagation of beach forest species which could be on the verge of extinction, • Ultra-dry seed storage for orthodox species. The ultra-dry seed storage technology is based on the principle that desiccating seeds to much lower moisture contents than those generally used in standard procedures will allow seed storage for an extended period at room temperature, thereby avoiding the requirement for refrigeration facilities. The seeds are placed in hermetically sealed containers. This is very important because seeds are the most convenient form for distributing germplasm to farmers and other users. • Storage behavior of many indigenous tree species. The orthodox and recalcitrant seeds we know in the past as the two kinds of seeds are now updated to include intermediate seeds. This kind of seed is also desiccationsensitive, but is more tolerant than recalcitrant seeds. It is less tolerant than Philippines 32 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Table 12. Summary of dipterocarp species planted in the ERDB hedge garden (Pollisco, 2000) Species Source Date Collected Planting Materials Date Established No. of Stock Plants Almon (Shorea almon) Bukidnon 1995 Wildlings June 1997 188 Apitong (Dipterocarpus grandiflorus) SBMA Forest Reserve Oct. 1995 Wildlings June 1996 10 Bagtikan (Parashorea malaanonan) Mt. Makiling 1998 Seeds June 1997 103 Dagang (Anisoptera aurea) Mt. Makiling 1994 Seeds June 1998 8 Dalingdingan (Hopea foxworthyi) Mindoro Oriental Feb. 1995 Wildlings May 1996 141 Gisok-gisok (Hopea philippinensis) Bislig,Surigao del Sur Oct. 1994 Jan. 1995 Wildlings April 1997 222 Hagakhak (D. validus) Mt. Makiling May 1999 Wildlings Dec. 1999 17 Palosapis (Anisoptera thurifera) Ipo Dam, Angat,Bulacan 1955 Seeds May 1996 522 Panau (D. gracilis) SBMA Forest Reserve Oct. 1995 Wildlings June 1996 180 Red lauan (S. negrosensis) Peñablanca, Cagayan Oct. 1995 Wildlings May 1996 210 Tangile (S. polysperma) SBMA Forest Reserve 1997 Seeds August 1998 White lauan (S.a contorta) SBMA Forest Reserv 1995 Seeds May 1996 190 Yakal-saplungan (Hopea plagata) Malaybalay Feb. 1995 Wildlings May1996 275 orthodox and do not conform to orthodox storage behavior. Once dried, they become particularly susceptible to injury caused by low temperature (Ellis et al., 1990; 1991). The storage life of intermediate seeds can be prolonged by this further drying but it remains impossible to achieve the longterm conservation of orthodox seeds. 76 • Data base for priority species and priority areas including success stories; • Evaluation of existing Botanical Gardens; • Establishment of new Botanical Gardens that showcase Philippine native plants; • Role of indigenous knowledge systems; • Provenance testing; • Promotion of indigenous tree species; Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources • • • • • • • dysgenic nature of the present selective logging system; Employing multiple use in upland communities; mass propagation of non-timber forest species; Integration of production and protection objectives in industrial tree plantations; Harnessing biotechnology for increased growth/development of trees and pest/disease resistance Establishment and maintenance of ex situ conservation centers of wild plants Establishment of new seed stands/sources, seed orchards and genebanks of important FGR Establishment of protocols for macropropagation of rare and endangered species. Molecular genetic techniques for priority species. Education and Training The ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity (ARCBC, now ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity or ACB) has actively conducted several trainings to upgrade the capacities of different organizations on biodiversity. Some of the training courses include a National workshop on Understanding and Managing Biodiversity at the Provincial and Landscape Levels, a National Trainers’ Training on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development Education at the Tertiary Level, and a Regional Plant Taxonomy Training. The Protected Area and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) has conducted training courses on techniques for plant identification and vegetation assessment. However, during the field interview related to the ITTO-funded project on forest genetic resources, many staff members of PAWB expressed the need for more training considering that only a few people were included in the previous training courses. Other government agencies, such as the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), have conducted short training courses on plant collection and herbarium techniques and macro- and micro-propagation of selected premium and indigenous species. The Philippine National Museum–Plants Unit 33 has training programs on plant conservation techniques, plant collection and identification, biodiversity assessment (flora/vegetation), curation of herbaria, and inventory and do-cumentation of ethnomedicinal plants, using of Botanical Resources and Herbarium Management System (DENR–PAWB, 2006). Capability-building needed by institutions to promote ex-situ conservation and enhance FGR Conservation are as follows: • Education and Training on plant genetic diversity and conservation of FGR • Public Awareness (Information Education, Campaign) through improved libraries, popular and technical publications, lectures, seminars, workshops and conferences • Resource mobilization to support FGR Conservation activities • Management Information System (MIS) • Inclusion of FGR Conservation in academic curriculum • Other extension programmes – demo farms, cross site visits • Establish a system, including websites, which will ensure a constant exchange of information on the genetic resources of Philippine plants between and among cocerned institutions and organizations, and make this information accessible to all interested parties. References Catibog-Sinha, C.S. and L. R. Heaney. 2006. Philippine Biodiversity: Principles and Practice. Quezon city: Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources, Inc. Crizaldo, E.N. 1999. R & D agenda for Philippine forest tree genetic resources. Paper for the National Symposium and Workshop on Philippine Forest Tree Genetic Resources, 30–31 August, 1999, Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems, UPLB-CFNR, College, Laguna, Philippines. Philippines 34 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Cuevas E.B. 1999. Tree improvement and genetic conservation efforts of Bukidnon Forest Inc., an industrial tree plantation at Bukidnon Province, Philippines. Paper presented during the National Symposium and Workshop on Philippine Forest Tree Genetic Resources held at TREES, CFNR, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. August 30, 1999. National Status Reports 129 Fernando E.S. and Balatibat J.B. 1998. Resource inventory and assessment of biodiversity in the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. Annual Report. DOST–PCARRD–SBMA, Philippines. verdugonianus) outside its natural habitat. DENR–ERDS. Terminal Report. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Nuevo C.C. 1997. The role of clonal propagation in compensatory forest plantations and tropical forest rehabilitation. In: Kikkawa J, Dart P, Doley D, Ishii K, Lamb D, Suzuki K, editors. Proceedings of the 6th International Workshop of BIO– REFOR, (J., eds.). Brisbane, Australia. December 2–5, 1997, pp. 75–79 Reyes M.R. 1987. PICOP revisited. Philippine Lumberman 33(7):16–18, 32, 34–35. Garcia M.U. 1999. State of the art review on conservation of forest tree species in the Philippines. Paper presented in the Regional Workshop on “Strategies for Genetic Resource Conservation of Tro-pical Timber Species, 3–7 May 1999, Kuala Lumpur and Working Paper for the National Symposium and Workshop on Philippine Forest Tree Genetic Resources, 30–31 August, 1999, Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems, UPLB-CFNR College, Laguna, Philippines. _______. 2000. State-of-the-Art review on genetic conservation of forest tree species in the 130 National Status Reports Philippines. AIFM–ITTO Project PD 31/94 Rev. (F). (Unpublished). 42 pp. Matusalem R.M. 1993. Species trial of selected common reforestation species on a volcanic ecosystem of Mt. Mayon. DENR– ERDS. Terminal Report. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Maun M.M. 1978. Eucalyptus species trials. Sylvatrop: Philippine Forestry Research Journal 3(3):197–200. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Nasayao E, German E. 1993. Growth and development of mankono (Xanthostemon Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 35 Chapter 4 The State of Use and Sustainable Management of Forest Genetic Resources F orest genetic resources is a concept that refers to environmental, social, economic, cultural and scientific values of the heritable materials contained within and among species (Koshy et al., 2002). In sustainable forest management, Lutfi (2009) noted that a balance should be attained i.e. a balance between society’s increasing demand for forest and benefits and the preservation of forest health and diversity. The balance is critical to the survival of forests and to the prosperity of forest-dependent communities. In a paper, “Harnessing Forest Genetic Resources for Sustainable Forest Management”, Garcia (1995) described measures to increase the usefulness of forest genetic resources in the Philippines. The paper touched on the following issues: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Enhanced information gathering and exchange for floristic surveys and forest inventory; Role of indigenous knowledge systems; Revitalized breeding programmes; Provenance testing; Promotion of indigenous tree species; Dysgenic nature of the present selective logging system; Employing multiple use in upland communities; Mass propagation of non-timber forest products; Mixed plantings; Integration of production and protection objectives in industrial tree plantations; 11. Harnessing biotechnology for increased growth/development of trees and pest/ disease resistance. Utilization of Conserved Forest Genetic Resources and the Major Constraints to their Use The conservation, protection and sustainable use of natural resources are embodied in several laws of the Philippines. The following provisions in the Philippine constitution are related to the conservation of forest resources: 1. Protection and achievement by the State of the right of all Filipino people to a balanced and healthful ecology in acordance with the rhythm and harmony of nature (Sec.16, Art.II); framework of national unity and development (Sec. 22, XI); 2. State of ownership of all natural resources and inalienability, except agricultural lands (Sec. 2, XII); 3. Full control and supervision by the State on exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources either by directly undertaking such activities or by entering into co-production, joint venture or production-sharing agreements with Filipino citizens or Filipino owned or controlled corporations or associations (Sec. 2, XIII); Philippines 36 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 4. Small scale utilization of natural resources (Sec. 2,XIII); 5. Determination by Congress of the specific limits of forest lands by marking of their boundaries on the ground (Sec.4, XII); 6. Protection of the rights of indigenous cultural communities (ICC) by the State to their ancestral lands to ensure their economic, social, and cultural well-being (Sec. 5, XII). The above constitutional provisions as regards the use of forest genetic resources are further clearly enunciated in Section 1 of Executive Order No. 578 issued in 2006 which says that “in accordance with law, it is the policy of the state to protect, conserve and sustainably use biological diversity to ensure and secure the well-being of present and future generations of Filipinos. This state policy extends to all the components of biological diversity – ecosystems, species and genes.” The same policy mandated the DENR and all other government agencies as well as all local government units to “integrate and mainstream the protection, conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity into their policies, rules and regulations, programs, projects, and development planning processes.” As a matter of procedure, the EO tasked all government agencies and local government units to formulate and submit to DENR, for monitoring compliance, their respective biological programs. The proper conservation of plant genetic resources will guarantee their availability for the use of present and future generations. Forest genetic resources can be developed to protect the environment, rehabilitate degraded lands and improve the welfare of rural communities. However, the continuous destruction of the environment poses a great threat to the availability of forest genetic resources. Destruction is mainly caused by land conversion for settlement, agricultural development, shifting cultivation, logging, forest fire, and to some extent mining, energy projects, and pest and diseases (DENRPAWB, 2006). Fernando (2001) reported that the country’s forest genetic resources are threatened by overexploitation for commercial purposes (collection of wild orchids for export), land conversion (logging and shifting cultivation) and habitat fragmentation. The State of Forest Genetic Improvement and Breeding Program Previous efforts and current activities on the genetic improvement and/or breeding of forest species in the Philippines are few and largely fragmented. The country doesn’t have a national tree improvement program as yet, to tie in all the initiatives on forest genetic improvement including forest genetic resources conservation. Forest genetic improvement had been conducted for several species. Some of the projects that dealt on tree breeding are the following: 1. Development of genetically superior trees in the genus Eucalyptus with funding from the now defunct PICOP. Three species of Eucalyptus (E. deglupta, E. urophylla, and E. pellita) were crossed. EP3 x ED1 and EP x EU excelled in height growth rate, over their mid-parents 132% and 140% respectively. The hybrids also exhibited more vigorous and homogenous seedlings heights 2. Provenance trial of Pinus kesiya (GOP, 10 years) – Some provenances performed better than the others in height growth. Twelve local and three foreign provenances were tested. In terms of diameter and height growth, no significant differences were noted between local and foreign provenances. 3. Provenance trial of Pinus caribaea (GOP, 10 years) – Differences in height and diameter growth rate was not significant; 5.25% of the experimental trees developed foxtail. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 4. Provenance trial of Eucalyptus camaldulensis (GOP, 9 years) – Forty-nine provenances from Australia were tested. Survival, height and diameter growth rates were significantly variable. 5. Tolerance on pests and diseases of P. caribaea, P. elliottii, P. pseudostrobus (GOP) – Significant difference among provenances were observed. 6. 7. Morphological evaluation of Leucaena leucocephala hybrids type (UPLB, 1 year) – Foreign strains as tree type compared to the native as shrub type. When crossed, the F1 hybrids are intermediate to the parents especially in leaf characters. Screening of Leucaena for tolerance to acidic soils (UPLB, 6 months) – Fifty four accessions of local and foreign origins were screened. Accessions 68 and 19 were outstanding with 242 and 220 mg dry weight at 5 weeks after germination with growths of 35 and 30 mg per week, respectively. Tolerance to acidic soil was highly correlated with growth. Tree Improvement Tree improvement refers to the application of forest genetics principles within a given silvicultural system for the purpose of improving the genetic quality of the forest. Its goal is to improve the genetic value of the population while maintaining genetic diversity. Meeting this goal means that genetic improvement is aimed at the population level, rather than improvement of breeds or inbred lines. It can be attained using a short-term or a long-term approach although the latter provides the optimum genetic gains. The short-term approach to tree improvement uses natural stands or existing land race plantations, which have already adapted to local environment conditions, although they have narrow genetic base. This approach is a temporary solution for the supply of improved 37 planting materials until the genetically improved seeds and propagules shall have been produced by the long-term improvement output. The approach includes, but not limited to, the establishment of seed production areas in natural stands or plantations, establishment of interim seed orchards and timber stand improvement in natural forests. The long-term approach, on the other hand, includes more advanced activities, such as species/provenance trials, progeny trials, clonal tests and hybridization. Seed Stands provide the primary source of phenotypically superior planting materials. They serve as the direct link in the establishment of seed orchards, the advanced sources of improved planting materials. Primarily, they function as an interim source until progeny tested seeds are obtained from the seed orchards. Successful selection of plus trees from identified seed sources of priority forest tree species throughout the country focused on forms and resistance to pests and diseases. Some of the traits considered during the selection include total height, diameter at breast height, stem straightness, forking, circularity, branch angle, branch thickness and branch persistence/pruning ability. With the objective of selecting plus trees of several species, the UNDP and FAO funded a project called FORTIP (Regional Project on Improved Productivity of Man-made Forests through Application of Technological Advances in Tree Breeding and Propagation). The project selected more than 100 plus trees of Swietenia macrophylla in the Makiling Forest Reserve and the Quezon National Park, over 150 plus trees of Pinus kesiya in natural stands at Baguio City and Bokod Watershed Reservation area, about 30 plus trees of Pterocarpus indicus in the Makiling Forest Reserve and about 35 plus trees of Gmelina arborea in Magat, Nueva Vizcaya (Zabala, 1996). Philippines 38 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources To upgrade the quality of seed stands as source of propagules for breeding and mass propagation, provenance/progeny trials of Pterocarpus indicus, Vitex parviflora, and G. arborea were established in Quezon, Bohol and Davao, respectively by the DENR Research Sector in 2009 under its tree improvement program. To support the continuing nationwide reforestation program with the expectation of having sustainable source of improved varieties of forest trees and genetically superior planting materials, the DENR through the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) and Ecosystems Research and Development Sector (ERDS) initiated the establishment of potential seed production areas (SPA) and Seed Sources throughout the country (Appendix Table 7). Bansud, Oriental Mindoro in 1996 by ERDB in collaboration with the CSIRO Division of Forestry’s Australian Tree Seed Centre (ATSC). The seedlots used in the establishment of the SPA came from provenance bulk collections of ATSC. The SPA had an initial spacing of 5.0 m x 1.5 m (or 1,333 trees/ha). Thinning/ rouging was conducted in two stages with the first thinning at about two years after planting when the trees were around 6 m tall and the second thinning at age 3 when the trees averaged 9 m tall. The final stocking is 150200 trees/ha. The SPA serves as a source of high-quality seeds and planting materials for the two species. FORTIP project reported the establishment of seed production areas of Acacia mangium in Puerto Azul, Ternate, Cavite in 1994. The Tree Seed Center of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization of Australia (CSIRO) in cooperation with FORTIP, the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), the Bukidnon Forests Incorporated (BFI) and the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) established seed production areas (SPA) of Eucalyptus urophylla, Acacia mangium and A. crassicarpa at Bansud, Mindoro, Malaybalay, Bukidnon and Baslay, Negros Oriental. In 1995, the DENR, having finally realized the value of establishing a good and sustained forest genetic resources for the country’s reforestation efforts, initiated through Administrative Order No. 9 the identification, establishment, maintenance, and protection of Seed Production Areas (SPAs) throughout the Philippines. The objective was to make the SPAs the primary sources of seeds for forest plantations. As embodied in the order, SPAs may be established in government tree plantations, industrial tree plantations, private forest tree plantations, and in natural forest stands. These identified plantations and natural stands should meet the following criteria: (1) for established plantation of similar species, the minimum area should not be less than 10 ha; (2) for contiguous natural stands of mixed species, the area should not be less than 10 ha; and (3) all identified mother trees shall be marked on the site, recorded in the inventory form, and plotted on a map. All established SPAs, except those on private lands, were to be delineated and proclaimed as permanent SPAs, subject to re-evaluation every 5 years. Commercial timber harvesting within the proclaimed SPA inside public forest was also to be strictly prohibited. Private landowners with at least 2 ha of forest plantation may also apply for accreditation with the DENR as seed production area (SPA). The 5.6 ha SPA for Acacia mangium and Eucalyptus urophylla has been established in The National Forest Tree Seed Committee of the DENR has identified potential seed production Seed Production Areas Potential seed production areas are identified and delineated in natural stands or plantations with a high frequency of phenotypically good planting materials. The stands are upgraded and managed entirely for seed production. Undesirable trees are removed or rouged, retaining only 150-250 trees/ha, which are tall, big in diameter, with straight bole and have balanced crown. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources areas all over the country. Teams conducted a country-wide survey and identified 27 candidate plantations in 10 regions. The species in the identified plantations included indigenous species (Casuarina equisetifolia, Pterocarpus indicus and Vitex parviflora) and exotics of different origins (Swietenia macrophylla, Gmelina arborea, Eucalyptus camaldulensis E. deglupta, Paraserianthes falcataria, and Tectona grandis). Unfortunately, the program did not prosper due to fear of public criticism over tree rouging. In line with the Research and Development Projects of the National Forestation Program, a project called Establishment and Management of SPAs (Seed Production Areas) was conducted. One study under the project concentrated on the roles of seed production areas in forest plantation (Lustica et al., 1999). During the 5-year study, information on the seeds and phenology of Casuarina equisetifolia, C. rumphiana, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Shorea macrophylla were obtained at Dumarao, Capiz, Iloilo and Aklan. Another study under the project was national provenance trial for narra (Pterocarpus indicus; Favila, 1996). The five-year study compared five different provenances of P. indicus at two locations, the Leon National College of Agriculture (LNCA) and the Calinog Agricultural and Industrial College. Acacias and eucalypts in Bansud, Or. Mindoro SPA produced the following seed yield: 1) A. mangium had an average of 399.45 g/tree, the highest of which was 765 g/tree; 2) E. urophylla, the average yield of 73.07 g/tree, the highest of which is 102 g/tree (Dimayuga and Pader, 2006). As to dipterocarps, DENR has selected over 50 plus trees at the seed production area in the Experimental Forest, Bislig, Surigao del Sur and at the Forest Reserve in Subic, Olongapo, Zambales (Zabala, 1996). Seed Orchards Seed orchards are plantations of selected clones or progenies which are isolated or managed 39 to avoid or reduce pollination from genetically inferior sources outside the orchard, and is intensively managed to produce frequent, abundant, and easily harvested crops of seeds. Seed orchard represents a more advanced step than SPA. The purpose of establishing a seed orchard is not only to produce large quantities of improved seeds but can also be regarded as a breeding population as basis for further tree improvement. A clonal seed orchard of Gmelina arborea of 1.5 ha with 29 clones and 161 ramets planted at 8 x 8 m spacing, and hybridizing seedling seed orchard of A. mangium and A. auriculiformis (0.75 ha) were established at Puerto Azul, Ternate, Cavite by the ERDB under the FORTIP project in 1995 and 1994, respectively. Similarly, a 1.5-ha clonal seed orchard of Swietenia macrophylla and a 2-ha clonal seed orchard of Pterocarpus indicus were established at Tayabas, Quezon in 1994–1995. In 2007, the Public Sector Linkages Program of the Australian Government’s Overseas Aid Program (PSLP of AusAID) in collaboration with the Ecosystems Research and Development Services of DENR Regions 10 and 13, funded the activities geared towards improving the productivity and profitability of trees in farms and community-managed plantations in Northern and North eastern Mindanao, and the other on the application of advanced forest tree seed technologies to improve rural wood-based economic opportunities in the tree plantation provinces of Mindanao. As a re-entry activity which was still a part of the project, a total of 6 hectares of progeny trials of Acacia mangium and Swietenia macrophylla were established in the Northern Mindanao Institute of Science and Technology (now Caraga State University) in Ampayon, Butuan City and in Mapaua Tree Farms, an IFMA holder at Mapaua, Cagayan de Oro City. Another objective for the implementation of the said project was to enhance the capabilities of the local DENR personnel with the knowledge, skills, and technologies in the application of advanced forest seed collection, processing, storage and distribution or sales Philippines 40 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources within the target provinces of Mindanao. From 2009 up to present, additional 17-ha trials of Acacia mangium, Paraserianthes falcataria, Eucalyptus deglupta, and Gmelina arborea were established in the Caraga Region. and multiplication of phenotypically superior industrial forest plantation species such as Paraserianthes falcataria, Gmelina arborea, Endospermum peltatum and Eucalyptus deglupta (Fernando, 2001). Species and Provenance Trials More provenance trials of P. indicus have been conducted in a volcanic ecosystem at Mt. Mayon in Albay (Matusalem, 1993), and at the Bicol National Park (Lauricio, 1997). Lauricio (1997) compared the growth of prickly P. indicus from Bukidnon and Camarines Sur and smooth P. indicus from Camarines Sur, Capiz and Quezon. The different provenances showed good growth. One of the objectives of provenance trial is to identify those provenances whose seeds will produce well-adapted and productive genetic materials for plantations. Productivity itself may not always imply rapid growth but also good survival, resistance to adverse environmental factors and pests, improved wood quality, and good seed production. Through its regional research offices, DENR has started a number of species and provenance trials. Since as early as 1958, trial plantings of Eucalyptus have been conducted all over the Philippines (Lizardo, 1960). Other species trials of Eucalyptus provenances, obtained from the Northern Territories of Australia, Italy, Philippines, New South Wales and Brazil, have been reported by Maun (1978). Agpaoa (1980; see also Agpaoa and Tangan, 1981) claimed that E. camaldulensis planted in Ilocos Norte, Benguet, Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya grew and survived better than Casuarina equisetifolia, Leucaena leucocephala, Gmelina arborea and Albizia procera. Species and provenance trials and establishment of seed orchards have long been conducted by DENR for species of Acacia, Casuarina, Eucalyptus, Gmelina, Pterocarpus, Pinus, Swietenia, Xanthostemon and other multipurpose species (Garcia, 1999). Many of these projects faltered due to changes in the leadership and institutional reorganizations as well as lack of sustained government support (Ordinario, 1992). Some of the provenance trial plots later formed seed sources for the younger plantations by DENR and private planters. The PICOP Resources Incorporated (PICOP), the Provident Tree Farms Incorporated (PTFI) and the Bukidnon Forests Incorporated (BFI) have been practicing ex situ conservation activities through provenance introduction Siarot and Paler (1992) did in PICOP a provenance trial of 17 seedlots of Acacia mangium from Sabah (Malaysia) and Queensland. The study reported no significant differences in terms of average total height, but a highly significant difference was observed in terms of average diameter at breast height after five years. The study further noted that a seedlot from Sabah was free from canker. Siarot and Paler (1992) recommended further genetic improvement to attain perfectly straight boles. Lanting and de Chavez (2002) also reported a provenance trial of Acacia mangium and species trials of A. auriculiformis, A. aulacocarpa, A. crassicarpa, A. mangium, A. mangium × auriculiformis and Gmelina arborea at Ternate, Cavite. Seeds of A. auriculiformis were sourced from Queensland, whereas G. arborea seeds originated from Makiling Forest Reserve, Sabah Wood Industry and from Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya. The other four species came from Papua New Guinea. The study identified 150 seed trees of the different species but further noted that the seed yield from these trees was inadequate to support the national reforestation project. A provenance trial of Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis was conducted at Jalau Reforestation project in Calinog, Iloilo by Eusebio (1983). There were nine provenances tested. Moreover, DENR has conducted provenance trials of Pterocarpus indicus (Matusalem, 1993; Lauricio, 1997; Favila, 1996); Casuarina Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources equisetifolia, C. junghuniana, Acacia mangium, A. auriculiformis, A. crassicarpa, A. aulacocarpa, G. arborea, A. mangium × auriculiformis, Pinus caribaea (Eusebio, 1983); Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Agpaoa and Tangan, 1981) and Xanthostemon verdugonianus (Nasayao and German, 1993). All these species, except for P. indicus and X. verdugonianus, are exotics. To upgrade the quality of seed stands as source of propagules for breeding and mass propagation, provenance/progeny trials of narra (Pterocarpus indicus), molave (Vitex parviflora), and yemane (G. arborea) were established in Quezon, Bohol and Davao, respectively by ERDB in 2009 under its tree improvement program. Seed Collection, Processing, Storage and Distribution Seeds are the most economical sources of planting materials and the easiest to transport. However, most of the indigenous species are found in remote areas and produce seeds after long intervals. Added to this is the fact that most have recalcitrant seeds. Other species show some degree of dormancy or require different pre-treatments. The most recent significant seed research that was developed is the Malapapaya (Polyscias nodosa) seed technology by Dayan and Reaviles (2001) and has been used by MP Woods for their plantation in Gumaca, Quezon. It is the raw material for the manufacture of chopsticks, popsicle sticks, bento boxes and veneer. Seed technology of other species are published in DENR Recommends series. A report by Tolentino et al., (2006) on the assessment of mother trees of the different species by SPA-designated stands, seed orchards, and other designated seed sources and plantations of government (DENR, SCU), corporate/private companies (timber licensees), and smallholder tree farms (CBFMA, private plantations) revealed the following results: 1) documentation of seed origin is seldom practiced; 2) the number of mother trees from where seeds are collected varies. There 41 are those whose sources have more than 100 trees, but some smallholder tree farmers have limited number of trees (<10 trees) from which seeds are collected. Corporate or institutional (GO-based) plantations have access to a wide variety of seed sources, particularly superior ones, while resource-limited farmers do not have access to improved seeds; 3) basic policies (DENR Administrative Order 95-9 and its implementing guidelines DENR Memorandum 95-20) to insure the quality of seeds were laid out before but they have weaknesses and shortcomings that need to be addressed. The effectiveness of DAOs and memorandum circulars should also be assessed in contrast to complete tree seed legislation, i.e., a Tree Seed Law for the Philippines. A farmer-operated association for the production, collection, processing, development and marketing of seeds was established in 1998 in Lantapan, Bukidnon. Since then the Agroforestry Tree Seed Association of Lantapan (ATSAL) has grown from the initial 15 to 60 members. The association has been instrumental in training thousands of farmers in collecting, handling and marketing of quality agroforestry seeds. The marked difference of this group with other seed vendors is that this non-formal system for seed production and distribution enabled smallholders to produce and market quality germplasm based on standardized methods, as noted by Koffa and Garrity (2001). The same authors described the approaches in maintaining diversity in germplasm sources in farming systems, namely: (a) work directly with the genetic resources which the smallholders value and conserve; (b) create and conserve protected areas; and (c) provide smallholders with genetic diversity in the form of landrace germplasm from a range of sources. ATSAL has sold more than 5,000 kg of assorted seeds of exotic and indigenous tree species, and thousands of seedlings to buyers in Mindanao, Visayas and even in Nairobi, Kenya. Since its foundation, ATSAL has earned three million Philippine Pesos (60,000 US$). The profits were distributed among the member Philippines 42 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources farmers and used to support the organization. This example highlights the significant roles of upland farmers in contributing towards genetic conservation of important forest resources. Additionally, it emphasizes the fact that forest genetic conservation is not a monopoly of corporate or government agencies. The Ecosystems Research and Development Services of DENR Region 13 established the Mindanao Tree Seed Center in 2008. Its establishment was made possible through the participation to the training on “advanced forest tree seed technologies to improve wood-based economic opportunities in the three plantation provinces in Mindanao”, which is a part of the Public Sector Linkage Program (PSLP) of the Australian Government’s Overseas Aid Program. To strengthen its implementation, DOST-PCARRD approved the implementation of different important activities of the center through the project entitled “Seed Collection and Management of Mindanao Tree Seed Center cum Production of Quality Seedlings” under the Action Program of the Establishment of ITP Action Program on the Establishment of Commercial Plantation and Efficient Utilization of Wood Products in Caraga Region. The center serves as the channel for facilitating the flow of seeds from selected sources while capturing, keeping, processing relevant information in a Seed Information System in order to improve productivity of the tree plantations. The center started dispatching industrial tree plantation (ITP) seeds in 2010 to the different DENR projects, private tree farmers and to a research organization. With its campaign message of “better plantations come from better seeds/planting materials”, more private farmers and people’s organizations are buying quality seeds from the center. With the implementation of National Greening Program in 2011, the center included in its identification of superior mother trees and collection of the seeds/planting materials of indigenous trees. DENR Administrative Order No. 2010-11 issued on 05 May 2010 provides for the regulations governing forest tree seed and seedling production, collection and disposition. Among the objectives of this Order is to “ensure the continuous production of adequate supply of phenotypically and genetically-improved planting materials to meet the requirements for high quality seeds and seedlings by the government and private sectors in the establishment and development of tree plantations, tree farms, forest gardens, forestation, agroforestation projects, and rehabilitation of watersheds and coastal areas. Research and Development There are several R & D projects that have been conducted as regard ex situ efforts in the Philippines. In a study on field performance of rooted cuttings, Pollisco (2000) reported about the destructive sampling done on three year old dipterocarp rooted cuttings and seedlings/wildlings planted at the Mt. Palay-palay National Park, Mataas na Gulod, Ternate, Cavite, to compare their root systems. The species used were white lauan (P. contorta), guijo (Shorea guiso) and palosapis (Anisoptera thurifera). Results showed that the root system of 3-yr old cuttings had more than one macro-root, each of which is comparable in size to the tap root of seedlings. Wildlings were found to have a major advantage of having plenty of lateral roots, presumably because of their having established initial ectomycorrhizal infection upon germination, an advantage over both seedlings and rooted cuttings. Read (1991), as cited by Becker (1983), stated that when seeds germinate, they quickly become infected by mycorrhizal fungi already established in association with the adult trees. Initially, no major differences were found in terms of height and diameter growth of the cuttings and seedlings derived from juvenile materials. The vegetatively-derived palosapis grew more slowly in the early part than the seedlings, although the sand-rooted cuttings leveled-off with the seedlings after 11 months. Zobel (1992) also observed that rooted cuttings of sycamore (Planatus occidentalis) grew in the same pattern as palosapis (Anisoptera Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources thurifera), while rooted cuttings of Bambasopsis quinata grew faster than seedlings. Dipterocarps are commonly regarded as shade tolerant during early development and light demanders after the seedling or sapling stage (Appanah and Weinland, 1993). Many dipterocarp species either failed completely or performed poorly when planted directly on Imperata cylindrica grasslands. Poor performance of planted dipterocarps on open grassland was also reported by Zabala (1986). Contrary to these reports, 7-yr. old white lauan (P. contorta) planted in the Caliraya, Laguna field trial was found to be growing vigorously in the open (Pollisco, 2006), with bushy crown. Those planted under different nurse trees in different areas were observed to be smaller in both height and diameter increments. Dipterocarp trees under narra (P. indicus) in Cavite did not perform well, which may be attri-buted to the closed canopy of the nurse trees during most parts of the year (Pollisco, 2004). Dr. Zabala stated that it is intensive and may have prohibited further development of Anisoptera marginata saplings. The same is true with dipterocarps planted under mahogany in Malaybalay, Bukidnon wherein only occasional sunflecks penetrate the lower canopy. Even the dipterocarps planted under canopy gaps in Bislig, Surigao del Sur were smaller than those planted in the open conditions at Caliraya. Furthermore, narra shed leaves completely during summer, exposing the dipterocarps to full sunlight. Since their leaves are attuned to shade most of the year, intense sunlight during summer is stressful in addition to water deficiency resulting to lower height and smaller diameter. According to ERDS Davao, the Nabunturan, Davao del Norte field trial under eucalypts is also an exceptional trial. Since eucalypts have small, thin leaves, it is a suitable nurse tree for dipterocarps. Appanah and Weinland (1993) noted the same for Paraserianthes falcataria, wherein it has a sparse foliage and flat crown high above the ground, allowing sunlight to penetrate fairly uniformly to the forest floor. 43 Another possible explanation may also be that, as stated by Becker (1983), plants growing under high light intensity have more abundant mycorrhizal roots than those growing in the shade. He found that under natural conditions, the number of mycorrhizal infections was higher in open areas than for seedling growing under closed canopy. Soil analysis has yet to be conducted to be able to determine the soil status of the sites. Ashton, et al. (1988) stated that distribution of dipterocarps is correlated with a number of soil factors, but primarily with magnesium and phosphorus. Mangrove ecosystems have been another active area of research in the Philippines. For example, an inventory and assessment on mangrove biodiversity was conducted in Central Visayas. The study included research to better understand the stand structure, phenology, species composition, pests and diseases, silvicultural attributes and environmental factors which affect the survival and growth of mangrove plantation. In addition, seed sources of selected mangrove and associated species were established. Other studies on mangroves include the provenance studies of various mangrove species in Western Visayas (Malabanan, 1992), rehabilitation of the coastal areas of the National Capital Region (Esteban, 1998), and documentation and assessment of mangrove reforestation using indigenous practices in Bohol (Mantanilla and Melana, 1992). The first work on the characterization of timber species using molecular markers in the Philippines was a dissertation produced on Swietenia macrophylla populations in the Luzon Island using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (Quimado, 2002). The study showed high polymorphism (80%) of the large leaf mahogany trees in Mt. Makiling, Laguna and in Atimonan, Quezon. Within population diversity (90%) was significantly higher than variation between populations (10%). The study also showed two major groupings and the distinctness of one population from the rest. As noted, this study is the first of its kind and more such studies are needed. Philippines 44 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources In another study, the mating system of Pterocarpus indicus (narra) population in a mixed planted forest at Mt Makiling, Luzon Island, was investigated using five polymorphic isozyme loci. The population was noted to have a predominantly outcrossing nature (De Guzman, 1996). Pollen competition or early selection against selfed progenies, or both, were suggested as possible reasons for the low estimates of selfing rates. The estimated outcrossing rates of the isolated trees showed that the unidentified pollinators of P. indicus were very efficient to ensure a high degree of crosspollination even for spatially isolated trees. Future research to investigate the taxonomy of P. indicus through isozyme analysis, and studies to elucidate mating patterns of other tropical trees were suggested (De Guzman, 1996). Using isozyme analysis, Parashorea malaanonan was confirmed to be outcrossing (Gamboa-Lapitan & Hyun, 2005). The same study also observed biparental inbreeding in the species in some individuals in the Makiling Forest Reserve. Abasolo (2007) used a satellite marker derived from Shorea species to study the genetic diversity of Parashorea malaanonan. The results showed that diversity within sites was 64% while diversity among sites was 36%, indicating a high diversity between sites in the Makiling Forest Reserve. There was no significant correlation between genetic and geo-graphical distances in the four sites studied. In 2009-2010, routine laboratory procedures for determining genetic variation within and among population of narra (P. indicus), Benguet pine (Pinus kesiya), molave (V. parviflora), limuran (Calamus ornatus var.philippinensis) and tagiktik (Calamus filispadix) were conducted using isozyme analysis.Isozyme analysis of five provenances of narra showed that Cebu has high genetic diversity thus a good source of quality seeds for plantation development. Limuran leaf samples randomly collected from Camarines Norte, Bataan and Quezon revealed low genetic variation in Quezon and those in Bataan as the most diverse, making it the most probable good source of quality seeds. Mass Propagation of Improved Varieties For macropropagation technique, the protocols for rooting of Gmelina shoot tip and nodal cuttings were developed by Umali-Garcia as early as 1990. The importance of clonal testing was demonstrated in several Gmelina provenances (Umali-Garcia et al., 1998). The propagation of several endangered Philippine species, such as Diospyros philippinensis (Oporto and Umali-Garcia, 1999) and Dracontomelon dao (Oporto and Umali-Garcia, 1998a) has been successfully demonstrated. There are already available protocols for rooting of stem cuttings of certain species of dipterocarps (Pollisco, 1995; Dela Cruz, 1996; Oporto and UmaliGarcia, 1998c), Paraserianthes falcataria, (Umali-Garcia, 1989), Eucalyptus hybrid (Siarot 1991), Swietenia macrophylla, Vitex parviflora (Umali-Garcia, 1995), Pittosporum pentandrum (Oporto and Umali-Garcia, 1998b) and Pinus merkusii (Garcia, 1999). For the last decade, macropropagation using rooted cuttings were successfully attained by ERDB for 13 dipterocarp species namely Shorea contorta. S. contortis, S. guiso S. almon, Parashorea malaanonan, Dipterocarpus grandiflorus, D. gracilis, Hopea plagata, H. philipinnensis, H. foxworthyi, Vatica odorata, Anisoptera aurea and A. thurifera. Clonal propagation was conducted on dipterocarp species because production of planting materials by seeds is difficult due to irregularity of seed production supply and short seed viability period. Indigenous species which include premium and endangered species like narek (Hopea cagayanensis), batikuling (Litsea leytensis), dangula (Teijsmanniodendron ahernianum), molave (Vitex parviflora), toog (Petersianthus quadrialatus), and dungon (Heritiera sylvatica) were also macropropagated. As to micropropagation, tissue culture propagation of various tree and plant species in the Philippines has been done on some forest tree species (Table 13). So far, plantlets of Eucalyptus deglupta, Paraserianthes falcataria, Endospermum peltatum, Acacia mangium, E. camaldulensis and Pterocarpus indicus Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources have been successfully produced in test tubes in the laboratory (Crizaldo, 1980; Capuli and Calinawan, 1999; De la Cruz, 2003). Except for E. deglupta, P. falcataria and Cratoxylon sumatranum, the clones have not found their way in the nursery. A programme on forest biotechnology based at the University of the Philippines, Los Baños (UPLB), under the College of Forestry and Natural Resources (UPLB–CFNR) focused on tissue culture of industrial plantation species such as Acacia mangium, Gmelina arborea, Pterocarpus indicus, P. falcataria and Swietenia macrophylla using explants from selected plus trees. 45 ERDB has successfully developed protocols for plantlet production of Acacia mangium, Eucalyptus deglupta, and E. pellita-urophylla using the tissue culture method. Samples of tissue cultured seedlings of E. deglupta were planted in the ERDB Experiment Station in Mt. Makiling, Los Banos, Laguna and in Llavac, Quezon. Two years after planting, the seedlings were observed to be exhibiting good growths and straight boles. Tissue culture of various rattan species has also been worked on. An ongoing project on ‘Research and Development Program and Table 13. Tree species studied using tissue culture in the Philippines (adapted from Lapitan and Garcia, 1993). Species Agathis philippinensis, Pseudocarpus philippinensis Status of research Sterilization procedure and medium for callus initiation protocol developed Plantlets developed Callus and bud formation and rooting Paraserianthes falcataria Pterocarpus indicus Media identified for callus and shoot formation Shorea contorta, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. deglupta, Pogostemon cablin Nutritional requirements for callus initiation established Callus formation, shoot and root formation Plantlets acclimatized in the nursery Callus induction, plantlet regeneration, shoot formation, survival of plantlets Citrofortunella mitis, Citrus spp. Multiple shoot formation in defined medium Cratoxylon sumatranum Plantlets acclimatized under nursery condition and some were planted out in the field Rattans: Daemonorops mollis, Dendrocalamus latiflorus, Calamus merrillii, C. ramulosus, C. ornatus, C. caesius, C. manilensis Plantlets, regeneration, problem in callus maintenance protocols established Bamboos: Dendrocalamus latiflorus, Bambusa blumeana, B. vulgaris, D. merrillianus, Gigantochloa levis, G. aspera Protocol for spindle, node and ground tissue established. Species differed in nutritional requirements Schizostachyum lumampao Cultured clones acclimatized in nursery, established in grasslands Philippines 46 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Capability Building on the Mass Propagation of Rattan through Tissue Culture collected seeds of different provenances of rattan from Bukidnon (Mindanao) and Aklan (Visayas), and from Makiling and Ilocos (Luzon). The project utilizes embryos and tissues from in vitro-germinated seeds as explants (Garcia, 2002). Capuli, F.A. and N.M. Calinawan. 1999. Micropropagation of bagras leaflet. ERDB, College,Laguna. Catibog-Sinha, C.S. and L. R. Heaney. 2006. Philippine Biodiversity: Principles and Practice. Quezon City: Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources, Inc. References: Abasolo M.A. 2007. Genetic diversity of Parashorea malaanonan (Blanco) Merr. (Dipterocarpaceae) in the Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve Philippines using microsatellite markers derived from Shorea species. MSc Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Management, Graduate School, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna. 117 pp. Agpaoa A.C. 1980. Murray red gum: A drought and fire resistant species for reforestation. Canopy International 6(20):1. _______. Tangan F. 1981. Provenance trial of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. Canopy 3(1):8–10. 2). Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Appanah, S. and G. Weinland. 1993. Planting quality timber trees in Peninsular Malaysia – a review Malayan Forest Record No. 38. FRIM and GTZ. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 221 p. Ashton, P. S., Givnish, T. J. & Appanah, S. (1988) Staggered flowering in the Dipterocarpaceae: New insights into floral induction and the evolution of mast fruiting in the aseasonal tropics. American Naturalist 132 (1): 44-66. Becker, P. 1983. Mycorrhizas of Shorea (Dipterocarpaceae) seedlings in a lowland Malaysian rain forest. The Malaysian Forester (42) 2: 146–170. Crizaldo, E.N. 1999. R & D agenda for Philippine forest tree genetic resources. Paper for the National Symposium and Workshop on Philippine Forest Tree Genetic Resources, 30–31 August, 1999, Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems, UPLB-CFNR, College, Laguna, Philippines. Cuevas E.B. 1999. Tree improvement and genetic conservation efforts of Bukidnon Forest Inc., an industrial tree plantation at Bukidnon Province, Philippines. Paper presented during the National Symposium and Workshop on Philippine Forest Tree Genetic Resources held at TREES, CFNR, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. August 30, 1999. National Status Reports 129. Dayan, Ma. dP. and R. Reaviles. 2001. Malapapaya seed technology leaflet. ERDB. College, Laguna. De Guzman N.M. 1996. Mating system of narra (Pterocarpus indicus Willd.) in Mt. Makiling, Philippines. MS thesis, UPLBCFNR, College, Laguna, Philippines. Dela Cruz L.U. 1996. Asexual Propagation and Appropriate Mycorrhizal Inoculation Techniques for Selected Bamboo and Dipterocarp Species. DOST–PCARRD. Terminal Report. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. DENR–PAWB. 2006. Framework for Philippine Plant Conservation Strategy and Action Plan. Department of Environment & Natural Resources – Protected Areas Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Faculty of Forestry, University, Yogyakarta. and Wildlife Bureau. Quezon Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. Dimayuga, M. and L. Pader. 2006a. Clonal propagation of selected high premium tree species Terminal Report. _______ 2006b. Increased production of high quality seeds and other propagules from Seed Production Areas of Acacia mangium and Eucalyptus urophylla. ERDB. 2010. Development and Management of Forest Plantations in the Philippines: A Guidebook. Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau – Department of Environment and Natural Rerources, College, Laguna. 246 pp. Ellis R.H., T. Hong and E. H. Roberts. 1990. An intermediate category of seed behaviour I. Coffee. _______. T. Hong and U. Soetisna. 1991. Seed storage behaviour in Elaeis guineensis. Seed Science Research I. pp. 99–104. Esteban E.B. 1998. R and D study of nilad and other mangrove species to rehabilitate NCR coastal region. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR–ERDS). Terminal Report. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Eusebio EC. 1983. Provenance trial of Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis. DENR– ERDS. Terminal Report. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Favila D.P. 1996. National provenance trial for narra. DENR–ERDS. Terminal Report. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Fernando, E.S. 2001. Genetic resources conservation for timber in the Philippines. Pp 69-82 in In situ and Ex situ conservation of Commercial Tropical Trees (B.A. Thielges, S.D. Sastrapradja and A Rimbawanto, eds.) International Propical Timber Organization and 47 GadjahMada Fernando E.S, Balatibat J.B. 1998. Resource inventory and assessment of biodiversity in the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. Annual Report. DOST–PCARRD–SBMA, Philippines. _______, A. C. Manila and T. M. S. Lim. 2009. Framework for the Philippine Plant Conservation Strategy and Action Plan. In: Forest Genetic Resources Conservation and Management: National Consultative Workshops of Seven South and Southeast Asian Countries. Editors K.Y. Choo, R. Jalonen, L.T. Hong and H.C. Sim. FRIM, Bioversity International and APAFRI. pp 92-105. Gamboa-Lapitan P, Hyun J.O. 2005. Mating system of Parashorea malaanonan (M. Blanco) Merr. (Bagtikan) in Mt Makiling, Laguna, Philippines. Philippinese Agricultural Scientist 88(1): 109–121. Garcia, M.U. 1995. Forest Tree Improvement in the Philippines: A baseline study. UNDP/ FAO Regional Project on Improved Productivity of Man-Made Forests through Application of Technological Advances in Tree Breeding and Propagation (RAS/91/104) Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Garcia M.U. 1999. State of the art review on conservation of forest tree species in the Philippines. Paper presented in the Regional Workshop on “Strategies for Genetic Resource Conservation of Tropical Timber Species, 3–7 May 1999, Kuala Lumpur and Working Paper for the National Symposium and Workshop on Philippine Forest Tree Genetic Resources, 30–31 August, 1999, Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems, UPLB-CFNR College, Laguna, Philippines. _______. 2000. State-of-the-Art review on genetic conservation of forest tree Philippines 48 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources species in the 130 National Status Reports Philippines. AIFM–ITTO Project PD 31/94 Rev. (F). (Unpublished). 42 pp. _______. 2002. Research and development project and capability building on the mass propagation of rattan through tissue culture. DOST–PCARRD–UPLB. Annual Report. Laguna, Philippines. Iqbal, Lutfi. 2009. “Sustainable Forest Management” In. Proc. of an International Conference on the Outlook for Asia-Pacific Forest to 2020. 16-18 Oct. 2007. Chiang Mai, Thailand. Ed. Robin N. Leslie. FAO Bangkok. Koffa, S.N. and Garrity, D.P. 2001. ‘Grassroots empowerment and sustainability in the management of critical natural resources: A case of the Agroforestry Tree Seed Association of Lantapan’. In I. Coxhead and G. Buenavista (eds), Seeking Sustainability: Challenges of Agricultural Development and Environmental Management in a Philippine Watershed, Los Banos Laguna. Philippines, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research (PCCARD), pp 197-217. Koshy, M.P., G. Namkoong, P. Kageyama, A. Stella, F. Gandara, and W.A. Neves do Amaral. 2002. Decision-making strategies for conservation and use of forest genetic resources. In: J.M.M. Engels, V.A. Rao, A.H.D. Brown and M.T. Jackson (eds.) Managin Plant Diversity. IPGRI CABI Publishing. pp 263-273. Lanting M, de Chavez S.M. 2002. Seed source establishment of different Acacia species and other selected tree species at Ternate, Cavite. DENR–ERDB. Terminal Report. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Lapitan P.G, Garcia M.U. 1993. Application of Biotechnology. In: Forestry: Prospects and Progress, PCARRD Book Series 139, Laguna, pp 36-50. Lauricio F.M. Jr. 1997. Species trial of selected reforestation species from different seed sources. ERDS–DENR. Terminal Report. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Lizardo L. 1960. Results of trial planting of eucalypts in the Philippines. Philippine Journal of Forestry, 16 (1–2):31–45. Malabanan A. 1992. Provenance studies of various mangrove species. DENR– ERDS. Terminal Report. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Mantanilla C.L, Melana E.M. 1992. Documentation of mangrove reforestation folk technologies in Bohol. DENR–ERDS. Terminal Report. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Matusalem R.M. 1993. Species trial of selected common reforestation species on a volcanic ecosystem of Mt. Mayon. DENR– ERDS. Terminal Report. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Maun M.M. 1978. Eucalyptus species trials. Sylvatrop: Philippine Forest Research Journal 3(3):197–200. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Nasayao E, German E. 1993. Growth and development of mankono (Xanthostemon verdugonianus) outside its natural habitat. DENR–ERDS. Terminal Report. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Nuevo C.C. 1997. The role of clonal propagation in compensatory forest plantations and tropical forest rehabilitation. In: Kikkawa J, Dart P, Doley D, Ishii K, Lamb D, Suzuki K, editors. Proceedings of the 6th International Workshop of BIO–REFOR, (J., eds.). Brisbane, Australia. December 2–5, 1997, pp 75–79 Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Oporto D.A, Umali-Garcia M. 1998a. Clonal propagation of Dao: Saving an endangered timber species. Canopy International. 24(5):4–10. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. _______. 1998b. Effects of different concentrations of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) on root production by shoot tip cuttings of Mamalis (Pittosporum pentandrum). Ecosystems Research Digest. 9(21): 1–10. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. _______. 1998c. Super-thrive: A vitaminhormone preparation induced 100% rooting of palosapis (Anisoptera thurifera Fowx.). In Proc. Joint Seminar of 7th Annual Bio-Refor and JSPS Scientific Seminar on “Sustainable Development of Biotechnology in the Tropics”. Traders Hotel, Manila, November 3–5, 1998. 49 _______. 2009. Research and Development Initiatives on Forest Genetic Resources Conservation in the Philippines. In: Forest Genetic Resources Conservation and Management: National Consultative Workshops of Seven South and Southeast Asian Countries. Editors K.Y. Choo, R. Jalonen, L.T. Hong and H.C. Sim. FRIM, Bioversity International and APAFRI. pp 106-125. Quimado M.O. 2002. Characterization of Large-Leaf Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) Populations in Luzon Island, Philippines Using Random amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Mar-kers. PhD Thesis, UPLB College, Laguna, Philippines. Reyes M.R. 1987. PICOP revisited. Philippine Lumberman 33(7):16–18, 32, 34–35. _______. 1999. Propagation of Kamagong. Canopy International. 24(5):4–10. ERDB, College, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Siarot P.T. 1991. Preliminary field performance of F1 eucalyptus hybrids in PICOP. Sylvatrop Philippine Forest Research Journal 1(2):61–73. Ordinario, F. P. 1992. ERDB launches Tree Improvement Program. Philippine Lumberman XXXVIII (1):26-28. January – February 1992. _______. Paler RR. 1992. Provenance trial of Acacia mangium in PICOP. Philippine Lumberman 38(6):25–28. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Pollisco, M.T. 1995. Micropropagation of dipterocarp through seedlings, wildlings and rooted cuttings. ERDB–DENR. Terminal Report. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Tolentino, E. L. 2006. Better trees in Agroforestry farms and Plantations in the Philippines Through the use of high quality seeds: Highlights of findings and re commendations. Paper presented during the National Policy Forum on Tree Seeds. 27 Jan. 2006. Q.C. Phil. _______. 2000. Macro-propagation of dipterocarps through seedlings, wildlings and rooted cuttings. Unpublished terminal report, ERDB, College, Laguna. _______. 2006. Developments in dipterocarp propagation research in the Philippines. In K. Suzuki, K. Ishii, S. Sakurai and S. Sasaki. (Eds.). Plantation technology in tropical forest science. Springer-Verlag Tokyo. pp 101–110. Tolentino, E. L. Jr. 2009. Status of Philippines forest genetic resources: their conservation and management practices. In: Forest Genetic Resources Conservation and Management: Status in seven South and Southeast Asian countries. Editors R. Jalonen, K.Y. Choo, L.T. Hong and H.C. Sim. A publication of APFORGEN. FRIM, Bioversity International and Philippines 50 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources APAFRI. pp 103-135. Umali-Garcia M. 1989. Paraserianthes falcataria: Southeast Asia’s growth champion. NFT Highlights September 1989. pp 89–105. _______. 1995. Forest tree improvement in the Philippines: a baseline study. UNDP/ FAO Regional Project on Improved Productivity of Man-Made Forests through Application of Technological Advances in Tree Breeding and Propagation (RAS/91/004) Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. _______. Melegrito L, dela Cruz R.E. 1998. Vegetative propagation and clonal testing of different Gmelina arborea provenances under nursery condition. In: Proceedings of Joint Seminar of 7th Annual Bio-Refor and JSPS Scientific Seminar on “Sustainable Development of Biotechnology in the Tropics”. Traders Hotel, Manila. November 3–5, 1998. 132 National Status Reports Zabala, N.O. 1986. Performance of dipterocarp tree species in the grasslands. Research at Los Baños. 5 (1): 6–8. UPLB, College, Laguna. _______. 1996. Proposal for a National Tree Improvement Programme (Philippines). UNDP/FAO Regional Project on Improved Productivity of Man-Made Forests through Application of Technological Advances in Tree Breeding and Propagation (FORTIP). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Los Baños, Philippines. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 51 Chapter 5 The State of National Programs, Research, Education, Training and Legislation T here are several types of organizations that are known to be conducting activities on forest genetic resources conservation. These are the Department of Environment and Natural Resources through its Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau and its regional field research units (Ecosystems Research and Development Services, the academic institutions (e.g., the University of the Philippines Los Baños, other state colleges and universities, and private educational institutions), non-government organizations, and a few private wood industries in the past. Fig. 5. Forest genetic conservation and management framework showing both the Conservation of forest genetic resources is regarded as constituting the actions and policies that assure the continued existence, evolution and availability of these resources in the future. in situ and ex situ strategies (Pollisco, 2009). The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shows both in situ and ex situ conservation (botanical gardens, old reforestation projects, plantations, CSOs, SSOs, SPAs, protected areas and other forest reserves) on the two wheels of the bicycle, implying equal attention to both strategies (Pollisco, 2009). The DENR management of forest genetic resources is anchored in its mandate as the primary government agency responsible for the conservation, management, development and proper use of the country’s environment and natural resources. The spokes of the driving wheel become the planting stock production techniques. The support frame, supporting tree improvement, conservation, production and management, consists of research and development, administration and communication. Forest genetic resources management is likened to a vehicle by which a forestry project can arrive at the goal set by its management. The management (DENR) steers the vehicle to the direction it deems fit. ERDB, PAWB and FMB have proper places in the driver’s seat. Fig. 5 Funding is necessary to make the vehicle move while management has both feet planted on the pedals. Apart from funding, support and strong frames, a forest genetic resources management program also needs flexible planning, determination and capacitation from its staff in order to move towards success. Philippines 52 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Communities, NGOs, OGAs and other stakeholders are support groups themselves who eventually become recipients of these forest genetic resources. The overall objective is to contribute to the sustainable management and conservation of forest genetic resources for the benefit of stakeholders and end-users. Specific objectives include the following: 1. integration of forest genetic resources conservation and management in national forestry management plans and overall development plans; 2. enhanced capabilities of manpower resources to use existing innovative technologies for propagation and conservation; 3. increased production of improved planting materials for production forests; 4. increased planting stocks for biodiversity conservation; and 5. increased planting materials, especially indigenous species for urban and highways greening The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) through its College of Forestry and Natural Resources, the College of Agriculture, through the Institute of Plant Breeding with its National Plant Genetic Resources Laboratory and the Seed Science and Technology Division, help promote forest genetic resources conservation and management through education and extension programs. UPLB has well-equipped laboratory and field facilities and links with other research both local and abroad. They conduct research on germplasm collection, nursery propagation techniques, micropropagation, evaluation of local and exotic species for fodder production and socioeconomics. National Programs on Forest Genetic Conservation There are three national program that are currently being implemented in the country that have direct and indirect influences on the conservation of our forest genetic resources. 1. The National Integrated Protected Areas System (Republic Act No. 7586) The National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 is the classification and administration of all designated protected areas to maintain essential ecological processes and life-support systems, to preserve genetic diversity, to ensure sustainable use of resources found therein, and to maintain their natural conditions to the greatest extent possible. The protected areas refer to identified portions of land and water proclaimed, designated or set aside by reason of their unique physical and biological significance, managed to enhance biological diversity and protected against destructive human exploitation. These may be national parks, game refuges, bird/wildlife/ fish sanctuary, wilderness areas, mangrove/ strict nature reserves, watersheds, natural and historical landmarks, managed landscapes. The NIPAS Act serves as the legal basis for the “In Situ” conservation of biological diversity through the appropriate management of ecologically important areas for conservation and sustainable development. It is the conservation of genetic resources of target species “on site” within the natural or original ecosystem in which they occur, or on the site previously occupied by that ecosystem; it is with the community of interacting organisms (with pollinators, seed dispersers, microbial symbionts) in its natural location. The objective of NIPAS is to “integrate and protect outstanding 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. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources According to Sinha (1994), although the NIPAS Act does not explicitly or directly mention the term “conservation of genetic resources” (or any of its variants), such conservation is not excluded from the management strategy for a protected area. Projects for the management of the protected areas include the Conservation of Priority Protected Areas Project (CPPAP) funded by the World Bank and the Global Environmental Facility (WB–GEF), the National Integrated Protected Areas Program (NIPAP) funded by the European Union (EU), and the Samar Island Biodiversity Project (SIBP) funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the GEF. Subsequently, other conservation projects have come into reality: Administration and Development of Hinulugang Taktak Protected Landscape, and Mt. Apo Restoration and Development Project. Non-government organizations such as the Haribon Foundation, Inc. and the Conservation International, the Foundation for Philippine Environment, and the Philippine Tropical Forests Conservation Foundation are actively involved in the restoration and protection works. As of 2008, there are 234 PAs under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) covering a total area of about 5,234 million hectares and a buffer zone of 222,634 hectares. Terrestrial PAs occupy a total of 4,092,635.87 hectares and a buffer zone of 202,922.08 hectares while marine PAs cover about 1,141,918.68 hectares and a buffer zone of about 19,712.86 hectares (DENR-PAWB, 2008). Six PAs covering a total area of 121,668 are under the jurisdiction of other government agencies, such as the National Power Corporation, Philippine National Oil Corporation, and the National Irrigation Administration. So far, only 10 have completed the process of establishment by enactment of site-specific laws. (http://chm. ph, 30dec2011). 53 2. The National Greening Program (Executive Order No. 26) Issued on February 24, 2011, the National Greening Program (NGP) aims to: • Implement sustainable management of natural resources through resource conservation, protection, and productivity enhancement • Provide food, goods and services such as timber, fiber, non-timber forest products, aesthetic values, air enhancement values, water regulation values, and mitigate climate change by expanding forest cover that serve as carbon sink • Promote public awareness as well as instill social and environmental consciousness on the value of forests and watersheds The goal of the National Greening Program is to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares of lands of the public domain for a period of six years from 2011 to 2016. Premium and indigenous tree species shall be planted primarily to rehabilitate and/or restore degraded forestlands and protected areas/ zones while fast-growing and production/ protection forest tree species and fruit trees shall be planted in agroforestry and production areas and multiple use zones. Among the areas targeted for planting under the program are open forest lands, mangrove and protected areas, ancestral domains, civil and military reservations, urban areas under the Greening Plan of local government units, inactive and abandoned mines and other suitable lands. 3. Tree Improvement Activities The DENR research sector is implementing various tree improvement activities in the country which aim to upgrade and enhance the sustainable sources of quality germplasm and vegetative materials for planting stock production of some priority indigenous/ Philippines 54 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources endangered species nationwide. While there is no tree improvement program as yet, the activities in general are geared towards the following: • Establishment of clonal seed orchard, ramet/multiplication gardens and conduct provenance study from the best plus trees/ provenance of identified indigenous/endangered species; • Development of propagation protocols (sexual or asexual) of species as guide for its mass production ; • Conduct of monitoring and assessment of the established clonal seed orchard, ramet multiplication areas/hedge gardens, and provenance cum progeny testing in the regions; and • Development of database for all verified seed sources, established clonal seed orchards, ramet multiplication areas and provenance/progeny testing sites of indigenous/endangered species. To upgrade the quality of seed stands as source of propagules for breeding and mass propagation, provenance/progeny trials of narra (Pterocarpus indicus), molave (Vitex parviflora), and yemane (G. arborea) were established in Quezon, Bohol and Davao, respectively by ERDB in 2009 under its tree improvement program. 4. Forest and Mountain Biodiversity: Samar Island Biodiversity Project (SIBP) (http://chm.ph.,30dec2011) The project would establish the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP), a new protected area zoned for multiple uses centering on protection, but providing for sustainable harvests of non-timber forest products, and institute a comprehensive range of ancillary conservation measures to insulate the Park from human pressures. Park management would be operationalized in partnership with forest-edge communities to conserve biodiversity and reduce poverty among the local communities. Interventions will strengthen participatory planning, process-response monitoring, surveillance and enforcement functions, enhance the conservation management capacities of communities, impart conservation values to wider Samareño society, backstop advocacy operations, and abet development of conservation-compatible village livelihoods. Implementation will be phased to nurture nascent conservation processes through to maturity. Implementation under Phase 1 was between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, through the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau and the DENR Regional Office VIII, and the Samar Island NGOs (through an umbrella organization the Samar Island Biodiversity Foundation (SIBF). Phase 2 is implemented by the DENR, through the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, and the DENR Regional Office VIII through the Samar Island Natural Park-Protected Area Office. The implementation of the project was designed to produce the following project outputs: (1) An adaptive management framework for conservation management is established and operational; (2) Conservation functions are fully operationalized; (3) A communitybased conservation framework is tested and effective; (4) Broad-based awareness of conservation values and management needs is imparted to forest-edge communities and other key Samareño stakeholders; (5) Conservation objectives are internalized in sectoral development planning, budgeting and activity delivery at the provincial and municipal levels; (6) Alternative, conservation enabling livelihoods are in place, and the sustainability of wild resource use is assured, and; (7) Sustainable financing for recurrent costs of conservation activities are in place. 5. The Philippine Clearing House Mechanism for Biodiversity (CHM) The CHM is established to facilitate the sharing of data and information on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity between and among the various stakeholders Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources in the country. This is part of the Philippine commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) which created the Clearing House Mechanism pursuant to Article 18.3 of the Convention. The CHM aims to contribute significantly to the implementation of the CBD by promoting and facilitating technical and scientific cooperation among Parties, other Governments and stakeholders. Research, Education and Training Several institutions in the Philippines provide research, education and trainings in forest genetic resources conservation. Some are government research institutions. Many are academic institutions while others are nongovernment organizations involved in environmental conservation and protection and sustainable development. Research The DENR administration considers Forest Genetic Resources Conservation and Management as a kind of war which needs to be fought both at the frontline and at the rearguard at the same time. In the frontline we need to meet the demand for fuelwood, construction materials for housing, furniture and a lot of other needs, and non-timber resources that serve as food, raw materials for industries and others. At the rearguard, we need to be on the lookout that the remaining forests are protected and conserved. To meet future needs for wood, the forestry sector must increase production per unit area without destroying the natural resource base. Sustainable forest management is defined in the Helsinki Process as the stewardship and use of forests and forest land in such a way, and at a rate, that maintains their biodiversity, productivity and regenerative capacity, vitality and the potential to fulfill, now and in the future, relevant ecological, economic and social functions, at local, national and global levels, and that does not cause damage to other ecosystems.’ 55 fast-gro-wing and high-yielding plantations are established. The concern for species which can produce wood with desired properties requi-ring stability or strength needs should also be addressed. The production of planting materials for endangered, indigenous and other forest genetic resources shall be a primary priority. The present need is a holistic strategy for wood production and at the same level prevents the eminent danger of the irreversible loss of forest genetic resources. The fundamental problem to be addressed at this point is the lack of supply of improved planting materials for production purposes, and of planting materials for conservation of endangered indigenous and other forest genetic resources. The DENR research sector is currently implementing research, development and extension (RDE) projects which can address the abovementioned issues and concerns. 1. Development of strategies for the production of good quality planting materials: (a) for agroforestry and plantations — Innovative production strategies for the different priority species should be operationalized. The propagation populations (i.e. Seed Sources, Seed Production Areas, Seedling Seed Orchards, Clonal Seed Orchards) of the different priority species for production of improved planting materials should be maintained. Land races of exotic species that have already adapted to local conditions and endemic/indigenous species and provenances with fast-growth potential should be identified and tested. Improved planting stocks (seeds, rooted cuttings, marcots) should be promoted. Trainings at different levels/technology transfer through meetings, publications, etc. should be pursued. (b) for restoration and rehabilitation — Seed technology and non-mist systems of propagation by rooted cuttings and the wildling recovery chamber should be In order to alleviate the shortage of wood supply, lighten the pressure from natural forests and conserve the existing forests, Philippines 56 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources used as applicable or as needed. Hedge gardens for priority species should be esta-blished. Seed sources for abundant seed and other reproductive materials should be maintained. 11. 12. (c) for urban and highways greening — Nursery-grown planting materials through seedlings, wildlings and rooted cuttings of shrubs and ornamental trees are produced for distribution to concerned entities. Technical assistance to sectors engaged in urban greening is provided if necessary. Remnants of urban vegetation in wetlands, lakes, streams and coastal areas have to be inventoried and protected. The urban populace should be educated on the role of trees and related plants in the urban ecosystem. 1. Rehabilitation and ecological restoration of marginal and degraded landscapes and seascapes. 2. Determination of carrying capacities of various areas/sites for resources conservation, ecotourism and sustainable development (e.g. PAs, CBFMAs, CEP) 3. Vulnerabililty assessment of priority watersheds in the Philippines 4. Tissue culture of genetically superior narra (Pterocarpus indicus) 5. Molecular level analyses of some tree species and non-wood forest species 6. Determination of growth, structure and composition of third-growth dipterocarp forest in areas under active Timber License Agreement and Industrial Forest Management Agreement 7. Tree improvement of indigenous and endangered species to upgrade and enhance the sustainable sources of quality germplasm and vegetative materials for planting stock production 8. Application of mycorrhiza and other soil amelioration measures to improve refo-restation and agroforestry in upland areas 9. Tree health assessment of important forest tree species as seed sources 10. Biosafety measures for the protection of biodiversity against the potential impacts of products of modern biotechnology or GMOs Biosecurity measures for the protection of biodiversity from invasive species In situ conservation of rare and endangered flora and fauna species in selected protected areas in the Philippines. Likewise, academic institutions also conduct their own RDEs. The University of the Philippines Los Banos College of Forestry and Natural Resources conducts researches on seed technology, vegetative propagation and other aspects of forest production especially on indigenous trees like the dipterocarps. The Leyte State University (LSU) developed the technology on rainforestation, a strategy of forest restoration that uses indigenous tree species in combination with agricultural crops. Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU), in collaboration with the local Ecosystems Research and Development Sector (ERDS) in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya also conducts establishment of arboretum and dipterocarp plantation. Gascon (2005) reported that the Southern Luzon Polytechnic University (SLPU) is establishing the database for the Mt. Banahaw protected area, a nursery of indigenous tree species, conducts species trials using indigenous species, and are active members of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of Quezon. The Misamis Oriental State College of Agriculture and Forestry (MOSCAT), the Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry and Technology (CVSCAFT), The Mindanao State University (MSU), Central Mindanao University (CMU) and even the Camarines Sur State College of Agriculture and Forestry (CSSAC), Isabela State University (ISU), DMMSU and a lot of other state universities and colleges are very active in doing different aspects of research in FGRs. The De La Salle University system is also doing work on ex situ conservation and even in situ conservation of Philippine teak, in collaboration with the Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 57 Education 4. Visayas State University Education on FGR is available in academic institutions through courses that are related in forestry or environment, in general. Government institutions as well as nongovernment organizations also provide training activities pertaining to FGR to a certain extent, depending on their programs/projects. The programs of the Visayas State University (VSU) in instruction, research, extension and production converge and complement each other to help make Philippine agriculture globally competitive and sustainable. VSU started rainforestation as a farming technology developed by its Applied Tropical Ecology Program through a joint research project of the Philippine-German Applied Tropical Program. Realizing that reforestation failed to restore the lost forests and created a negative impact on biodiversity, VSU saw the need to restructure the ideology behind reforestation by planting native species instead of exotic ones. In addition, the Q-seedling project of CNFR VSU with support from ACIAR established field trials of combined species of dipterocarps, gmelina, mahogany, falcata and other indigenous species in five sites in Southern Mindanao and Leyte Island. The Q-seedling project research also contributed in the development of a national policy on nursery accreditation and qua-lity seedling production (DAO 2010-11 known as “Revised Regulations in Governing Forest Tree Seed and Seedling Production, Collection and Disposition).” Hands-on trainings on nursery establishment and quality seedling production were also conducted in Southern Leyte, Leyte province, Region 10 and Southern Mindanao, thereby contributing to the FGR conservation initiative of the Philippine go-vernment.” Academe Private Schools 1. Silliman University (SU) SU is known for its biological research activities. Biodiversity has already been integrated in most of their courses. It has the Center for Tropical Conservation Studies and the Museum of Natural History. State Colleges and Universities 2. Southern (SLPU) Luzon Polytechnic University SLPU’s main campus is located at the foothills of Mt. Banahaw in Lucban, Quezon. It has been active in biodiversity conservation of the Mt. Banahaw-San Cristobal National Park. Many indigenous plant species have been documented in these areas with the leadership of SLPU. 5. Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) 3. Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) Formerly the Camarines Sur State Agricultural College, CBSUA is one of the premier institutes of higher learning in the Bicol Region. Biodiversity conservation has already been integrated in some of its courses. It has formulated protocols for biodiversity research grants and developed training courses on biodiversity conservation education and research methodology. MSU-IIT has conducted research projects related to the biodiversity conservation in Mt. Malindang and the Agusan Marsh in Mindanao. 6. Central Mindanao University (CMU) CMU has a broad capacity and experience in forestry and natural resources management. Its Department of Biology conducted an inventory of all plant species in the Kitanglad Philippines 58 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources National Park under the Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources Management Project with the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) as the principal investigator. the Department of Science and Technology. It is also accredited with the DENR and the United States Agency for International Development as a private voluntary organization. 7. Misamis Oriental State College of Agriculture and Technology (MOSCAT) In the pursuit of conservation through community-based resource management, Haribon adopts an integrated, multidisciplinary approach that is participatory and scientifically sound. Its programmes include science and research, community-based resource management, environmental defense, and membership development. MOSCAT’s College of Agriculture has a fouryear degree program on forestry. It is involved in the domestication of fruit, timber and multipurpose tree species as well as in the diversification of timber species to include indigenous ones. It has extensive field facilities for research. 8. University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) This university offers a four-year course on forestry with different specializations. It also has other courses on environment and natural resources. It has both undergraduate and graduate programs. The College of Forestry and Natural Resources offers on Forest Genetics, Forest Tree Improvement (Basic and Advanced Courses), Clonal Forestry, Conservation Biology, and a few others that have bearing on forest genetic resources conservation. Graduate programs on Forest Tree Improvement and the Master of Science in Natural Resources Conservation are curricular programs that relate directly to FGR. The College of Agriculture on the one hand has also instituted a curricular program on Plant Genetic Resources, and has for a long time already been offering courses on Plant Breeding and related sciences. It has also started a program on Agricultural Biotechnology. Non- Government Organizations 1. Haribon Foundation, Inc. Haribon is regarded as a pioneer of the environmental movement and one of the most active environmental organizations in the Philippines. In 1984, it was registered as a science and research foundation conducting floral and faunal studies and is accredited by On December 21, 2005, the European Commission (EC) awarded a five-year project grant (2005-2010) to the Haribon Foundation. The project is entitled Governance and Local Development for Endangered Forests or GOLDEN Forests. The project aims to reduce the rate of deforestation in Mts. Irid-Angelo in the provinces of Quezon, Aurora, Bulacan and Rizal; Mts. Hilong-Hilong and Diwata in Agusan, and Surigao; and Zambales mountains in Zambales, Tarlac and Pangasinan. Economic support for the marginalized forest-dependent communities living in these areas is part of the project assistance package. (www.haribon. org) 2. Soil and Water Conservation Foundation, Inc. SWFC promotes natural and human resource development through implementation of projects and programs which are participatory, cooperative, community-building and sustainable. One of its goals is the establishment and perpetuation of comprehensive environmental ethics in individuals and communities which leads to wise use, management, and conservation of the country’s resources. 3. Bantay Kalikasan Bantay Kalikasan (Nature Watch) or BK, ABS-CBN Foundation Incorporation’s environmental arm, started on July 21, 1998. It is Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources a media-based project supported by a multisector network of government agencies, private institutions, and non-government organizations. It was launched to serve as a catalyst in addressing the concern over the worsening state of the Philippine environment characterized by air and water pollution, denudation of forests, irresponsible waste disposal and their life-threatening effects. BK was one of the prime-movers of Mt Banahaw rehabilitation and protection. It made possible the temporary suspension of visits to Mt. Banahaw because of the destruction to the area. BK is also known for its successful rehabilitation and protection of the 2700-hectare La Mesa Watershed, the last forest of its size within Metro Manila and the source of water for over 12 million people in Metro Manila. When BK first arrived in La Mesa, there were only about eight plant species in existence: Acacia auriculiformis, A. mangium, Gmelina arborea, Mahogany (Sweitenia macrophylla), African tulip (Spathodea campanulata), Eucalyptus, and Teak (Tectona grandis). Today, there are 73 different endemic species planted in the La Mesa Forest – Nature Reserve with an over-all survival rate of 92.5%, the first reforestation project in the country to plant that number of Philippine species. (http://www.bantaykalikasan.com). . 4. Agroforestry Tree Seed Association of Lantapan ATSAL operates in Bukidnon province, southern Philippines. The association was organized in 1998 through the help of the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). Farmers were trained on germplasm collection, processing and marketing of agroforestry tree seeds and seedlings. ATSAL has been marketing various tree seeds and seedlings with apparent success, and has provided training on appropriate seed collection and nursery management to farmers, government technicians, and workers from nongovernment organizations (NGOs). 59 5. Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation, Inc. PTFCF was established under two bilateral agreements between the governments of the United States (US) of America and the Republic of the Philippines (RP) under the US Tropical Forest Conservation Act. These agreements, signed on September 19, 2002, leveraged a $5.5 million USG appropriate to treat $41.5 million in RP-US debt and divert $8.25 million in peso-denominated interest payments over 14 years, to the Tropical Forest Conservation Fund. The Fund is administered by an NGOled Board comprising five representatives of the non-governmental sector appointed by the RP, two representatives of the US, two representatives of the RP. This organization aims to, in the spirit of service and stewardship, improve the status of Philippine forests by working with communities, catalyzing local and national actions for their sustainable management. 6. BINHI Program of the Energy Development Corporation The Energy Development Corporation launched in 2008 the BINHI Program, a forest revegetation scheme that focuses on the planting of endangered tree species. The program has four project components namely: Trees for Life, Trees for Food, Trees for the Future, and Trees for Leisure. The first component adopts the practice of rainforestation farming, giving emphasis on assisted natural regeneration with the basic intent of bridging forest gaps. The establishment of the forest bridges are being undertaken in the Northern part of the Sierra Madre Natural Park and the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park. The Trees for Food attempts to revegetate open and denuded lands through forest plantations and agroforestry. This is with the recognition that agroforestry brings about farm diversification and makes possible as well tree domestication. Agroforestry, likewise, can increase connectivity in patches within a fragmented Philippines 60 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources forest landscape which benefits biodiversity. Enrichment of species and genetic diversity can be achieved under this project. The Trees for the Future concentrates on urban reforestation making use of endangered tree species. Public parks, school premises, leisure estates and residential areas, and other open spaces in urban areas are target for this reforestation scheme. Last but not the least is the Trees for Leisure project which establishes ecotourism forest parks. Focus again will be the planting of native endangered species in such areas. 7. Foundation for Philippine Environment The Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) was organized to help reverse the rapid destruction of the Philippine natural resource base through a strategic and integrated conservation program. Its mandate is to help fund the initiatives of Philippine civil society (i.e. non-governmental organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (POs) and other related sectors in conserving biodiversity and intervening to stop the further degradation of priority biodiversity sites. Over the recent 10 years, FPE continuously supported the implementation of community-based resource management (CBRM) framework in 22 sitefocused projects in Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon. FPE, from time to time, engages and also funds research institutions to collaborate with civil society and local project partners. The resulting experiences, including data and information, are used by FPE to plan, decide, fund and implement present and future biodiversity projects. Training Institutions concerned with forest genetic resources are given opportunities for free education and training on forest genetic resources mostly offered by international organizations such as the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, among others. There are also local institutions that provide education and trainings in FGR. DENR has always been involved in educating and communicating to the public the importance of biodiversity conservation. State colleges and universities, on the other hand, continue to promote programs on biodiversity conservation through instruction, research and extension. Many publications on the conservation of forest genetic resources or even the conservation publications are in technical form which prevents ordinary citizens and uneducated locals to comprehend the message. Efforts are now underway to produce information, education and communication materials in local dialects to promote a widespread education and communication of FGR conservation. Hopefully, these efforts, which are done on a national scale, will inculcate the importance of biodiversity conservation among the general public and lead to support for more in-depth studies at the species and genetic levels. Based on an earlier assessment by Zabala (1996), there is a dearth of capable personnel to tackle the challenging task of tree breeding and improvement. Intuitively, the situation is similar for the conservation of forest genetic resources, as these two concerns are closely related. Prior to 1996, there were hardly any researcher trained either on tree improvement, or the conservation and management of forest genetic resources. After 1996, a number of graduate students have enrolled at the College of Forestry and Natural Resources and specialized in tree improvement. With a global and national concern for biodiversity conservation, the interests of younger scientists are slowly catching up with the trend to major in the conservation of forest genetic resources. The UPLB has a graduate program focusing on Plant Genetic Resources Conservation, but most of the students and faculty involved are agriculture-based. Capability-building needed by institutions to promote and enhance FGR Conservation are as follows: • Education and Training on plant genetic diversity and conservation of FGR Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources • Public Awareness (Information Education, Campaign) through improved libraries, popular and technical publications, lectures, seminars, workshops and conferences • Resource mobilization to support FGR Conservation activities • Management Information System (MIS) • Inclusion of FGR Conservation in academic curriculum • Other extension programmes – demo farms, cross site visits • Establish a system, including websites, which will ensure a constant exchange of information on the genetic resources of Philippine plants between and among concerned institutions and organizations, and make this information accessible to all interested parties Training obstacles and what can be done In the report of Tolentino (2009) on the status of conservation and management practices of FGR in the Philippines, the result of the 2007 national consultative workshop on FGR identified the country’s capability building needs on FGR conservation as follows: 1. Capability building: • Education and training • Public awareness (information, education, and communication) • Resource mobilization to support FGR conservation activities • Management information system • Inclusion of FGR conservation in academic curriculum • Other extension programs – demonstration farms, cross site visits 2. Training courses • Strategies on FGR conservation (in situ, ex situ) and results of R&D technology • Stakeholders’ participation in FGR conservation • Advocacy of FGR conservation – policy makers, implementers of conservation activities, e.g., forest managers, community, academe 61 • Product utilization, processing and marketing • Policy issues on FGR conservation – bioprospecting, biosafety Tolentino (2009) further enumerated the following critical gaps in research and development that were identified in the said national consultative workshop: 1. Continuing assessment of conservation status of all FGRs (e.g., inventory, taxonomy, database of FGR on in situ conservation sites) 2. Conservation biology (reproductive biology) 3. Ecological studies of FGRs (carbon sink, watershed and environmental services, ecotourism genetic diversity) 4. Policy assessment and formulation in support of FGRs (e.g., bio-prospecting, rescue centers) 5. Development of a guidebook for identifying FGRs 6. Valuation studies of FGRs (for bio-prospecting purposes, ecological services, etc.) 7. Assessment of socio-economic and cultural practices and their impacts to FGR conservation (e.g., ethnobotany) 8. Production technologies or silvicultural requirements for FGRs Strategy to address education and training needs In 2003, the Philippine Plant Conservation Committee prepared the Framework for the Philippine Plant Conservation Strategy and Action Plan to serve as the National Red List Authority of the Philippines on plants. It has been formulated in response to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation and the country’s commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity. In the Framework, capacity building is the focus of Objective 8 which includes physical and technological infrastructure and financial support for plant conservation. Specifically, its actions aim to: Philippines 62 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 1. Establish a roster of plant experts and agencies, research institutions and organizations involved in plant conservation in the country 2. Provide career opportunities for botanists and plant taxonomists 3. Assess the plant taxonomic needs of the Philippines 4. Develop centers of excellence on plant conservation 5. Implement technical capacity building programs on plant conservation and management (e.g., trainings on plant identification, preservation, etc., at the national, regional and local levels) 6. Identify and implement appropriate community training programs. Legislation The Philippines has promulgated several national policies and legislations concerning conservation, protection and proper utilization of its natural resources. The following are examples of government laws which are directly or indirectly related to the protection and conservation of forest genetic resources. The Philippine Constitution The Philippine constitution includes provisions related to forest resources: (1) Protection and achievement by the State of the right of all Filipino people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accordance with the rhythm and harmony of nature (Sec. 16, Art. II); framework of national unity and development (Sec. 22, XI); (2) State of ownership of all natural resources and inalienability, except for agricultural lands (Sec. 2, XII); (3) Full control and supervision by the State on exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources either by directly undertaking such activities or by entering into co-production, joint venture or production-sharing agreements with Filipino citizens or Filipino owned or controlled corporations or associations (Sec. 2, XII); (4) Small scale utilization of natural resources (Sec. 2, XIII); (5) Determination by Congress of the specific limits of forest lands by marking of their boundaries on the ground (Sec. 4, XII); (6) Protection of the rights of indigenous cultural communities (ICC) by the State to their ancestral lands to ensure their economic, social, and cultural well being (Sec. 5, XII). Of the seven provisions by the Philippine constitution, Article XII of the sections 4 and 5 are relevant to the conservation of tree species. National Legislations and Policies Affecting Genetic Resources Conservation The growing concern for the environment and proper utilization of the natural resources for economic development have resulted in the enactment of policies which advocate the protection of the country’s resource base. Specific policies and legislations and the status of their implementation are briefly listed in the following: Act No. 315 and the Republic Act No. 826 Enacted in 1932, Act No. 315 is one of the earliest legislations related to biodiversity conservation and management. It provides for the establishment of national parks; for example, game refuges with panoramic, historical, scientific or aesthetic values for the benefit and enjoyment of the Philippine people. The law prohibits occupation of the national parks and harvesting of timber or other forest products and wildlife resources therein without permit or license. It was one of the earlier accounts on natural resources management that Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources consi-dered the principle of inter-generational res-ponsibilities. Through the Republic Act No. 826, a Commission on Parks and Wildlife was created in 1952 under the supervision of the President in order to promote effective planning, development, maintenance and supervision of natio-nal parks, monuments, wildlife and game re-fuges and bird sanctuaries. The same act also promotes the establishment and conservation of provincial, city and municipal parks to comply with the fundamental purpose of national parks for the benefit and enjoyment of the future generations. It was one of the earlier accounts on natural resources management that considered the principle of inter-generational responsibilities. Presidential Decree No. 705 This law, enacted in 1975, provides the major framework for the management, conservation and utilization of the forest resources in the country. The law mandated the Bureau of Forestry Development (BFD) with the responsibility for protection, development, management and preservation of national parks, game refuges and wildlife. The law declares the occupation of national parks and recreation and vandalism activities therein illegal. The Philippine Forestry Code or PD 705 remains as the primary legal instrument guiding the conservation and utilization of forest resources in the country. Legal issuances cover the protection of specific areas with rich natural resources. These include RA 7611 (1991) which declared a Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan. The Plan calls for the conservation, utilization and development of such natural resources in tandem with the provision of optimum yield on a continuing basis. This was followed by the DENR AO 45 (1992) which declared a moratorium on all commercial logging in Palawan. Proclamation No. 926 is another conservation-oriented legal issuance establishing the Subic Watershed Forest Reserve. The DENR AO No. 25 (1991) prohibited logging from old-growth or virgin forests and declared these 63 areas as part of the integrated protected areas systems. Likewise, large tracts of mangrove areas all over the country have been declared wilderness areas, thus, limiting the extraction of forest resources in these areas. In 2000, the DENR AO 2000-44 allowed the sustainable use of forest resources inside multiple-use and buffer zones, except any form of logging or timber cutting involving the natural forest. Subsequently, the DENR AO 2002-02 provided an opportunity to organized tenured migrant communities and interested indigenous peoples to manage, develop, utilize, conserve and protect the resources in designated Community-based Program (CBP) area. These opportunities are subject to prior vested rights, with activities consistent with the Protected Area Management Plan (PAMP). Additional guidelines were later spelled out in the DENR AO 2004-32 which provide tenured migrant communities and interested peoples within protected areas and buffer zones tenure over established CBP areas, provided that the activities to be undertaken are consistent with PAMP. Memorandum Circular (MC) 2004-06 of DENR adopts the so-called rainforestation technology to restore, manage and rehabilitate degraded and secondary forest in protected areas and other appropriate forest lands. Indigenous and endemic tree species are the recommended species for planting. The DENR MC 200702 provides the guidelines for the establishment and management of critical habitats in the country which will cover public lands (terrestrial and wetland areas) outside protected areas as well as privately-owned lands where threatened species are found. Executive Order No. 192 Through the Executive Order No. 192, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is tasked with the primary res-ponsibility to promote the well-being of the Filipino people through sustainable development of natural resources, optimal utilization of forest lands, social equity and Philippines 64 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources efficiency of forest resource use and effective forest management. The Order created, among others, the Protected Area and Wildlife Board (PAWB). The aim was to consolidate governmental efforts in the conservation of natural biological resources, specifically through the institutionalization of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS). The enactment of the NIPAS Law or Republic Act (RA) of No 7586 of 1992 was pursued by PAWB. Republic Act No. 7586 (the NIPAS Law) The most important piece of legislation on biodiversity in the country is the RA 7586, enacted in 1992, otherwise known as the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) law, which mandated DENR in its implementation. It contained the twin objectives of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. As early as 1998, 34 protected areas were proclaimed under the NIPAS category, encompassing 1,443,000 ha. The regional offices of DENR also identified 25 old-growth and mossy forests that have been proposed for inclusion in the protected area system. In the same year, the Protected Area and Wildlife Board (PAWB) designed the Biodiversity Monitoring System (BMS) for data collection focusing on priority species and their utilization. In 2000, the BMS was institutionalized through the issuance of the Administrative Order (AO) No. 13 of DENR, entitled “Guidelines on the Implementation of the Biodiversity Monitoring System in Protected Areas”. The system serves to improve the participation of communities in the protected areas and other stakeholders in the management of protected areas. Executive Order No. 247 (the Bioprospecting Law) The Executive Order No. 247, enacted in 1995, meant to provide a regulatory framework for bioprospecting, the exploitation of indigenous knowledge on natural resources or the search for previously unknown compounds for medi-cinal use. Also called the Bioprospecting Law, it prescribes the guidelines and establishes a regulatory framework for the bioprospecting of biological and genetic resources, their by-products and derivatives for scientific, commercial and other purposes. This law is in line with the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to which the Philippines is a signatory. The law declares: “It shall be the policy of the State to regulate the prospecting of biological and genetic resources to the end that these resources are protected and conserved, are developed and put to the sustainable use and benefit of the national interest. Further, it shall promote the development of local capability in science and technology to achieve technological selfreliance in selected areas.” Republic Act No. 9147 (the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act) This legislation, enacted in 2001, provides for the conservation and protection of wildlife resources in protected areas and critical habitats. It is also known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. The law assigns jurisdiction over terrestrial plants and animal species to DENR and over aquatic plants and animals to the Department of Agriculture (DA). The DENR Secretary will determine whether any wildlife species or subspecies are threatened and classify them as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or under other categories based on scientific data and internationally accepted criteria. The act allows the collection of wildlife for scientific or breeding propagation purposes, and for the breeding or propagation of threatened species to enhance their populations in natural habitats (restoration purposes) and establishment and protection of critical habitats outside protected areas where the threatened species are found. The National List of Threatened Philippine Plants and their categories, and the List of Other Wildlife Species were established through the DENR AO 2007-01. Subsequently, the DENR AO 2007-02 was issued to provide the guidelines on the establishment and Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources management of critical habitat for species under the jurisdiction of DENR. Republic Act (RA) No. 7942 or the Mining Act of 1995 This RA identified areas closed to mining operations. These include all areas expressly prohibited by RA No. 7586 and its implementing rules and regulations (DAO No. 25 series of 1992) and other laws. These areas closed to mining include old growth forests, proclaimed watershed, wilderness areas, mangrove forests, mossy forests, national parks, provincial and municipal forest, greenbelts, game refuges and bird sanctuaries among others. 65 on field observations, the actual implementation of these policies is the big hindrance to successful conservation efforts. Executive Order 578 Issued in the latter part of 2006, this is the policy of the state on biological diversity. It specifically states that “it is the policy of the state to protect, conserve, and sustainably use biological diversity to ensure and secure the well-being of the present and future generations of Filipinos. This state policy extends to all the components of biodiversity – ecosystem, species and genes.” Executive Order 26 Republic Act No. 7303 (the Seed Industry Development Act) The Seed Industry Development Act of 1992 promotes and accelerates the development of seed industry and mandates the conservation, preservation and development of plant genetic resources in the Philippines. It vests the University of the Philippines, Los Baños (UPLB), with leadership in plant biotechnology activities related to plant improvement, conservation of genetic resources and in vitro mass production of planting materials including biotechnology. Executive Order No. 318 Issued on June 9, 2004, this order declared the policy of government to pursue the sustainable management of forests and forestlands in watersheds. Watersheds shall be deemed as ecosystem management units and shall be managed in a holistic, scientific, rightsbased manner and observing the principles of multiple-use, decentralization and devolution, and active participation of Local Government Units (LGUs), synergism of economic, ecological, social, cultural objectives, and the rational utilization of all resources found therein. Clearly, policies are set in place to insure protection of biodiversity in the Philippines including forest genetic resources but based Issued on February 24, 2011, the National Greening Program (NGP) aims to: • Implement sustainable management of natural resources through resource conservation, protection, and productivity enhancement • Provide food, goods and services such as timber, fiber, non-timber forest products, aesthetic values, air enhancement values, water regulation values, and mitigate climate change by expanding forest cover that serves as carbon sink • Promote public awareness as well as instill social and environmental consciousness on the value of forests and watersheds The goal of the National Greening Program is to plant 1.5 billion trees in some 1.5 million hectares of lands of the public domain for a period of six years from 2011 to 2016. In 2011, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, other state agencies, local governments, private sector and civil society planted 83,096,223 seedlings in more than 118,939.93 hectares of land nationwide under the national greening program. Premium and indigenous tree species shall be planted primarily to rehabilitate or restore degraded forestlands and protected areas/ zones while fast-growing and production/ Philippines 66 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources protection forest tree species and fruit trees shall be planted in agroforestry and production areas and multiple use zones. Among the areas targeted for planting under the program are forestlands, mangrove and protected areas, ancestral domains, civil and military reservations, urban area under the Greening Plan of local government units, inactive and abandoned mines and other suitable lands. Executive Order No. 514 - The National Biosafety Framework (March 17, 2006) The Framework prescribes its implementation guidelines, strengthening the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines and for other purposes. It covers all work involving genetic engineering and the importation, introduction, field release and breeding of organisms that are potentially harmful to people and environment. The departments concerned shall allocate from their present budgets such amount as may be necessary to implement the NBF, including the support in the operations of the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines and its secretariat. Administrative Order No. 1 - Guidelines for Bioprospecting in the Philippines (January 14, 2005) It is a joint order among the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippine Council for Sustainable Development (PVSD), and the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP). The Guidelines set a uniform procedure for evaluating and granting access to biological resources and avoid the potential problem of inconsistency of bioprospecting regulations for various components of biodiversity under the management jurisdiction of different government agencies. It provides equitable sharing scheme for benefits derived from bioprospecting activities among the government and the host communities or resource providers. DENR Administrative Order No. 2004-32 Revised Guidelines on the Establishment and Management of Community-Based Program in Protected Areas (August 31, 2004) It emphasizes the use of endemic and/or indigenous plant species in specific areas within the protected areas or buffer zone to return them back to the original vegetation type. DENR Administrative Order No. 2004-15 This AO established the list of threatened species and their categories and the list of other wildlife species under the jurisdiction of the DENR pursuant to RA 9147, the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. DENR Memorandum Circular No. 2004-06 This MC promulgated the guidelines in the integration of rainforestation farming strategy in the development of open and denuded areas within protected areas and other appropriate forest lands (August 5, 2004). It defines rainforestation as a concept in forest restoration, wherein only indigenous and endemic tree species are used as planting materials which include but is not limited to dipterocarp species, premium tree species, etc. it aims to preserve biodiversity and expand Philippine forests and simultaneously sustain human food production. DENR Administrative Order No. 2003-05 This revoked Memorandum Order No. 9929 and DAO No. 2001-03: It provides the Guidelines in the implementation of rights in tree farming. The other policy issuances of the government in relation to the use and conservation of forest genetic resources in the country over the period 2000 -2011 appears as Appendix Table 8 of this report. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Center Project, MuakLek, Thailand. pp. 214–220. Needs for Developing Forest Genetic Resources Legislation Although there are already existing legislations and policies affecting forest genetic resources conservation, there are still needs to further develop or strengthen forest genetic resources legislation in the country. The identified needs are given in Table 14. References Sinha, C.C. 1994. Implications of the NIPAS law for the conservation of forest genetic resources in the Philippines. In: Drysdale R. M., John S.E.T. and Yapa A.C. (Eds.). Proceedings: International Symposium on genetic conservation and production of tropical forest tree seed. ASEAN-Canada Forest Tree Seed Saraburi, Tolentino, E. L. Jr. 2009. Status of Philippines forest genetic resources: their conservation and management practices. In: Forest Genetic Resources Conservation and Management: Status in seven South and Southeast Asian countries. Editors R. Jalonen, K.Y. Choo, L.T. Hong and H.C. Sim. A publication of APFORGEN. FRIM, Bioversity International and APAFRI. pp. 103-135. Pollisco, M.T. 2009. Research and Development Initiatives on Forest Genetic Resources Conservation in the Philippines. In: Forest Genetic Resources Conservation and Management: National Consultative Workshops of Seven South and Table 14. Needs for developing forest genetic resources legislation. Priority Level Needs 67 Not applicable Low Improve forest genetic resources legislation Moderate High √ √ Improve reporting requirements √ Consider sanction for non-compliance Create forest genetic resources targeted regulations √ Improve effectiveness of forest genetic resources regulation √ Enhance cooperation between forest genetic resources authorities √ Create a permanent national commission for conservation and management of forest genetic resources √ Others (please specify) Philippines 68 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Southeast Asian Countries. Editors K.Y. Choo, R. Jalonen, L.T. Hong and H.C. Sim.FRIM, Bioversity International and APAFRI. pp. 106-125. Internet http://chm.ph/index.php?option=com_co ntent&view=article&id=68:for est-and-mountain-biodiversityo v e r v i e w & c a t i d = 3 6 : b i o d i v e r s i t yi n-the-phi l i ppi nes&Itemi d= 90_30 dec2011 http://chm.ph/index.php?option=com_co ntent&view=article&id=185%3Af orest-and-mountain-biodiversityprojects&catid=87&Itemid=90 http://forestry.denr.gov.ph/ncfp.htm http://ptfcf.org/ http://www.asiaforestnetwork.org/pub/ pub05.htm http//www.bantaykalikasan.com/about. php?section=1 http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/AC648E/ ac648e09.htm http://www.haribon.org http://www.worldagroforestry.org/downloads/publications/PDFs/WP08153.pdf Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 69 Chapter 6 The State of Regional and International Collaboration Regional and Sub-Regional Collaboration T he DENR’s Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) implemented the UNDP/FAO/RAS/91/004 Regional Project on Improved Productivity of Man-Made Forests through the Application of Technological Advances in Tree Breeding and Propagation (FORTIP) in 1991 which became the avenue in ERDB’s international linkages regarding forest genetic resources. The country has developed linkages with CIFOR, IDRC, JICA, IPGRI, AIDAB, INBAR, ASEAN FTSC, DANIDA FSC, FORSPA, APAN, etc. The Project paved the way for the ASEAN member countries do develop/establish international linkages with the Regional/International Networks, Centers, and donor agencies. The Philippines hosts the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB). As an intergovernmental regional centre of excellence, ACB facilitates cooperation and coordination among the 10 ASEAN Member States (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) and with relevant national governments, regional, and international organizations on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of such natural treasures. Over the years since its creation as the progeny of the ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation, the ACB has become and is still the primary venue for the discussion and resolution of cross-country biodiversity conservation issues. It has been the leading force in capacity development of the ASEAN Member States, for policy development and coordination through education on key biodiversityrelated multilateral environment agreements, as well as increased knowledge and skills to assess regional/national situations and develop appropriate response mechanisms. ACB also aims to enhance competence of Protected Area managers of the ASEAN Member States through the conduct of capacity building series workshops and conferences with partner institutions. In collaboration with CSIRO Division of Forestry’s Australian Tree Seed Centre (ATSC) in 1996-1998, ERDB was able to establish seed production areas (SPAs) and seedling seed orchard (SSO) of Acacia mangium and Eucalyptus urophylla as follows: 1.5 ha A. mangium SPA (ATSC seedlots); 1.5 ha E. urophylla var wetarensis SPA (ATSC seedlots); 1.125 ha E. urophylla var. urophylla SPA (ATSC seedlots); 1.5 ha A. mangium SPA (MSBFI seedlots); and 3.5 ha A. mangium SSO (ATSC seedlots) in Oriental Mindoro. The initial phase of the project was completed in December 2000. It covered site selection and delineation, production of planting stocks, plantation site preparation/establishment, plantation protection and maintenance, and monitoring of early growth performance. All activities such as assessments, thinning and other management operations were accomplished in the duration Philippines 70 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources of the study. From the selected parent trees, seeds were collected and 9.5 kg were provided to ATSC for establishing genetic gain trials of both species. The country’s involvement in the conservation and management of bamboo and rattan resources is governed by its membership at the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) which is an inter-governmental organization established in 1997 with head-quarters in Beijing, China and regional offices in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe. It is dedicated to improving the social, economic, and environmental benefits of bamboo and rattan. INBAR connects a global network of partners from the government, research institutions, NGOs, rural communities, private, and notfor-profit sectors in over 50 countries to define and implement a global agenda for sustainable development through bamboo and rattan. Among its environmental goals related to forest genetic resources is to identify threatened bamboo and rattan species and take actions to foster their conservation. With its partners it intends to explore and demonstrate new ways to reverse the depletion of the world’s rattan resources, while encouraging their sustainable use in poverty alleviation. It has undertaken development projects and provided trainings to member countries such as the Philippines on the conservation, diversity, ecogeography, germplasm, resource utilization and taxonomy of bamboo and rattan. The ERDB also implemented the International Tropical Timber Organization funded project “Demonstration and Application of Production and Utilization Technologies for Rattan Sustainable Development in the ASEAN Member Countries (ITTO) [ITTO PD 334/05 Rev 2 (1)] in 2005-2010. The project aimed to strengthen ASEAN collaboration that would promote the sustainability of rattan resources through demonstration and application of rattan production and utilization technologies to uplift the socio-economic status of local communities. Twenty training programs were conducted separately in the different areas of the Philippines, Vietnam, Lao PDR, and Cambodia. A total of 220 hectares of rattan plantations were established and maintained by the respective participating countries. With the ITTO, the Philippines through the Forest Management Bureau of the DENR implemented the project “Development of Criteria and Indicators (C&I) for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) in the Philippines” (PD 225/03 Rev. 1) from 2002 to 2003. It aimed to promote sustainable management of the tropical resources in the Philippines in accordance with the year 2000 objective through the formulation of criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management at the national and forest management unit levels, including appropriate monitoring, assessment and reporting systems. The project has produced some useful documents including the baseline report on C&I in 2003 and the first progress report in 2005. It also has developed a GIS-compatible database system for C&I, which will allow for the easy management of data, reporting, updating, retrieval and analysis to determine progress towards SFM. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at which the Philippines is a member, the policy coordination and decision-making on regional cooperation in the forestry sector is the task of the ASEAN Senior Officials on Forestry (ASOF) guided by the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF). In the Blueprint for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), ensuring environmental sustainability is a major area. This includes, among others, intensified regional cooperation on global environmental issues, conservation of biological diversity, as well as promotion of sustainable forest management (SFM) and eradication of unsustainable practices including combating illegal logging and its associated trade. International Collaborations The Philippines collaborates with the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) now the Bioversity International in the Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources management of its forest genetic resources. It backs the IPGRI’s mission to encourage, support and undertake activities to improve the management of genetic resources worldwide so as to help eradicate poverty, increase food security and protect the environment. IPGRI focuses on the conservation and use of plant genetic resources important to developing countries and has an explicit commitment to specific crops. The country is an active partner in undertaking research and training, and the provision of scientific and technical advice and information. The Philippines is also a party to a number of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) which aims to conserve and sustainably use biological diversity. These include the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). With all these MEAs the Philippines is mandated to comply with all the provisions to ensure the conservation of the country’s biodiversity resources within and outside the PAs. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources(IUCN) with which the Philippines is a member since 1968, is a union of sovereign states, government agencies and NGO’s with the initiation and promotion of scientifically-based action that will ensure the perpetuation of man’s natural environment. It maintains close working relations with many inter-governmental organizations and it maintains close working relations with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Its mission is to provide international leadership for the conservation and management of living resources. The Philippines has prior involvement with the IUCN dating back in the mid-60s. The agency extended consultancy assistance to the country in the survey of national parks and other equivalent reserves of the then Parks and Wildlife Office. IUCN member countries submit data on the status of endangered 71 species and on traffic in wildlife through the union’s specialized monitoring centers based in the United Kingdom. The ERDB together with the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is a member of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO). Its mission is to promote global cooperation in forest-related research and to enhance the understanding of the ecological, economic and social aspects of forests and trees; as well as to disseminate scientific knowledge to stakeholders and decision-makers and to contribute to forest policy and on-the-ground forest. IUFRO attains its objectives by networking activities including the generation, exchange and dissemination of scientific knowledge, the provision of access to relevant information, and the assistance to scientists and institutions to strengthen their research capacities. The Asia Pacific Association of Forestry Research Institutions (APAFRI) is an independent non-profit body, which aims to enhance research and technology development capabilities in support of conservation and management of forest resources in the Asia-Pacific region. The member agencies in the Philippines are the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Development (PCARRD, FPRDI, ERDB, the University of the Philippines Los Baňos-College of Forestry and Natural Resources (UPLB-CFNR), and the University of the Northern Philippines (UNP). The establishment of APAFRI was prompted by the need to provide a viable institutional framework for research collaboration in the region. Since 1991, the Forestry Research Support Programme for Asia and the Pacific (FORSPA) has been fulfilling the networking function. APAFRI, a follow-up of FORSPA, is an outcome of the desire of the countries in the region and the donor community to develop a more self-reliant and sustainable mechanism to strengthen research networking. It was Philippines 72 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources launched during the meeting of the Heads of Forestry Research Organizations in the AsiaPacific held in Bogor, 20-23 February 1995. The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) has recognized APAFRI as its Asia-Pacific chap-ter. APAFRI has been collaborating closely with the IUFRO Special Programme for Developing Countries (SPDC) in strengthening research in the Asia-Pacific region. The Philippines became a collaborator of the International Neem Network which was coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 1993 with the long-term objective to conserve genetic resources and to improve the genetic quality, adaptability, and utilization of the species. Provenance trials were established in San Manuel, Pangasinan and Bansud, Oriental Mindoro on August 1996 and November 1996 respectively. International Collaboration The following tables shows the country’s needs and priorities for future international collaboration (Table 15). There is a clear perceived need for advanced knowledge and skills on both the methodologies of in-situ and ex-situ conservation of forest genetic resources in the Philippines. The establishment and maintenance of seed banks and in vitro banks for forest species will be top priorities as these are completely lacking in the country. Training is also deemed as a priority to enhance the conduct of research on the various aspects of FGR, as well as ways to further the awareness on the value, conservation and sustainable use of FGR among the public. Since the latter part of the last century, the Philippines has been involved with the ASEAN Peatland Forests Project (APFP) which aims to demonstrate, implement and scale up the sustainable management and rehabilitation of peatland forests in Southeast Asia. The Project focuses on strengthening institutional capacity and frameworks, reducing the rate of degradation on peatlands in Southeast Asia, demonstrating integrated management and rehabilitation of peatlands at target sites, and engaging the private sector and local communities in sustainable peatland management. It fits within the framework of the ASEAN Peatland Management Initiative (APMI), and directly supports the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (APMS), and associated National Action Plans on Peatlands. Together with the Philippines, the other Southeast Asian nations participating in the project are Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. So far, ground surveys have been undertaken in two areas in the Philippines, namely, in the Leyte Sab-a Basin and the Peatland Forests of the Agusan Marsh in the Island of Mindanao. Needs and Priorities for Future Philippines 73 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Table 15. Needs and priorities of the Philippines for international collaboration on forest genetic resources. Priority Level Needs and Priorities Not applicable Low Medium High √ Understanding the state of diversity Enhancing in situ management and conservation √ Enhancing ex situ management and conservation √ Enhancing use of forest genetic resources √ Enhancing research √ Enhancing education and training √ Enhancing legislation √ Enhancing information management and early warning systems for forest genetic resources √ √ Enhancing public awareness Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 75 Chapter 7 Access to Forest Genetic Resources and Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Use T he 1987 Constitution of the Philippines provides that access to natural resources including forest (and genetic resources) can only be done through joint venture (with the government), co-production, or production sharing agreements. In 1993, DENR established the Industrial Forest Management (IFM) Program that issued the Industrial Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) as the tenure instrument under DAO No. 60 series of 1995. This is a production sharing agreement that grants tenure holders the privilege to harvest second growth natural forest and requires them to help in the development and protection of forest areas. The provisions of the DAO have undergone several revisions and amendments and its final form is contained in DAO No. 99-53. The tenure has a duration of 25 years renewable for another 25 years. The maximum area granted under this agreement is 40,000 ha. A grantee can have more than one IFMA area as long as the combined area does not exceed 40,000 ha. The minimum area that may be granted is 500 ha. For the medium investors and small farmers, the Socialized Industrial Forest Management Agreement (SIFMA) was instituted (DAO No. 24, 1996). The area that may be granted is as low as 1 ha for individuals or families to a maximum of 500 ha for cooperatives and associations. The responsibilities given to the IFMA holder of developing, managing and protecting the forest are also mandated to the SIFMA holder. In 1998, the Philippine government through the DENR, established the Community-Based Forest Management Program (CBFM), which can provide the mechanism for improving access to sustainable use of forest genetic resources in the Philippine uplands. The CBFM is an application of the principle of “People first and sustainable forestry will follow.” The program seeks to promote among other things the sustainable management of forest resources, social justice and improved well-being of local communities, and strong partnership among local communities and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. CBFM is implemented in all areas classified as forest lands, including allowable zones within protected areas not covered by prior vested rights. The implementation further seeks to integrate and unify all peopleoriented forestry activities of the Integrated Social Forestry Program, Community Forestry Program, Coastal Environment Program, and Recognition of Ancestral Domains. The access to and sharing of benefits in the use of FGR are incorporated in the following key features of the CBFM namely: security of tenure, social equity, and market linkage. The Community-Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA) entitles forest communities to use and develop the forestland and resources for a duration of 25 years. Furthermore, the Program grants forest communities the comprehensive rights to use and develop forest resources. Finally, the DENR and the LGUs provide technical assistance Philippines 76 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources to CBFM participants to help them attain sustainable forest management in addition to proving help to the communities in terms of accessing investment capital, identifying markets, and building marketing capabilities. International Agreements Over the past 10 years, the country subscribed to many international agreements relevant to access to forest genetic resources, transfer and sharing of benefit arising from their use. The Philippines is a signatory to the World Trade Organization (WTO) that intends to supervise and liberalize international trade and provides a framework for negotiating and formalizing trade agreements, and a dispute resolution process. The agreements include provisions on the trade of environmental goods and services, standards and certification procedures with possible implications on forest genetic resources. Some environmental goods require forest genetic resources as raw materials such as timber and non-timber forest products. These goods may also require forest genetic resources as components or inputs in manufacturing. The Philippines is also a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), The Kyoto Protocol (COP3) and succeeding Conferences of the Parties (Since 1992 and on-going). With the objective of the treaty to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system, it provides that credit would be granted for broad activities that absorb carbon from the atmosphere or store it, including forest and cropland management, and re-vegetation, with no over-all cap on the amount of credit that a country could claim for carbon sink activities. Hence, depending on eligible projects, national priorities, and forest management policies and decisions, this will entangle with the management and conservation of forest genetic resources. Development of forest plantations as carbon sink will enhance forest genetic conservation, not just on the aspect of trees but the adjoining vegetation during the plantation development. However, such endeavors should not solely consider commercial production. The biological objective of such plantation development activities should take into serious consideration the enrichment of the genetic structure of the species that will be used. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is another international agreement which the Philippines subscribes to and supports since its inception. Here, the Conference of the Parties (COP) adopted the Bonn Guidelines to facilitate the implementation of the Access and Benefit Sharing System (ABS). The ABS is similarly applicable to traditional knowledge of indigenous and local communities associated to genetic resources. The Philippines, being one of the countries in the world with diverse traditional knowledge systems that are in many cases based on forest genetic resources has much stake in the provisions of the agreement to protect said resources. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety under the CBD also known as the Biosafety Protocol was adopted in January 2000. The Biosafety Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology. Since most of the country’s biological diversity rests on forest areas and its genetic resources, the country has many wide areas of specific concerns on Biosafety. The Philippines has since developed its Biosafety Framework and created its Biosafety Committee that looks on the possible implications of the products of modern genetic technologies not just on the agricultural domain but also on forest genetic resources. Since 2003, the Philippines has been participating in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) organized by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The AFTA is meant to increase ASEAN’s competitive edge as a production base in the world market through the elimination, within ASEAN, of tariffs and non-tariff barriers, Such should attract more foreign direct Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources investments to ASEAN. It includes provisions on the change of tariffs on wood-based products that in one way or another will have effects on the utilization of forest biological resources. National Legislations and Policies The country has also promulgated national legislations and policies in terms of access to forest genetic resources and sharing of benefits arising out of their use. Although enacted much earlier, the country observes the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1151 (Philippine Environmental Policy) and subsequently, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order 2003-30 (Detailed Guidelines and Procedures in the Implementation of the Philippine EIS System) which requires all agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including government-owned or controlled corporations, as well as private corporations, firms and entities to make a detailed statement on environmental impacts of any proposed undertaking which significantly affects the environment. Hence, forestry and thus forest genetic resources are covered by this law in the sense that areas declared by law as a national park, watershed, reserve, wildlife preserves or sanctuary, areas which constitute the habitat for any endangered or threatened species of indigenous Philippine wildlife (flora and fauna), and mangrove areas, among others, are declared as Environmentally Critical Projects (ECP). Utilization and exploitation of these have critical environmental impacts and therefore need to undergo environmental impact assessments and need to acquire Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECC) prior to implementation. This law in many ways can provide for the conservation of forest genetic resources in the country if properly and judiciously implemented. Another old law, the Presidential Decree No. 705 Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines still governs the forest management system in the country. Presidential Decree No. 705 or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines 77 emphasizes proper classification and survey of all lands of the public domain, management and utilization, as well as the protection, development and rehabilitation of forest lands to ensure continuity of productive condition. Presidential Decree No. 1433 (Promulgating the Plant Quarantine Law of 1978, Thereby Revising and Consolidating Existing Plant Quarantine Laws to Further Improve and Strengthen the Plant Quarantine Service of the Bureau Of Plant Industry) restricts the importation and/or introduction into the Philippines of plants, plant products, soil, packing materials of plant origin capable of harboring and are a source of medium of infection/infestation of plant pests subject to such quarantine orders, rules and regulations as may be promulgated, from time to time. Executive Order 23 (February 1, 2011) declares a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests and creating the anti-illegal logging task force, among others. The DENR is prohibited from issuing logging contracts/agreements in all natural and residual forests, such as Integrated Forest Management Agreements (IFMA), Socialized Integrated Forest Management Agreements (SIFMA), Community-Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA) and other agreements/contracts with logging components in natural and residual forests. One policy issuance with direct implication on access to forest genetic resources is Executive Order No. 247 (May 18, 1995) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (DENR DAO 96-20). It prescribes guidelines and establishes a regulatory framework for the prospecting of biological and genetic resources, their by-products and derivatives, for scientific and commercial purposes; and for other purposes. Prospecting of biological and genetic resources shall be allowed within the ancestral lands and domains of indigenous cultural communities only with the prior informed consent of such communities obtained in accordance with the customary laws of the concerned community. Philippines 78 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources The prospecting of biological and genetic resources shall be allowed when the person, entity or corporation, foreign or domestic, undertaking such activities, on recommendation of the Inter-Agency Committee on Biological and Genetic Resources executes a Research Agreement. If the research and collection of biological and genetic resources is intended, directly or indirectly, for commercial purposes, the agreement must be a Commercial Research Agreement. If the prospecting of biological and genetic materials is intended primarily for academic purposes, the agreement shall be an Academic Research Agreement. Cultural Communities (ICC) / Indigenous People (IP), Creating a National Commission of Indigenous People, Establishing Implementing Mechanisms, Appropriating Funds Therefore, and for Other Purposes) recognizes, promotes and protects the rights of ICCs/ IPs to their ancestral domains, autonomy and self determination and cultural integrity. It further recognizes full ownership, control and protection of their cultural and intellectual property - including special measures to control, develop and protect their sciences, technologies and cultural manifestations, including human and other genetic resources, seeds, medicines, indigenous knowledge system and practices, knowledge of the properties of fauna and flora, oral traditions, literature, designs, visual and performing arts and the right to the protection of their traditional medicines and health practices, the protection of vital medicinal plants, animals and minerals. Republic Act No. 7586 enacted in July 1991, An Act Providing for the Establishment and Management of National Integrated Protected Areas System, Defining Its Scope and Coverage, and for Other Purposes provides that hunting, destroying, disturbing, or mere possession of any plant or animal or products derived there from without a permit from the Management Board is prohibited (Section 20). Executive Order 578 November 8, 2006 established the National Policy on Biological Diversity and prescribed its implementation throughout the country, particularly in the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Ecosystem and the Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor. The EO provides that the DENR shall, in accordance with law and subject to public consultations, develop and promulgate rules, and regulations for the establishment of critical habitats within key biodiversity areas which are known to harbor habitats and ecosystems critical for the survival of threatened, restricted-range, and congregatory species, and provide the guidelines for their management and protection. Biodiversity impact assessment shall be integrated into the Environmental Impact Assessment and the Environmental Risk Assessment Processes, taking into consideration guidelines adopted under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (Section 3). In July 31, 2001, the country enacted Republic Act No. 9147 or the Wildlife Act (An Act Providing for the Conservation and Protection of Wildlife Resources and Their Habitats, Appropriating Funds Therefore and for Other Purposes). Among other provisions, local transport of wildlife, by-products and derivatives collected or possessed through any other means shall be authorized unless the same is prejudicial to the wildlife and public health. Wildlife species may be exported to or imported from another country as may be authorized by the Secretary or the designated representative, subject to strict compliance with the provisions of this Act and rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto: Provided, that the recipient of the wildlife is technically and financially capable to maintain it. Bio-prospecting shall be allowed upon execution of an undertaking by any proponent, stipulating therein its compliance with and commitment(s) to reasonable terms and conditions that may be imposed by the Secretary which are necessary to protect biological diversity. Republic Act No. 8371 (An Act to Recognize, Protect and Promote the Rights of Indigenous Germplasm exchange rules are defined in Article 42, Section 5 of the Implementing Rules Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 7308, otherwise known as the Seed Industry Development Act of 1992. This applies more on agricultural plant genetic resources but the general purpose is to conserve, preserve, and develop the plant genetic resources of the nation. Access to forest genetic resources over the past ten years has been defined by strict laws and regulations. Difficulty depends on the nature of gaining access and the purpose for obtaining said resources. There are reasons to believe that the country encountered difficulty in maintaining or enhancing access to forest genetic resources located outside the country considering that these countries too, made parallel legislations and rules of access with reference to CBD. The Philippines may not really depend on access to forest genetic resources outside the country considering its rich source of indigenous genetic materials. Forest development goals of the country can be attained using local sources. Philippines 79 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 81 Chapter 8 The Contribution of Forest Genetic Resources to Food and Health Security, Poverty Alleviation, and Sustainable Development T he Philippine forests, particularly the genetic resources, remain an important element of the natural environment that performs invaluable ecological services vital to the survival of the Filipino people. Clean water, good soil, and fresh air are some of the major services provided by the forests. Thus, the Philippine government is committed to protecting and sustainably managing its remaining forest genetic resources. While the contribution of the forest sector to GDP is dwindling, it remains significant, especially if looked at in tandem with the agriculture and fisheries sectors. From 20042009, the agriculture, fisheries and forestry (AFF) sector accounted for 18.7 percent of total GDP1. Ironically, lack of protection and improper use over the years brought about the deterioration of the natural ecosystems, resulted in the decline of the AFF contribution to GDP by 1.5% during the same period (NEDA 2011). The poor state of the country’s forest resources is felt most intensely by the poor, especially the rural communities which remain the poorest in the country2. The strong link between poverty and forest degradation cannot be denied as continuous degradation of this important resource poses a threat to life itself. 1 Average AFF contribution to GDP from 2004-2009. Source: NSCB 2 2006 Poverty incidence farmers as the poorest identified fisherfolks and There are approximately 20 million people living in upland and forest areas, half of whom are dependent on shifting cultivation for their livelihood (Cruz and Zosa-Feranil, 1998 as cited by NEDA 2011). Inequitable land distribution, insecure tenure and rural poverty are often cited as causes of deforestation and forest degradation in the Philippines, which is linked to increases in rural populations both as a result of fertility and in-migration (Kummer, 1992; Liché, 1997 as cited by NEDA 2011). FGR Contribution to Food and Health Security, Poverty Alleviation, and Sustainable Development With the rich diversity in terms of species that the Philippine forests has, it is no wonder that they yield plants, plant parts, exudates, and plant derivatives that have proven to be of immense value to Philippine society. Philippine customs and traditions are interwoven with FGR which more than highlight the biological and economic importance of FGR to the Filpino way of life. This part of the report provides the highlights for the multifarious contributions that FGR have been providing to the well being of the Filipinos. Philippine Wild Food Plants The Philippine forest has a rich reserve of wild and semi-wild food plants, which many of the country’s indigenous groups depend on for subsistence, and to some extent, as source of additional income. Philippines 82 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Some of these wildfood plants can be eaten raw, while some need cooking. Others can be processed as delicacies or made into preserves that could be stocked for future needs. The cultivation of these wildfood plants as alternative to agricultural crops can help provide livelihood options to many upland and forest dwelling Filipinos (Polinag, 2003; Dichoso, 2010). In the northern region of the Philippines, over 49 wild species have been recorded in the 11 municipalities of Cordillera and the young shoots, tops, stalks, flowers, leaves, bulbs and fruit reported to be eaten as vegetables. Many of these belong to the Asteraceae (Compostitae), Solanaceae, Amaranthaceae and Brassicaceae families. Gagattang is the local name for several thistlelike species - including Sonchus oleraceus L (common sow thistle) and S. arvensis (perennial sow thistle) - which, although rather bitter, are consumed by local communities. The plants are high in flavonoids and are also used to treat indigestion, fever and asthma. Puriket (Bidens pilosa), another popular wild plant, is rich in iodine and is reported to prevent goitre (enlarged thyroid). The young roots are also used to cure rheumatism and treat wounds and, in some areas, puriket is used in the preparation of sake (rice wine). (http://www.new-ag.info) A list of these wildfood plants with their corresponding food values is in Appendix Table 9. Contribution to Health and Security The Philippine forests also abound with medicinal plants. Many have been proven to be fast and relatively inexpensive cures to common physical ailments and entails simple preparation either as concoctions for skin diseases or taken as tea. There are quite a number of these species whose air dried leaves are pounded and encapsulated and are being sold in the local market. An example is akapulko (Cassia alata), a shrub known to be a diuretic, sudorific and purgative. The medicinal uses of akapulko are to treat fungal infection of the skin and for the treatment of ringworms. Then there is the banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa), a tree found throughout the Philippines whose leaves, roots, fruit and flowers a have medicinal uses. The species is used in the treatment of diabetes and other ailments. It is also a purgative and a diuretic. There are also herbal products from the forests that include natural products for food that are processed with natural raw material ingredients, additives, and processing supplements to protect the sensory qualities of food. Herbal products for personal care or ‘cosmeceuticals’ contain natural ingredients from plant, animal or mineral sources that have been minimally processed for soap, lotion and other beauty care. Forest-based Industries/Activities Supporting Poverty Alleviation Furniture Industry. Philippine furniture ranks among the world’s best, earning for the country the honor of being the “Milan of Asia” for elegance and high quality craftsmanship. The wooden furniture manufacturers in the Philippines used to export only sanded items and parts, but have now penetrated the global market with finished products that showcase local skills in carving, marquetry and inlaying. Philippine-made wooden pieces were previously reproduction or period pieces. However, several firms are now producing modern and contemporary style furniture. Other manufacturers have also ventured into the use of particleboards and medium density fiberboards for panel furniture (http:// philexport.ph/furniture.html). An estimated 15,000 local furniture companies are actively supporting the industry and providing employment to a total of 481,500 direct workers and 300,000 from subcontractors. Only 2% of these establishments are considered large companies. The remaining 98% are classified as small and medium size enterprises. Notably, Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) make up much of the 2,500 furniture companies engaged in exports. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources The three main centers of furniture production in the country are Metro Manila, Pampanga and Cebu. The Southern Tagalog Region, Iloilo and Mindanao (i.e. Davao, Cagayan de Oro City and Butuan City) are becoming furniture centers too. The largest-sized rattan, stonecraft and metal furniture manufacturers are located in Cebu. Lately however, several rattan factories in Cebu have shifted to wood furniture production. Handicrafts-Making. The industry produces an assortment of wares such as basketwork, shell craft articles, ceramics, metal wares, textiles, stone wares, wood crafts, hand made paper products, biojewels, and others. Most of the new and smaller handicraft firms use manual production while a few of the larger and progressive firms are already mechanized. The industry requires minimal capital investment wherein the bulk of investment is in working capital for raw materials and labor. Raw materials used are mostly locally sourced and usually from areas around the production centers. Raw materials such as natural fiber, agricultural wastes, and indigenous plants are spread around the country. Majority of the handicraft manufacturers in the Philippines are small and medium enterprises (SMEs), with a capitalization of less than PhP1 M and less than 20 employees. The employees are often family members, relatives and neighbors. These handicrafts include baskets, holiday decors, body wearables like earrings, food and ash trays, and many other novelty items. A list of these species which are used as raw materials for such handicraft products is shown in Appendix Table 10. The basketware sub-sector of the handicrafts industry is 90% labor intensive. At present, there are more than 5,000 firms who are into basket production. Seventy-one firms are registered with the BOI, 150 are largescale, while the remaining firms are micro and small-scale companies. This sub-sector provides direct employment to about 40,000 workers. An additional one million workers are indirectly employed, spread out over the 83 major basket producing regions. Majority of basket producers are into sub-contracting arrangement with other firms. On the average, a major manufacturer subcontracts 50% of its production, and an exporter has three major subcontractors. Subcontracting in the basketry sub-sector provides employment to about 100,000 individuals. Examples of these species are Bulakan (Merremia peltata (L.) Merr.), Hinggiw kalabaw (Streptocaulon baumii Decne.), Lukmoy (Rhaphidophora monticola Krause), Malagayaman (Pothos scandens L.), and Silong pugo (Pericampylus glaucus (Lam) Merr.). Majority of the basket manufacturers and subcontractors are found in the provinces of Quezon, Ilocos, Albay, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Cagayan, Cebu, Bohol, and Negros, where raw materials are readily available. Other areas have specialized basket products depending on the materials available. Central Visayas is known for baskets made of bamboo, coco midrib and buri. Producers in the Bicol region are known for their abaca products. The wooden toy sub-sector is more capitalintensive. While most firms utilize a number of machinery and equipment, at least 50% of the total number of equipment of the industry is imported. Production workers vary from as few as three workers to as many as 200 workers, 90% of whom are women. The number excludes subcontractors who are summoned when there are big volume orders (http://tradeline phil.dti.gov.ph/betp/ toys). The main materials for the wooden toy sub-sector include kiln dried mahogany (Swietennia macrophylla), and soft solid wood such as almaciga (Agathis spp.). The handmade paper subsector is another handicraft industry with barely 10 years in existence. Although young, the yearly average value of exports, within a period of five years from 1995 to 1999, amounted to FOB US$120.22 M for HMP sheets and converted items. Except for the biggest one, the mills operate on micro- and small scale, with production capacity range of 1,000–30,000 Philippines 84 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources sheets of varied sizes and 100-50,000 pieces of converted items per month. The industry consists of about 100 firms, each employing some five to more than a hundred workers, mostly underemployed and out-of-school youths in the community. The industry is faced with problems on slow production, high cost of labor, materials and machines, low qualities of paper, inadequate promotion and marketing of products, among others. Main raw materials for handmade production include agricultural fibers like abaca fibers, cogon grasses, salago, banana fibers, etc. Non-wood forest products. As mentioned above, they are also valuable sources of essential oils, dyestuffs, tannins, and animal products such as honey and beeswax. These include resins and exudates, palm and palm by-products, fibers, natural dyes and colorants, natural herbals, tannins, medicinal plants (leaves, roots, barks). Resins and resinoids produced from almaciga (Agathis spp.) known as Manila copal, is processed for paints, varnishes and lacquers. Another exudate, Manila elemi, comes from Canarium species and processed similarly as Manila copal. Palm products and by products are extracted from kaong (Arenga pinnata) and sago (Metroxylon sagu) fruits, specialty wine from nipa (Nypa fruticans) and fibers, raffia and buntal from buri (Corypha utan syn. Corypha elata). Bast fibers from salago (Wikstroemia spp.) forests are used in the manufacture of bank notes and special types of paper products. These fibers can likewise be used for fishlines and nets, clotheslines, sacks, and woven in intricate designs for bags, wallets and hats. Wood fuels can come from the forest, wooded lands, agricultural lands, and homesteads. The World Bank/ESMAP Philippine Household Energy Strategy Study in 1991 showed that the share of forest and non-forest land supplied fuelwood is about 14% and 86%, respectively. This indicates that the non-forest lands are the important woodfuel supply source in the Philippines, particularly the household use. The main process of woodfuel conversion is resizing where wood is cut and split into sizes that are easy to handle and transport, and drying before being used directly as fuel wood. Woodfuel could also undergo the following processes: carbonization, gasification, densification, liquid fuel production, and combustion. Charcoal briquette is being promoted to use low quality biomass fuel into a high-density fuel. Wood chipping technologies are available but are not yet widely used in the country. Charcoal briquettes produced from twigs, saw dusts and other biomass are comparable if not better than the heating values of coconut shell indicating the potential of charcoal briquettes to supplement woodfuels in satisfying the demand. The distribution and marketing system of woodfuels is performed by two distinct groups of traders: the rural and urban groups. The rural traders are the persons responsible for bringing woodfuels from the rural areas to the urban users. They are composed of transporters and dealers. This group of traders may procure woodfuel directly from the source, i. e., from fuelwood gatherers and charcoal makers, from sawmill operators and from local agents or assemblers of woodfuels in a particular area. Rural traders can also be fuelwood gatherers and charcoal makers who market their goods by themselves. Urban traders, on the other hand, are sellers of woodfuel operating in the city. This category includes the wholesaler-assembler, wholesalerassembler-retailer, wholesaler-retailer, and retailer. A wholesaler sells fuelwood in large quantities at a time. An assembler is involved in gathering or bringing together woodfuel from different sources to accumulate large volumes. A retailer on the other hand, sells woodfuel in small quantities directly to consumers. For many of the poor rural households with limited sources of income opportunities, the urban woodfuel trade is a vital component of Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources their household economy. UNDP/WB ESMAP disclosed that there are 536,000 households dependent on gathering and selling wood, 158,000 households are charcoal makers, 40,000 households act as traders in rural areas, and an additional estimated 100,000 households are urban traders. The traders are mainly storeowners or market stall operators selling fuelwood and or charcoal as part of the range of goods offered for sale. In the Philippines, about 86% of the rural households were reported to be predominantly using fuel wood as source of energy. The amount of wood-based energy consumed by households depends on the household size and income, type of energy applications being used, efficiencies and cost of devices, and accessibility to wood-based fuels. The industrial sector, on the other hand, accounts for about one-third of all biomass fuel consumption in the Philippines with most of its usage accounted for by bakeries, sugar factories, tobacco curing barn, eateries, brick, pots and ceramics making, and lime factory. Demand is concentrated in urban and semiurban areas as well as in the rural areas with large concentration of rural industries (i.e. brick, pots and ceramic making, lime factory and the like). With the distance between production/conversion area to consumption, charcoal is preferred in terms of transportation cost and ease of handling compared to fuel wood. Wood-based fuels are used as compliments for conventional sources of energy. Urban users have the propensity to substitute wood-based fuels with conventional fuel sources as their income increases. Initiatives Towards Sustainable Development and People-Oriented Forest Management Programs Sustainable development has always been the overarching policy of the Philippine government in the management of the country’s forest resources. This policy ensures that in addition to ensuring economic viability, forest resources 85 management initiatives also factor in the social equity and ecological stability considerations. These initiatives are incorporated in most of the recent forest resource management programs and projects of the Philippines. While the programs are primarily designed to increase both in quantity and quality of timber production to support the forestbased industries, the programs also contain strategies that will accelerate rehabilitation of degraded forest ecosystem and at the same time help uplift the socio-economic condition of the upland/forest occupants. These strategies center on maximizing the involvement of upland communities and other forest resource-dependent families in the implementation forest management projects not only as laborer but also as key implementer as well. The Community-Based Forest Management Program (CBFM). Executive Order 263 issued in 1995 adopts CBFM as a major strategy for sustainable management of the Philippine resources (EO 263). This was further reiterated in EO 318 “promoting Sustainable Forest Management in the Philippines”. CBFM integrates and unifies all people-oriented forestry programs including the Integrated Social Forestry Program, Upland Development Project, Community Forestry Program, LowIncome Upland Community Project and the Forestry Sector Project. In accord with the intent and purpose of the people-oriented forestry programs, the CBFM also aims to improve the socio-economic conditions of the upland communities through the promotion of social justice, equitable access to and sustainable development of forestlands resources. Under CBFM, organized communities or people’s organization can enter into a production sharing agreement (CBFMA) with the DENR to give them the right to occupy posses, develop and utilize resources within a designated CBFMA area for a period of Philippines 86 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 25 years renewable for another 25 years. EOs 263 and 318 likewise call on various relevant instrumentalities of the government including the LGUs, civil society organizations and private business entities to assist in the implementation of CBFM. In 2008, the DENR has already entered into CBFM Agreement with 1, 783 POs covering an area of about 1,622,404 has. About 321,638 households have been benefitting from this program. Integrated Forest Management Program (IFMP). The declining supply of the raw materials for the wood industries of the country has compelled the government to promote the establishment of Industrial Tree plantations. In, 1999, the DENR has issued Administrative Order No. 99-53 providing the regulations for the implementation of IFMP. From a mere forest tree plantation, IFMP expands the scope and coverage and introduces other strategies to encourage participation of the industry sectors as well as the support of the communities. Under the guidelines, qualified applicants may enter into a production sharing contract with the DENR wherein he/she (the qualified applicant) will be granted the right to develop, manage, protect and utilize a specified area of forestland and forest resources therein for a period of 25 years and may be renewed for another 25-year period. Other provisions that are explicitly stated in the IFMP regulation include the requirement to plant principally timber-producing species compatible with the ecological and biophysical characteristics of the area, including rubber, durian and/or non-timber species like rattan and bamboo. The program also allows the use of not more than 10% of the area for agricultural purposes to supplement income or food requirements of the plantation workers. However, the number of IFMA holders has been declining from as high as 188 in its initial year covering to a low of 146 in 2008. On the other hand, the area under IFMA has continued to increase from a low of 508,000 hectares to as high as 833,000 hectares in 2007. In 2008, the area has gone down to about 767,094 ha. Socialized Industrial Forest Management Program (SIFMP). Pursuant to the forest management principle of ensuring equitable opportunities and access to forest resources, the DENR has implemented the Socialized Industrial Forest Management Program. This is to allow upland individual/family and community association/cooperatives to participate in the establishment of industrial forest plantation. Under this program, the qualified individual family, community associations/cooperatives may enter into an agreement (SIFMA) with the DENR wherein the latter grants to the former the right to develop, utilize and manage a small tract of forestland consistent with the principle of sustainable development (DENR Administrative Order No. 96-24). In 2008, about 35,587 hectares have been placed under 1,803 SIFMA. National Greening Program. In the face of the worsening problem on forest denudation, the President of the Philippines has issued EO 23 declaring a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests of the entire country. The EO aims to protect the remaining forest cover areas not only to prevent damages to life and properties due to natural calamities such as flashfloods and land/mudslides, but also to preserve biodiversity by protecting the habitats and sanctuaries of endangered and rare species, and to allow for the natural regeneration of residual forests and the development of plantation forests. The National Greening Program is one of the priority strategies specified under EO 23, series of 2011. This is intended to address the government’s goal of poverty reduction, food security, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. The EO has likewise mandated the various government agencies with specific tasks in support to the effective implementation Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources of the NGP. Among others, the EO directed the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education (to initiate the necessary educational drive campaign), the Department of Interior and Local Government (to help in establishing communal tree farms for firewood and other purposes), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (to identify the upland farmers covered by the NGP as priority beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer program), the Department of Budget and Management (to provide the funds for the production of quality seedlings for reforestation programs from available funds of the government), and the private sector and other concerned agencies and institutions (to raise funds and resources for tree planting activities). The NGP aims to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares over a period of 6 years starting 2011. This is quite a gargantuan task. In order to establish a standard for its effective and efficient implementation of the programs, the DENR has issued Memorandum Circular No. 2011-01. The Circular provides the scope and coverage of the program. It also enumerates the priority areas for reforestation and rehabilitation that includes forestlands, mangrove, ancestral lands, military reservations, abandoned mining area, urban parks and open spaces and other suitable public lands such as river banks and stream banks. NGP is comprised of the seven components including the production of seedling materials; development of upland farms through agroforestry; reforestation of marginal lands and rehabilitation of mangrove areas in communitymanaged forestlands; rehabilitation of degraded areas in priority watershed and protected areas; rehabilitation of river and streambanks; development of forest/tree parks and greenbelts in suitable sites in urban areas; and, maintenance and protection of planted trees and established plantations by partner implementers. It should be emphasized that NGP recognizes the use of quality planting materials for the 87 reforestation and rehabilitation component of the project. As such, it mandated all the participating/partner agencies to conform with the guidelines on the collection, production and disposition of forest tree seeds and seedlings as provided for under Administrative Order no. 2010-11. Likewise, the Program also requires the use of premium and indigenous tree species in the reforestation and rehabilitation of degraded forestlands and protected areas. In line with this requirement, the DENR taps its clonal nursery nationwide as a major source of planting materials. Confronting Tenurial Problem. In addition to the above people-oriented programs and to help address the tenurial problem in the uplands, approximately 11.6 million ha of forestlands are now covered by some form of tenurial instruments under various government programs that somehow provided security to upland occupants (Table 16). Other specific strategies being implemented to protect the remaining forest genetic resources are the following: a. Transform open, denuded and degraded areas into protection forests and/or economically-productive asset. b. Encourage communities to develop multipurpose forests in on open, denuded and degraded areas including into protection forests and economically-productive asset; c. Develop a portfolio approach for forest investment in collaboration with the LGUs and NCIP. They shall jointly prepare a forest land use plan identifying areas for protection and areas for investment and provide all necessary permits and clearances prior to development d. Ensure that CDM/REDD plus programs truly benefit Filipinos and reduce CO2 in the atmosphere. e. Encourage communities to enhance protection and sustain productivity of reforestation and upland areas for livelihood and poverty alleviation Philippines 88 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Table 16. Various forest tenurial instruments implemented, as of 2010 (NEDA, 2011). No. LTI Type Number Area (has) 4 252,510.00 1 Timber License Agreement (TLA) 2 Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) 145 1,017,654.76 3 Socialized Industrial Forest Management Agreement (SIFMA) 1,822 36,941.08 4 Agroforestry Farm Lease Agreements (AFFLA) 17 4,776.00 88 9,742.00 364 97,019.00 198 2,063.02 18 98.51 31 967.89 11 2,580.39 1,790 1,633,892.11 3,314 3,200,024.02 414 4,276,639.25 58 22,240.03 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Tree Farm Lease Agreement (TFLA) Forestland Grazing Management Agreement (FLGMA & FLGA) Special Land Use Permit (SLP) Special Land Use Lease Agreement (SPLULA) Forest Land Use Agreements for Tourism Purposes (FLAgT) Special Forest Land Use Agreement (FLAg) Community-Based Forest Management Program (CBFMP) CBFM Agreement 14 Other CBFM Tenure (CSC, FLMA, CFSA, CFP, etc) Approved CADT and CALT 15 PACBRMA 16 17 18 Areas under Management Arrangements Philippine National Oil Corporation (PNOC) National Power Corporation (NPC) 19 National Irrigation Administration 20 Co-Management Agreement with LGUs 13 266,326.00 337,721.00 22,243.00 TOTAL Total forestland 153 485,536.65 8,427 11,668,974.71 15,805,325.00 11,668,974.71 Tenured 4,136,350.29 Untenured f. Undertake completion of forestland boundary delineation and assessment and push for the enactment of bills, and placing all untenured /open access area under management regime g. Carry out collaborative watershed management planning cum vulnerability assessment and implementation among DENR, LGUs and other watershed stakeholders towards responsible forest management. h. Manage, protect, and develop natural forest, established plantation, and economically important non timber forest products and species i. Conduct Monitoring and Evaluation using Criteria and Indicators, Third Party Monitoring, and Forest Certification, among others. j. Strengthen Decision Support System Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 89 through Inventory of forest resources, Baseline Data generation & GIS mapping and Forest valuation & natural resource accounting k. Integrate the Conservation Farming Village approach in the development of upland farming communities in the Philippines inevitably make efforts towards conservation of FGR very attractive. Developments in the methodologies for valuing FGR will certainly go a long way in promoting the conservation and sustainable of FGR in the Philippines. Issues and Challenges Dichoso, Wilma. 2010. Some Familiar Philippine Palms that Produce High Value Food. RISE, Research Information Series on Ecosystems, Vol. 22 No.1, Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau, January-April 2010. The aforementioned discussions have brought to the fore the multifarious benefits that can be derived from the country’s forest genetic resources. Obvious is the fact that there is strong appreciation of these uses and benefits. But there is more that we can get when such genetic resources are managed on a sustainable basis. Tangible goods are only half of the benefits derived from FGR. The other half are the environmental services that the sustainable use of FGR can bring about. The potential of this other half has just begun to be understood, and the methods to realize such potential is just starting to evolve. The full ecological and environmental values of FGR is now again brought into the limelight with the new program on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation which is recognized as an effort to create a financial value for the carbon stored in forests, offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development. “REDD+” goes beyond deforestation and forest degradation, and includes the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. With the huge outflows of funds from industrialized countries to the less developed ones, there can really be meaningful emission reduction efforts with the conservation of biodiversity and securing vital ecosystem services as indirect results. In relation to REDD+ providing a boost to FGR conservation, another evolving approach is the Payment for Environmental Services (PES) which now being regarded as an indispensable sustainable development mechanism. PES will References NEDA 2011. Draft Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) 20112016. Regional Consultation Meeting, Region IV-A (CALABARZON), YazakiTorres Manufacturing Inc.. Calamba City, 6 January 2011 Polinag, Mercedita 2003. Food from the Wilderness, a Guidebook., Published by the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau, DENR, College, Laguna and the Bureau of Agricultural Research, DA, Quezon City. UNDP/World Bank 1991. The Philippines Household Energy Strategy. Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), c/o Energy and Water Department. The World Bank Group, 1818 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. Internet http://denr.gov.ph/ http://forestry.denr.gov.ph/ http://philexport.ph/furniture.html http://tradeline phil.dti.gov.ph/betp/toys http://www.new-ag.info/en/focus/focusItem. php?a=456 Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 91 Appendix Tables Appendix Table 1. Forest species in the Philippines with economic importance and/ or uses. Tree (T) or other species (O) Native (N) or Exotic (E) Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. Ex Benth. T E used in pulp and fuelwood, charcoal Acacia mangium Willd. T E used in general construction and furniture industry Anthocephalus chinensis (Lamb) A. Rich. Ex Walp. T N for plywood, pulp and paper Casuarina equisitifolia L. T N firewood, windbreak, erosion control, tanin, pulp Scientific Name Reasons for Priority Trees paper, furniture, Endospermum peltatum Merr. T N important source of lightweight hardwood; wood is especially used for matches, various kinds of sticks and wooden shoes; used in reforestation Eucalyptus deglupta Blume T N used for pulp and paper, lumber, poles, boxes, furniture, mine timber Gmelina arborea Roxb. T E pulp, veneer, light construction lumber, fuelwood, furniture, posts, particle board, poles, plywood Paraserianthes falcataria (L.) Nielsen T E used in pulp, blackboard, fuelwood, corestock, furniture, toys, handicrafts Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon T N long-fibers for quality paper production, mine props, wood construction Philippines 92 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Pterocarpus indicus Willd. T N used as structural timber for light to heavy construction, considered among the best for furniture, panelling, musical instruments, high grade cabinet work, decorative flooring, and novelties Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr T E furniture and panelling, cabinet, wood, construction, veneer, plywood, wood carving Swietenia macrophylla King T E regarded as the world’s finest timber for high-class furniture and cabinet work Tectona grandis L. f. T E construction, wood carving N used especially for furniture, musical instruments, cigar boxes and plywood; the wood has a pleasant smell, bark and flower are used in local medicine Toona calantas Merr. & Rolfe T Bamboo Bambusa blumeana J.A. Schultes & J.H. Schultes O E culms are used in building construction, manufacture of furniture, produces excellent pulp for paper making, and common source of shoots Dendrocalamus asper (Schultes f.) Backer ex Heyne O E used in house construction, pulp and paper making, bamboo plywood and tiles, produces one of the best shoots Gigantochloa levis (Blanco) Merr. O E culms used in building basketry and furniture Schizostachyum lumampao (Blanco) Merr. O E used for making bamboo mats or sawali, plyboo, basket, fences, spears and flutes Calamus dimorphacanthus Becc. O N used for industries Calamus manillensis (Mart.) H. Wendl. O N good source of material for weaving Calamus merrillii Becc. O N utilized in furniture making Calamus mindorensis Becc. O N furniture, basketry and cordage Calamus ornatus Becc. var. philippinensis Becc. O N furniture, cane, handles for implements and flooring, leaves and roots as medicine, fruits occasionally eaten construction, Rattan Philippines baskets, bags, for home Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 93 Calamus ornatus Blume var. Philippinensis Becc. O N good source of material for furniture industry and the stem is cut into strips for handicraft purposes Calamus siphonospathus Mart. var. dransfieldii BajaLapis O N basketry and tying Calamus symphysipus Mart. O N chairs, pack saddles for animals Daemonorops ochrolepis Becc. O N furniture, baskets, bags, for home industries and local commercial use Daemonorops pedicelaris Becc. O N Handicrafts Appendix Table 2. Forest species used for plantation, agroforestry or enrichment planting in natural forests. Scientific Name Native (N) or Exotic (E) Current Uses* Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. Ex Benth. E 1, 2, 3 plantation Acacia mangium Willd. E 1, 2, 3 plantation Anthocephalus chinensis (Lamk.) A. Rich. Ex Walp N 1, 2 plantation Artocarpus blancoi (Elmer) Merr. N 1, 4 agroforestry Callophylum inophyllum L. N 1, 3 natural forest Casuarina equisitifolia L. N 2, 3, 4, 5 Dipterocarpus grandiflorus Blanco N 1 natural forest Endospermum peltatum Merr. N 1 natural forest Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. E 1, 2, 3 plantation Eucalyptus deglupta Blume N 1, 2 plantation Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp. E 1, 3, 4, 5 Gmelina arborea Roxb. E 1, 2 plantation Hevea brasiliensis (HBK.) Muell.Arg. E 1, 4 plantation Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit E 1, 4, 5 Litsea perrottetii N 1, 4 If managed, type of management system Trees Philippines plantation agroforestry plantation, agroforestry agroforestry 94 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Mangifera indica L. N 1, 4, 5 plantation, agroforestry Octomelis sumatrana Miq. N 1 natural forest Palaquium luzoniense (F.-Vill) Vidal N 1 natural forest Paraserianthes falcataria (L.) Nielsen N 1, 2 Parashorea malaanonan (Blanco) Merr. N 1 Petersianthus quadrialatus (Merr.) Merr. N 1, 2 plantation Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon N 1, 2 plantation, reforestation Pterocarpus indicusWilld. N 1 plantation, natural forest Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr E 1 Shorea almon Foxw. N 1 plantation, open areas, ornamental natural forest Shorea contorta Vidal N 1 natural forest Shorea negrosensis Foxw. N 1 natural forest Shorea polysperma (Blanco) Merr. N 1 natural forest Shorea squamata (Blanco) Merr. N 1 natural forest Swietenia macrophylla King E 1 plantation, natural forest, ornamental Tectona grandis L. f. E 1 plantation, natural forest N 4, 5 Bambusa blumeana J.A. Schultes & J.H. Schultes E 2, 4, 6 plantation Bambusa philippinensis (Gamble) McClure N 2, 4 ,6 plantation Bambusa vulgaris Schrader ex Wendl. E 2, 4 ,6 natural forest Dendrocalamus asper (Schultes f.) Backer ex Heyne E 2, 4, 6 plantation Gigantochloa atter (Hassk.) Kurz E 2, 4 ,6 plantation Gigantochloa levis Merr. N 2, 4 ,6 plantation Schizostachyum lumampao (Blanco) Merr. N 2, 4 ,6 natural forest plantation natural forest Shrub Vitex negundo L. plantation/agroforestry Bamboo Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Palm Cocos nucifera L. E 1,3, 4, 5 Corypha elata Roxb. N 4, 5 natural forest Metroxylon sagu Rottb. N 1, 4, 5 natural forest Arenga pinnata (Wurmb) Merr. 1, 4 plantation/agroforestry plantation/agroforestry Rattan Calamus caesius Blume N 6 natural forest Calamus dimorphacanthus Becc. N 6 natural forest Calamus filispadix Becc. N 6 natural forest Calamus javensis Blume N 6 natural forest Calamus manillensis (Mart.) H.A. Wendl. N 6 natural forest Calamus merrillii Becc. N 6 natural forest Calamus microcarpus Becc. var. microcarpus N 6 natural forest Calamus microsphaerion Becc. N 6 natural forest Calamus mindorensis Becc. N 6 natural forest Calamus ornatus Becc. var. philippinensis Becc. N 6 natural forest Calamus ramolosus Becc. N 6 natural forest Calamus scipionum Lour. N 6 natural forest Daemonorops mollis (Blanco) Merr. N 6 natural forest Daemonorops pedicellaris Becc. N 6 natural forest * Currrent Use: 1 Solid wood products 4 Non wood forest products (food, fodder, medicine, etc.) 2 Pulp and paper 5 Used in agroforestry systems 3 Energy (fuel) 6 Others Philippines 95 96 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Appendix Table 3. Main tree and other woody forest species providing environmental services or social values. Scientific Name Native (N) or Exotic (E) Environmental Service or Social Value* N 6 Trees Agathis philippinensis Warb. Alnus nepalensis D. Don E 1 Alstonia scholaris R. Br. N 5 Amherstia nobilis Wall. E 5 Calliandra calothyrsus Meissner E 1, 2 Cananga odorata (Lamk) Hook.f & Thomson N 5, 6 Cassia fistula L. E 5 Casuarina equisitifolia L. N 1, 2 Cynometra ramiflora L. N 5 Desmodium gyroides DC. Home N 1 Elaeis guineensis Jacq. E 5,7 Flemengia macrophylla (Willd.) Merr. N 1, 2 Leucaena diversifolia Benth. E 1, 2 Leucaena leucocephalla (Lam.) de Wit E 1 Muntingia calabura L. N 5 Piliostigma malabaricum (Roxb.) Benth. N 1 Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon N 1, 5 Pinus merkusii Jung 7 de Vriese N 1, 5 Pithecelobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth. E 2,7 Psidium guajava L. E 2,7 Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr E 5 Saraca declinata Miq. E 5 Saraca thaipengensis Prain E 5 Senna siamea (Lam.) Irwin et Barneby N 2 Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Poiret E 1 Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels N 5 Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. E 1 Bambusa blumeana J.A. Schultes & J.H. Schultes E 1, 2, 3 Gigantochloa atroviolaceae Widjaja E 5 Bambusa vulgaris var. striata Schrad. Ex Wendl. cv. vitata Mcll. E 5 Bamboo Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Schizostachyum brachycladum (Kurz) E 5 Livistonia rotundifolia (Lam.) Mart. E 5 Licuala grandis H. Wendl. E 5 Roystonia regia (HBK) O.F. Cook E 5 Cryptostachys renda Bl. E 5 Mascarena lagenicaulis L.H. Bailey E 5 97 Palm * Services and values include: 1 Soil and water conservation including watershed management 2 Soil fertility 3 Biodiversity conservation 5 Aesthetic values 6 Religious values 7 Food 4 Cultural values Appendix Table 4. List of tree and other woody forest species considered to be critically endangered in all or part of their range from genetic conservation point of view. Scientific Name Family Distribution in the country: Widespread (W), Rare (R) or Local (L) Type of Threat* Threat Category** Kibatalia longifolia Merr. Apocynaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Cyathea microchlamys Holtt. Cyatheaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Hopea acuminata Merr. Dipterocarpaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Hopea basilanica (Foxw.) Slooten Dipterocarpaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Hopea cagayanensis (Foxw.) Slooten Dipterocarpaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Hopea foxworthyi Elmer Dipterocarpaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Hopea malibato Foxw. Dipterocarpaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Hopea mindanensis Foxw. Dipterocarpaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Philippines 98 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Hopea philppinensis Dyer Dipterocarpaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Hopea quisumbingiana Gutierrez Dipterocarpaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Hopea samarensis Gutierrez Dipterocarpaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Shorea astylosa Foxw. Dipterocarpaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Shorea malibato Foxw. Dipterocarpaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Vatica elliptica Foxw. Dipterocarpaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Vatica pachyphylla Merr. Dipterocarpaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Ctenitis paleolata Copel. Dryopteridaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Diospyros blancoi A DC. Ebenaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Diospyros brideliifolia Elmer Ebenaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Diospyros ceulifom Blume Ebenaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Diospyros poncei Merr. Ebenaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Rhododendron javenicum (Blume) Benn. var. schadenbergii (Warb.) Sleum. Ericaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Rhododendron kochii Stein Ericaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Rhododendron taxifolium Merr. Ericaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Reutealis trisperma (Blanco) Airy Shaw Euphorbiaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Hypericum pulogense Merr Hypericaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered lsoetes philippinensis Merr. & Peny Isoetaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Cinnamomum cebuense Kosterrn. Lauraceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Pterocarpus indicus Willd. forma indicus Fabaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Philippines Critically Endangered Critically Endangered Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Pterocarpus indicus Willd. forma echinatus (Pers.) Rojo Fabaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Thaumasianthes amplifolia (Merr.) Danser Loranthaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Aglaia pyriformis Merr. Meliaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Toona calantas Merr. & Rolfe Meliaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Syzygium nitidum Benth. Myrtaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Tristaniopsis decorticata (Merr.) Peter G. Wilson & Waterhouse Myrtaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Xanthostemon bracteatus Merr. Myrtaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Xanthostemon philippinensis Merr. Myrtaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Nepenthes argentii M. Jebb & M Cheek Nepenthaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Nepenthes memilliana Macfarlane Nepenthaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Nepenthes sibuyanensis J Nerz Nepenthaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Chionanthus clementis (Quisumb. & Merr.) Kiew Oleaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Chionanthus remotinervius (Merr.) Kiew Oleaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Olea palawanensis Kiew Oleaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Amesiella monticola J. Cootes & DP Banks Orchidaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Ascoglossum calopterum (Reichb. f.) Schlecter Orchidaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Ceratocentron fesseli Senghas Orchidaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Dendrobium schuetzei Rolfe Orchidaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Euanthe sanderiana (Reichb. f ) Schltr. Orchidaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Philippines 99 100 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Gastrochilus calceolaris (Buch.- Ham. ex J.E. Sm.) D.Do Orchidaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Paphiopedilum acrnodontum Schoser ex MW Wood Orchidaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Paphiopedilum adductum Asher Orchidaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Paphiopedilum anitum Golamco Orchidaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Paphiopedilum argus (ReichbX) Stein Orchidaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Paphiopedilum fowliei Birk Orchidaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Paphiopedilum haynaldianum (Reich b. f.) Stein Orchidaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Orchidaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Orchidaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Paphiopedilum urbanianum Fowlie Orchidaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Paphiopedilum usitanum O Gruss & J Roeth Orchidaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Phalaenopsis micholitzi Rolfe Orchidaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Phmgmorchls teretffolia LO Williams Orchidaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Vanda lamellata Lindl. var. calayan Valmayor & D. Tiu Orchidaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Areca parens Becc. Arecaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Calamus batanensis (Becc.) Baja-Lapls Arecaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Calamus jenningsianus Becc. Arecaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Calamus vinosus Becc. Arecaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Daemonorops affinis Becc. Arecaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Paphiopedilum hennisianum (MW Wood) Fowlie Paphiopedilum randii Fowlie Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 101 Daemonorops oligolepis Becc. Arecaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Daemonorops pannosus Becc. Arecaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Heterospathe calihons Fernando Arecaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Heterospathe dransfieldii Fernando Arecaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Heterospathe scitula Fernando Arecaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Heterospathe sibuyanensis Becc. Arecaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Heterospathe trispatha Fernando Arecaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Arecaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Arecaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Pinanga samarana Becc. Arecaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Pinanga sclerophylla Becc. Arecaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Pinanga sibuyanensis Becc. Arecaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Plectocomia elmeri Becc. Arecaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Peranema cyatheoides D. Don var. luzonicum (Copel.) Ching & S. H. Wu Peranemaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Platycerium coronarium (Koenig ex Miller) Desv. Polypodiaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Platycerium grande (Fee) Kunze Polypodiaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Podosorus angustatus Holtt. Polypodiaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Pteris calocarpa (Copel.) M. G. Price Pteridaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Pteris pachysora (Copel.) M. G. Price Pteridaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Rafflesia manillana Teschem. Rafflesiaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Rafflesia speciosa Barcelona B Fernando Rafflesiaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Pinanga batanensis Becc. Pinanga bicolana Fernando Philippines Critically Endangered Critically Endangered Critically Endangered Critically Endangered 102 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Rafflesia schadenbergiana Goppert ex Hieron Rafflesiaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Greeniopsis pubescens Merr. Rubiaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Villaria acutifolia (Elmer) Merr. Rubiaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Swinglea glutinosa (Blanco) Merr Rutaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Gongrospermum philippinense Radlk. Sapindaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Guioa palawanica Welzen Sapindaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Guioa parvifoliola Merr. Sapindaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Guioa reticulata Radlk. Sapindaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Coryphopteris borealis Holtt. Thelypteridaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Clerodendrum guadriloculare (Blanco) Merr. Lamiaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered Tectona philippiinensis Benth. B Hook. f. Lamiaceae Rare 1,2,6,7 Critically Endangered * Type of threat: 1 Forest cover reduction and degradation 2 3 4 5 6 Forest ecosystem diversity reduction and degradation Unsustainable logging Management intensification Competition for land use Urbanization 7 Habitat fragmentation 9 Acidification of soil and water 10 11 12 13 14 Pollutant emissions Pests and diseases Forest fires Drought and desertification Rising sea level 15 Others 8 Uncontrolled introduction of alien species **Threat categories are based on DENR Administrative Order No. 2007-01. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 103 Appendix Table 5. List of forest species whose genetic variability has been evaluated. Scientific Name Swietenia macrophylla King Calamus merrillii Becc. Calamus ornatus Becc. Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon Morphological Traits Adaptive and Production Characters Assessed Molecular Characterization E large tree, reaching a height of 30-40 m and girth of 3-4 m; trunk straight, cylindrical, with a buttressed base; bark rough, flaking off in small patches Young leaves Random Amplified Polymorphic N large-diameter, clustering, dioecious; dense sheath spines, fibrous brown to black; leaves alternate, grows up to 50-100 m Young leaves and shoots Isozyme analysis N Dull green sheaths, densely spiny, brown; stems 4-7 cm diameter, 20 m tall; canes 2-4 cm diameter; leaves coarse 3 m long, horizontal and recurved, alternatingly scattered Young leaves and shoots Isozyme analysis N large tree up to 45 m tall with a bole free of branches for 15-20 m and up to 100 cm in diameter, a thick, reticulately and deeply fissured bark; needles in bundles of (2-)3(-4), very slender and flexible Native (N) or Exotic (E) DNA Young needles (microsatellite analysis) Isozyme analysis Pterocarpus indicus Willd. N big tree, growing to 33 m in height and 2 m diameter; trunks usually fluted and buttressed to 7-m diameter at the base; crowns are large and bear many long branches; leaves are compound-pinnate, bearing about 12 alternate leaflets; leaflets are rather large, 7 x 3.5 to 11 x 55 cm and ovate to elliptic in shape Philippines Young leaves from seedlings Young leaves from trees Isozyme analysis 104 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources N Parashorea malaanonan (Blanco) Merr. A very large tree to 45 m tall; stem to 2 m in diameter, with large planklike buttresses to 4 m high, spreading to over 2.5 m., outer bark fissured; inner bark reddish. Leaves simple, elliptical or ovate, 8-16 x 3-12 cm, sometimes plicate, glabrous on both sides, the lower surface distinctly glaucous. Flowers white, in terminal or axillary racemes, the petals falling off separately. Fruit winged, the wings (calyx lobes) much longer than the nut, three longer wings 9-16 x 0.7-1.7 cm, the two shorter wings to 10 cm long; the nut ellipsoid or ovoid, 1.7 x 1.4 cm, finely pubescent. Leaves Isozyme analysis Mature leaves DNA (microsatellite) analysis Reference: Abasolo (2007), Abasolo et al. (2009), Delos Reyes et al. (2010), Gamboa-Lapitan and Jo. (2005), Quimado (2002) and Quimado et al. (2011). Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Appendix Table 6. Priority areas for plant conservation (Important Plant Areas or Important Plant Sites (DENR–PAWB, CI, & UP–CIDS 2002). Island & important plant area Province Batanes Islands Batanes Islands Protected Landscape & Seascape Luzon Peaks of Central Cordillera (1000 m a.s.l.) Abra, Mt Province, Benguet, Ifugao, and Ilocos Sur Provinces Mt Arayat National Park Tarlac, Pampanga and Nueva Ecija Bataan Natural Park & Subic Bay Forest Reserve Bataan and Zambales Mt Makiling Forest Reserve Batangas and Laguna Mt Palaypalay – Mt Mataas na Gulod National Park Cavite and Batangas Mt Isarog National Park Camarines Sur Isabela – Sierra Madre Isabela Aurora –Sierra Madre Aurora Mt Tapulao Zambales Northern Quezon (Central Sierra Madre) Quezon Southern Quezon (Central Sierra Madre) Quezon Bicol National Park – Mt Labo Camarines Sur Mindoro Mt Halcon Mindoro Occidental and Mindoro Oriental Naujan Lake National Park Mindoro Oriental Sibuyan Island Sibuyan Island Romblon Panay Central Panay Mountains: Madjaas–Baloi Complex Aklan, Capiz, Antique, and Iloilo Negros Mt Canlaon National Park Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental Cuernos de Negros Region Negros Oriental Philippines 105 106 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Samar Mt Cabalantian – Mt Capotoan Complex Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar Sohoton – Loquilocon area Eastern and Western Samar Mindanao Dinagat (Mt Kambinlio & Mt Redondo) Surigao del Norte Mimbilisan Protected Landscape Misamis Oriental North Diwata (Bislig, Mt Agtuuganon – Mt Pasian) Agusan Del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, and Surigao del Sur Mt Kaluayan – Kinabalian (Kimangkil Ridge), Bukidnon – Agusan del Norte border Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Davao, Davao del Sur, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur Mt Kitanglad Bukidnon Mt Kalatungan Range Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur Munai Tambo Complex (Kolambugan uplands & associated mountains Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur Lake Lanao Lanao del Sur Mt Piagayungan (Ragang) Complex Bukidnon, North Cotabato, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao Mt Butig / Lake Butig National Park Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao Marilog Forest Reserve, Bukidnon – Davao boundary Davao and Davao del Sur Mt Apo Range North Cotabato and Davao del Sur Mt Matutum Davao del Sur, Sarangani, and South Cotabato Mt Latian Complex (Sarangani Mountains) Davao del Sur and Sarangani Mt Malindang & Lake Duminagat Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga del Norte Calamian Islands Calamianes Palawan Palawan Northern Palawan Central Palawan Palawan Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Southern Palawan, including Balabac Group of Islands Palawan Leyte Mt Pangasugan & Anonang – Lobi Range Camiguin Island Mt Hibok-hibok Misamis Oriental Tawi-tawi Tawi-tawi Philippines 107 108 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Appendix Table 7. Potential seed production areas/Seed Sources by region. Region CAR R-1 R-2 Province Location/Barangay Benguet Bokod Yapes Community Watershed/Bobok Benguet Tuba Camp 4 Benguet Itogon Binga Benguet Baguio City Busol Watershed Pterocarpus indicus Eucapyptus camaldulensis P. kesiya Benguet Baguio City Forbes Park P. kesiya 35 Benguet Baguio City Camp John Hay P. kesiya 27 Ilocos Norte Ilocos Norte Pasuquin PFDPIN, Tadao Red gum 8 Gmelina arborea 12 Marcos Species No. of Candidate Plus Trees Town/City Pinus kesiya 30 26 30 30 Ilocos Norte Nueva Era Nueva Era Refo Project/ Poblacion Swietenia macrophylla 25 Ilocos Sur Bantay Refo Project/Caniaw P. indicus 12 Pangasinan Manleluag Spring Dipterocarpus Mangatarem Protected Landscape/ grandiflorus Malabobo 2 Pangasinan Manleluag Spring Pentacme Mangatarem Protected Landscape/ contorta Malabobo 4 Pangasinan Manleluag Spring Anisoptera Mangatarem Protected Landscape/ thurifera Malabobo 6 Pangasinan Manleluag Spring Mangatarem Protected Landscape/ P. indicus Malabobo 20 Cagayan Solana Maquirig G. arborea 55 Cagayan Peñablanca Callao S. macrophylla 75 Cagayan Claveria Claveria Experimental Forest/Kikiling Mixed Dipterocarps Bambang Salinas S. macrophylla 64 G. arborea 67 Nueva Vizcaya Nueva Vizcaya Nueva Vizcaya Quirino San Luis San Luis Nagtipunan Lower Magat Forest Reserve/Diadi Lower Magat Forest Reserve/Diadi Dipantan Philippines S. macrophylla G. arborea 202 108 54 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Region R-3 R-4A R-4B Province No. of Candidate Plus Trees Town/City Location/Barangay Mariveles Mariveles Refo Project/ Alas-asin Acacia auriculiformis 30 Nueva Ecija Carranglan Puncan P. indicus 24 Pampanga Arayat Mt. Arayat National Vitex Park/ San Juna Banio parviflora 13 Pampanga Angeles City Airforce City, Clarkfield V. parviflora 60 Tarlac Mayantoc Calao/San Jose S. macrophylla 36 Tarlac Mayantoc Calao/San Jose G. arborea 105 Batangas San Juan Imelda V. parviflora 100 Batangas Lobo Teak 76 Cavite Ternate Sawang Mt. Palaypalay National Park/ Malauyas, Sapang G. arborea 25 Cavite Ternate Mt. Palaypalay National Park/ Malauyas, Sapang A. auriculiformis Cavite Ternate Mt. Palaypalay National Park/ Malauyas, Sapang A. mangium Quezon Dolores Kinabuhayan S. macrophylla 95 Quezon Lucban Palola S. macrophylla 31 Quezon Lucban Palola P. indicus 37 Quezon Pagbilao Quezon National Park/ Malicboy S. macrophylla Quezon Lucena Quan’s Worth Farm/ Silangan Mayao V. parviflora 20 Mamburao Tagum/ San Luis P. indicus 29 Sta. Cruz Tagbungan Pinus merkusii 33 Bataan Occ. Mindoro Occ. Mindoro Species 117 5 109 R-5 Albay Guinobatan Agpay Polyscias nodosa 16 R-6 Aklan Tangalan Jawili Casuarina equisetifolia 35 Iloilo Dingle Bulabog Putian Nat. Park V. parviflora 11 Iloilo Dingle Bulabog Putian Nat. Park S. macrophylla Philippines 109 8 110 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Region R-7 R-8 R-9 Province Location/Barangay Iloilo Dingle Bulabog Putian Nat. Park G. arborea 10 Iloilo Leon Omambong P. indicus 34 Iloilo Lemery San Jose Pittrosporum pentandrum 23 Negros Occ. Bacolod City Bacolod Tree Park/ Alangilan C. equisetifolia 30 Cebu Minglanilla Camp 7 S. macrophylla 250 Cebu Minglanilla Camp 7 P. indicus 30 Cebu Minglanilla Camp 7 Dipterocarp species 25 Cebu Talisay City Juanay C. equisetifolia 28 Cebu Talisay City Juanay E. deglupta 43 Cebu Tabuelan Danison,Tigbawan C. equisetifolia 3 Cebu Tabuelan Danison,Tigbawan E. deglupta 4 Cebu Cebu City Cantipla A. mangium 29 Negros Oriental Mabinay Bulwang G. arborea 26 Siquijor Bogo V. parviflora 31 Siquijor Maria Umpas Liloan V. parviflora 29 Leyte Baybay VSU Forest Reservation Area Diospyrus philipinensis 5 Eastern Samar Quinapondan Buenavista D. grandiflorus 4 Eastern Samar Quinapondan Buenavista P. indicus 4 Eastern Samar Quinapondan Buenavista P. falcataria Eastern Samar Quinapondan Buenavista S. macrophylla Zamboanga Zamboanga City City Pasonanca Park P. plicata 9 Zamboanga Zamboanga City City Pasonanca Park S. macrophylla 7 Zamboanga Zamboanga Pasonanca Park City City Philippines Species No. of Candidate Plus Trees Town/City P. indicus 302 53 25 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Region R-10 R-11 R-13 Province Town/City Location/Barangay Species 111 No. of Candidate Plus Trees Zamboanga Zamboanga City City Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD)/P. indicus Outpost, Upper Dulian P. plicata Bukidnon Impasugong Impalutao Refo Project S. macrophylla 50 Bukidnon Impasugong Impalutao Refo Project P. contorta 48 Bukidnon Impasugong Impalutao Refo Project Agathis philippinensis 32 Bukidnon Kitaotao East Poblacion V. parviflora 88 Camiguin Guinsiliban So. Kibila, Cantaan V. parviflora 60 Compostela Nabunturan Valley G. arborea 25 Compostela Nabunturan Valley S. macrophylla 25 Compostela Nabunturan Valley E. deglupta 22 2 Compostela Mawab Valley Sta. Ana P. contorta 23 Compostela Mawab Valley Sta. Ana A. mangium 13 Davao del Norte Davao City New Loon, Mintal S. macrophylla 23 Davao del Norte Davao City New Loon, Mintal Tectona grandis 28 Davao del Norte Davao City New Loon, Mintal P. indicus 23 Davao del Norte Davao City New Loon, Mintal P. Contorta 47 Surigao del Sur Bislig City PICOP Resources/ Maharlika P. falcataria 28 Surigao del Sur Bislig City PICOP Resources/ Maharlika E. deglupta 17 Surigao del Sur Bislig City PICOP Resources/ Maharlika P. contorta 10 Agusan del Sur Butuan City Mandakpan P. falcataria 30 Reference: Development and Management of Forest Plantations in the Philippines: A guidebook. ERDB-DENR. 2010 Philippines 112 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Appendix Table 8. Policy issuances related to forest genetic resources conservation and sustainable use promulgated by the Philippine government Policy Nature of Policy DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2011-10 Declaring Cabusao Wetland Area Situated in Barangays Pandan and Biong in the Municipality of Cabusao, Camarines Sur as Critical Habitat pursuant to Section 25 of Republic Act No. 9147, otherwise known as the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act”, Rules 25.1-25.5 of Joint DENR-DA-PCSD Administrative Order No. 01, Series of 2004; and DENR Memorandum Circular No. 2 Series of 2007 “Guidelines on the Establishment and Management of Critical Habitat”, and in order to protect the habitat and population of the endemic and threatened Anas luzonica (Philippine duck) along with other species of wild fauna and flora, Cabusao Wetland Area situated in Barangays Pandan and Biong in the Municipality of Cabusao, Camarines Sur is hereby declared as Critical Habitat and shall be known as the “CABUSAO WETLAND CRITICAL HABITAT”. Executive Order (EO) No. 23 February 01, 2011 Declaring a Moratorium on the Cutting and Harvesting of Timber in the Natural and Residual Forests and Creating the Anti-illegal Logging Task Force Presidential Proclamation (PP) No.2011-139 Declaring Aliwagwag as as protected area under the category of protected landscape and its peripheral areas as buffer zone situated in the municipalities of Boston and Cateel, province of Davao Oriental and in the municipality of Compostela, Province of Compostela Valley and in the municipalities of Boston and Cateel, province of Davao Oriental pursuant to R.A. 7586 (NIPAS ACT of 1992 DENR Administrative Order No. 2010-03 Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9237 or “The Mount Apo Protected Area (MAPA) Act of 2003” Pursuant to Section 28 of Republic Act No. 9237, otherwise known as the Mount Apo Protected Area Act of 2003, this Administrative Order setting forth the rules and regulations governing the implementation of the Act is hereby promulgated DENR Administrative Order No. 2010-04 Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9154 Pursuant to Section 23 of Republic Act No. 9154, otherwise known as the Mount Kanlaon Natural Park Act of 2001, this Administrative Order sets the rules and regulations governing the implementation of RA DAO 2010-11 Revised Regulations Governing Forest Tree Seed and Seedling Production, Collection and Disposition DAO 2010-16 Establishing the “Adopt-A-Wildlife Species Program” and Providing the Guidelines Governing the Implementation Thereof” Pursuant to the provisions of R. A. No. 9147, otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, particularly on its avowed policy to conserve and protect wildlife species and their habitats to promote ecological balance and enhance biological diversity, and in order to provide additional avenues for the Local Government Units (LGUs), the private sector, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Peoples’ Organizations (POs), civil society groups and other interested individuals to participate in the government’s campaign to conserve biodiversity and prevent species extinction Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 113 DAO 2010-20 Revising the Technical Description of the Boundaries of Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL) and Designating its Buffer Zones pursuant to Section 4 of RA No 9486 otherwise known as the Central Cebu Protected Landscape Act of 2007 and Section 10(d) of RA 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations, and in line with Resolution No. 2010-05-01 of the CCPL Management Board, the following is hereby promulgated and adopted to set the final limits of the CCPL DAO No. 2009-01 Guidelines in Establishing the Wild Fauna Marking and Identification System Pursuant to the objectives of Republic Act 9147, otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001, and its Joint DENR-DA-PCSD Administrative Order No. 01, the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9147, and in compliance to Article VI of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a wild fauna marking and identification system is hereby established DAO No. 2009-09 Standard Design and Specification of Signs, Buildings, Facilities and Other Infrastructure That May Be Installed and/or Constructed Within Protected Areas Pursuant to Section 10 (l) and (m) of Republic Act No. 7586, otherwise known as the NIPAS Act of 1992 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and Executive Order No. 111, “Establishing the Guidelines for Ecotourism Development in the Philippines,” and all other laws/decrees, and to provide guidelines on the design and specification of signs, buildings, facilities PP No. 2009-1815 Designating Mt. Mantalingahan Mountain Range as Protected Landscape Area Upon recommendation of the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) hereby set aside and designate Mt. Mantalingahan Mountain Range situated in the Municipalities of Bataraza, Brooke’s Point, Sofronio Española, Quezon and Rizal, all in the Province of Palawan as “Protected Area under NIPAS and shall be known as Mt. Mantalingahan Protected Landscape, subject to prior rights and without prejudice to the rights of indigenous peoples as provided for in RA 8371, DENR Administrative Order No. 93-02 and other related rules and regulations DAO 2008-08 Guidelines on Self-Regulation of the Floriculture Industry for the Sustainable Management of Philippine Wild Flora Pursuant to Republic Act No. 9147, otherwise known as the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act”, its implementing rules and regulations, the Philippine Plant Conservation Strategy and Action Plan, and the Philippine commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), promulgated to encourage and support the floriculture industry to adopt selfregulation for the conservation and sustainable utilization of the Philippine wild flora. Philippines 114 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources DAO 2008-17 Amending Section 10 of DAO No. 25 Series of 1992 and Providing Criteria in the Identification and Procedures in the Delineation and/or Demarcation of Management Zones within Protected Areas Pursuant to Republic Act No. 7586 otherwise known as the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act (NIPAS Act) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and to rationalize the designation of management zones within protected areas, Section 10 of DAO 25, series of 1992 DAO 2008-18 Amending Section 8 of DENR Administrative Order No. 200445 - In order to further streamline the procedure for the issuance of Wildlife export/import-export clearance for non-CITES species, second sentence of paragraph 2, Section 8. ‘Exportation and Importation of Wildlife” of DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2004-55 DAO 2008-21 Amending DENR Administrative Order No. 2002-08 “Strengthening the Coastal Environment Program (CEP) through the Establishment of the Coastal and Marine Management Office (CMMO) - Pursuant to Executive Order No. 192 and consistent with the Integrated Coastal Management Strategy provided under Executive Order No. 533, the coastal and marine management functions of the CMMO pursuant to DENR A0 2002-08 are hereby transferred to the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) DAO 2008-24 Guidelines for the Assessment and Delineation of Boundaries Between Forestlands, National Parks and Agricultural Lands - Pursuant to the provisions of Section 4, Article XII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Executive Order No. 192, Republic Act No. 3092, Republic Act No. 7586 and Presidential Decree No. 705, as amended, Executive Order No. 318, DENR Administrative Order No. 2000-24 and other pertinent laws, rules and regulations DAO 2008-26 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA No. 7586 or the NIPAS Act of 1992 - Pursuant to Section 10(d) of the NIPAS Act and consistent with the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (R.A. No. 9147), Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act (R.A. No. 9072), Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (R.A. No. 7942), and other laws establishing the specific components of the NIPAS, DENR Administrative Order 25, Series of 1992 which is the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the NIPAS Act DAO 2007-01 Establishing the National List of Threatened Philippine Plants and their Categories, and the List of Other Wildlife Species - Pursuant to Section 22 of Republic Act No. 9147, otherwise known as the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act”, the National List of Threatened Philippine Plants and their categories DAO 2007-17 Rules and Regulations Governing Special Uses Within Protected Areas - Pursuant to RA 7586 otherwise known as the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 115 DAO 2007-24 Amending DAO 2007-01, “Establishing the National List of Threatened Philippine Plants and their Categories, and the List of Other Wildlife Species” - In order to ensure effective implementation of the provisions of DAO 2007-0 1 DAO 2007-34 Guidelines on Treasure Hunting in Caves Pursuant to Section 14 of the National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act (Republic Act No. 90723 and Sections 12, 13, 14 and 15 of its Implementing Rules and Regulations DMC 2007-02 Guidelines on the Establishment and Management of Critical Habitat - Pursuant to Sections 4 and 25 of Republic Act No. 9147, otherwise known as the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act”, Rules 25.1-25.5 of Joint DENR DA-PCSD Administrative Order No. 01, Series of 2004, and Executive Order No. 578 of 2006 DMC 2007-04 Procedure in Cave Classification - Pursuant to Republic Act No. 9072, otherwise known as the National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act of 2001, and Sections 10, 12 and 13 of its lmplementing Rules and Regulations, (DAO 2003-29), a Manual on Cave Classification is prescribed and adopted for all caves within public domain and private lands, including those found within protected areas for the guidance of all concerned Republic Act (RA) No. 9486 Central Cebu Protected Landscape Act of 2007 An act establishing Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve, the Mananga Watershed Forest Reserve, the Sudlon National Park, the Central Cebu National Park and the Kotkot Lusaran Watershed Forest Reserve into one protected area to be known as the Central Cebu Protected Landscape and for other purposes EO 2006-533 Adopting Integrated Coastal Management as a National Strategy to Ensure the Sustainable Development of the Country’s Coastal and Marine Environment and Resources and Establishing Supporting Mechanisms for its Implementation EO 2006-578 Establishing the National Policy on Biological Diversity, Prescribing its Implementation Throughout the Country, Particularly in the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Ecosystem and the Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor RA No. 9494 Mimbilisan Protected Landscape Act - An act declaring the Mimbilisan Watershed as a protected area under the category of protected landscape, providing for its management and for other purposes DAO 2005-21 Revised Guidelines on the Establishment and Management of Integrated Protected Areas Fund (IPAF) - Pursuant to Section 10 of RA 7586 otherwise known as the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations and in order to provide flexibility in accessing the IPAF DAO 2005-24 Guidelines on the Grant of Coastal Area Special Use Agreement - Pursuant to Executive Order No. 192 and pertinent provision of Republic Act No. 9 147(Wildlife Resources Act) Philippines 116 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Joint DENR-DA-PCSDNCIP AO No. 2005-01 Guidelines for Bioprospecting Activities in the Philippines 10/20/2009 Pursuant to the obligations of the Philippines under the Convention on Biological Diversity and other relevant international agreements, the provisions of Executive Order No. 247 (1995) as amended by Section 14 of the Wildlife Act (Republic Act No. 9147) and Section 35 of IPRA (Republic Act No. 8371), in relation to the NIPAS Act (Republic Act No.7586), the Local Government Code (Republic Act No. 7160), the SEP for Palawan Act (Republic Act No. 7611), the Fisheries Code (Republic Act No. 8550), the Seed Industry Development Act (Republic Act No. 7308), the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (Republic Act No. 8423) and other relevant laws DAO 2004-01 Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) Pursuant to Republic Act No. 9147 otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001. DAO No. 2004-15 Establishing the List of Terrestrial Threatened Species and Other Wildlife Species - Pursuant to Sections 5 22 of Republic Act No. 9147 otherwise known as the “Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act DAO No. 2004-17 Determining and Delineating the Actual Metes and Bounds of the Samar 10/05/2009 Specifying the Guidelines and Reference Points In Determining and Delineating the Actual Metes and Bounds of the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP), as established under Presidential Proclamation 442 date d August 13,2003 DAO No. 2004-32 Revised Guidelines on the Establishment and Management of Community-Based Program in Protected Areas - Pursuant to Republic Act No. 7586 (National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992), DENR Administrative Order No. 25, Series of 1992 (Implementing Rules and Regulations of NIPAS Act) and Executive Order No. 263 (Adopting Community-Based Forest Management as the National Strategy to Ensure the Sustainable Development of the Country’s Forestlands Resources and Providing Mechanisms for its Implementation), and to facilitate the implementation of the Community Based Program (CBP) in Protected Areas, DAO 2002-02 (Guidelines on the Establishment and Management of CommunityBased Program in Protected Areas) is revised DAO No. 2004-55 DENR Streamlining/Procedural Guidelines Pursuant to RA 9147 ; Pursuant to the provisions of the Joint DENR-DA-PCSD Administrative Order No. 01 Series of 2004 DAO No. 2004-62 Prescribing Fees and Other Guidelines on the Implementation of DENR A. O. Nos. 2004-55 and 2004-58 DAO No. 2004-65 Waiving Certain Provisions of DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2004-62 - Promulgated to give zoo owners, hobbyist, pet owners and private wildlife collectors the opportunity to have their wildlife stock and facilities registered with the DENR, the corresponding fees for the registration of threatened, non-threatend and exotic faunal species, as provided for under Section 3 of the DAO 2004-62 Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 117 DENR Memorandum Circular (DMC) 2004-06 Guidelines in the Integration of Rainforestation Farming Strategy Pursuant to the provisions of Executive Order No. 192 and in line with our commitment to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, the Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and the United Nations Forum on Forests, and to the principle of Sustainable Forest Management, the following guidelines for the integration of rainforestation farming strategy in the development of open areas and denuded forests to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in protected areas and other appropriate forest lands DMC 2004-09 Amending DMC 35, Series of 1993 - Pursuant to Republic Act No. 7586 or the NlPAS Act and in order to provide a more appropriate criteria that will suit the present biophysical and socio-economic conditions of protected areas in the country, the criteria and guidelines for the categorization of protected areas under NlPAS as provided under Annex A of DMC35 Series of 1993 is hereby amended DAO No. 2003-29 Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Republic Act No. 9072 Pursuant to Section 11 of Republic Act No. 9072 otherwise known as the “National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act”, this Administrative Order setting forth the rules and regulations governing the implementation of this Act DMC 2003-01 Harmonization IPRA and ENR Laws and Policies - issued in order to address the issues affecting the rights of the Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs)in relation to the implementation of the IPRA and ENR laws and policies PP 2003-426 Amending Proclamation No. 2152 Which Declared Parts of the Country as Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserves; by segregating there from certain portions of the Island of Panglao, Province of Bohol and reserving the same as a protected area pursuant to Republic Act No.7586 (NIPAS Act of 1992) to be known as Panglao Island Protected Seascape, under the administration of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, subject to valid private rights, if any there be, and actual ground survey. PP 2003-441 Central Cebu Protected Landscape - set aside, declare and consolidate the aforecited five reservations into one protected area, located in the Cities of Cebu, Talisay, Toledo and Danao and in the Municipalities of Minglanilla, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela and Balamban, Province of Cebu, as Protected Area under the category as Protected Landscape, subject to private rights and without prejudice to the rights of the Indigenous People as provided for in R.A. 8371, DENR Administrative Order No. 93-46902 and other rules and regulations if any PP 2003-442 Declaring the Samar Island Forest Reserve as a Protected Area and its Peripheral Area as a Buffer Zone Philippines 118 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources PP 2003-484 Amending Proclamation No. 416 and Re-naming as the “Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape” - amends ProclamationNo.416 dated 29 June 1994 which established the “Peñablanca Protected Landscape” by expanding its coverage to include certain parcels of lands of the public domain situated in the Municipality of Peñablanca, Province of Cagayan, embracing the forest, agricultural, caves and coastal ecosystems therein. and renaming the same as “Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape”, subject to existing recognized, and valid private rights and without prejudice to the rights of the indigenous people as provided for in RA 8371, DENR Administrative Order No. 93-02, and other relevant rules and regulations RA No. 9237 Mount Apo Protected Area Act of 2003 - act establishing Mount Apo as a protected area under the category of natural park and its peripheral areas as buffer zones, providing for its management, and for other purposes DAO 2002-31 Amending DENR Administrative Order No. 2000-83 - Pursuant to the Department’s thrust on the sustainable development of our natural resources and to generate revenues from the operation of the existing establishments in the form of fees and charges, DENR Administrative Order No. 2000-83 “Guidelines for the Management and Development of Small Islands, Including its Coastal Areas” is amended DAO No. 2002-02 Establishment and Management of Community-Based Program in Protected Areas - Pursuant to Republic Act No. 7586, otherwise known as the National Integrated Protected Areas Act (NIPAS Act) as implemented by DAO No. 25 series 1992, requiring a management planning strategy of protected areas and providing protection to qualified tenured migrant communities and interested indigenous people; and, EO No. 263 entitled “Adopting Community-Based Forest Management as the National Strategy to Ensure the Sustainable Development of the Country’s Forestlands Resources and Providing Mechanisms for its Implementation,” this Administrative Order is promulgated DAO No. 2001-02 Amending Relevant Provisions of DAO 2000-68 - issued to effectively implement the coastal and marine environment and biodiversity conservation programs and projects of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) the relevant provisions of the aforementioned Department Orders are hereby amended and other related programs/ projects and activities, be placed within the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau DMO 2001-06 Adoption of Prescribed Methods in Monitoring Biodiversity - All concerned Offices, officials, and personnel are directed to adopt the methods prescribed in the attached Biodiversity Monitoring System Manual in monitoring biodiversity in terrestrial and wetlands (freshwater and marine). The Manual was jointly prepared by Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau and the WB-Technical Assistance for Improving Biodiversity Conservation in Protected Areas of the Philippines Project through NORDECO. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 119 DMC 2001-11 Status of Biodiversity Monitoring System (BMS) Implementation and Results - prescribed the standard format which shall be used by PAWB and the Regional Offices, specifically PAWD, in the quarterly monitoring and evaluation of BMS implementation and results. The Regional Offices shall submit the accomplished forms to PAWB RA No. 9125 Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park (NSMNP) Act of 2001 - An act establishing the northern sierra madre mountain range within the province of isabela as a protected area and its peripheral areas as buffer zones providing for its management and for other purposes RA No. 9154 Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park Act of 2001 - An act establishing Mt. Kanlaon as a protected area and a peripheral area as a buffer zone providing for its management, and for other purposes DAO 2000-13 Guidelines on the Implementation of the Biodiversity Monitoring System (BMS) in Protected Areas - promulgated pursuant to Republic Act No. 7586 (NIPAS Act) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, in line with the Philippine commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and in order to provide up-to-date and comparable information on resources as basis for the management of protected areas DAO 2000-44 Provisions of DAO 96-29 and Guidelines for Community-Based Projects Within Protected Areas - issued pursuant to the action agenda of consolidating all forestry programs into an over-arching Sustainable Forest Management Program, DAO 96-29, the Rules and Regulations for the implementation of Executive Order No. 263, otherwise known as the Community-Based Forest Management Strategy, is hereby amended to align it with the provisions of Republic Act 7586, otherwise known as the National Integrated Protected Areas Systems (NIPAS) Act of 1192, and specifically to provide the following guidelines on the establishment and management of Community-Based Projects (CBP) within protected areas DAO 2000-51 Determining Fees for Access to and Sustainable Use of Resources in Protected Area - promulgated pursuant to the, provisions of Republic Act 7586 otherwise known as the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS). Act of 1992 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and in order to provide guidelines and principles in accessing and sustainably using resources in protected areas DAO 2000-89 Amending Sections 7, 8.2 and 9 of DAO No. 97-36, Series of 1997 Pursuant to Section 4 of E.O. 192, Series of 1987 of which the DENR is mandated to provide nature conservation awareness for the protection of the natural resources and in order to further strengthen the Dalaw-Turo capability, Sections 7,8.2 and 9 of DAO 97-36 dated December 15, 1997 is amended RA No. 8978 Mt. Katinglad Range Protected Area Act of 2000 - An act declaring that Mt. Kitanglad Range in the province of Bukidnon as a protected area and its peripheral areas as buffer zones, providing for its management and for other purposes Philippines 120 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources RA No. 8991 Batanes Protected Area Act of 2000 - An act to establish the Batanes Group of Islands and Islets as a protected area, and its peripheral waters as buffer zones, providing for its management and for other purposes RA No. 9106 Sagay Marine Reserve Law - An act for the establishment and management of sagay marine reserve, defining its scope coverage, and for other purposes Appendix Table 9. Wildfood plants in the Philippines forest Wildfood Plant Species Scientific Name Specific Food Value 1. Lubigan Acorus calamus L. Powdered rhizomes used as condiments 2. Biga Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) Stems and corms are eaten after roasting or boiling. Heating helps in destroying the harmful substance raphides. 3. Langkauas Alpinia pyramidata Blanco The rhizome is used as a condiment. Its flavor is similar to ginger, but much less pungent. It is also cooked with the sap of sugar cane or with honey and water produce an antitoxicating beverage. The young rhizome and tender underdeveloped shoots are eaten, as are also the flower and flowers buds. 4. Kulitis Amaranthus tricolor Young leaves and stems are boiled and eaten as vegetables. It is also used as a substitute for spinach. Pongapong Amorphophallus campanulatus (Roxb) Bl. ex Decne The petioles of young, unexpanded leaves are edible, when thoroughly cooked. When food is scarce, the corm is sometimes eaten. The leaves and corms are common feed for hogs. Antidesma bunius (L.) Spreng The fruits are seldom utilized in the Philippines and are left to be eaten by birds. However, they may be eaten out of the hand or made into an excellent wine and refreshing drink. They are also sometimes used in the preparation of various dishes as a substitute for tomato as vinegar. Leaves are eaten with rice when young. 5. 6. Bignai Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 121 7. Aunasin Ardisia pyramidalis (Cav.) Pers. The young leaf tips are used as greens, or cooked with meat or fish and eaten as vegetable. The flowers and fruits are cooked as flavoring for fish, as salad, the young leaves are blanched, then mixed with onions, tomatoes, garlic and salt. The young leaves are eaten by deer and the fruits by monkeys, wild pigs and birds. 8. Kaliso Areca caliso Becc. Bud is cooked and eaten as vegetables. Sap for inferior beverage. Fruits substitute for betel nut. Kaong Arenga pinnata (Wurmb) Merr. Kaong seeds are edible. The fleshy kernels of the right stage of endosperm are coked and eaten or made into sweets. The buds are eaten raw as an excellent salad or cooked as vegetables. The sweet sap is used in the production of sugar starch, vinegar and “tuba” (a native drink). 10. Gumayaka Arenga tremula Peduncles tapped for sap known as “tuba”. Buds eaten in large quantities cause profound sleep. 11. Zamboangita Asystasia gangetica Leaves and flowers are pot herbs, adjunct to fish and meat stew. 12. Api-api Avicennia officinalis The fruits or leaves are eaten raw or cooked. 13. Kawayan tinik Bambusa blumeana Schultes The young shoots are fairly tender are used for food. Bamboo shoots or labong are source of calcium and iron. It can also be cooked into dinengdeng together with saluyot or jute. 14. Botong Barringtonia asiatica (L.) Kurz The young shoots of this plant are eaten fresh. It is however slightly astringent. 15. Alibangbang parang Bauhinia malabarica Roxb. The leaves of this species are sour, and are used considerably by the Filipinos for flavoring meats and fish. Young leaves are eaten raw as a side dish to rice or cook with soups and stews. 16. Puriket Bidens pilosa Seeds are used in making Igorot wine called “sinitsit”. In the Mt. Province it is considered as vegetable. 9. Philippines 122 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 17. Tuai Bischofia javanica Blume. The young soft leaves are cooked and eaten as vegetables. 18. Busaing Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lam. Fruits boiled in water twice, the whole fruit, the second with its outer covering removed and eaten. Hypocotyl of germinating seed is edible. 19. Himbabao Allaenthus luzonicus (Blanco) F. Vill The young leaves and male inflorescence of Himbabao are cooked and eaten as vegetable. It could be cooked solely or in mixture with other vegetables such as eggplant, bitter melon, cabbage, sweet potatoes, etc., and seasoned with fish and tomatoes. Flowers are blanched and make a good salad. Alukon flowers can be mixed with moist and vegetable recipes. It tastes best when used in nilagang baboy, manok or baka, pinakbet and stir-fries with either meat or fish. 20. Limuran Calamus ornatus This palm species is a source of raw materials for the manufacture of furniture, basketry, fishtrap, hats, fans, and hats. Caryota cumingii Lodd. The seed of this species is used as a substitute for chewing. The sap is a source of “tuba” or palm wine. The bud is collected and used as vegetable. It is cooked with coconut milk or sometimes sauted with fish and meat. 22. Takip-kuhol Centella asiatica Eaten whole, raw or steamed, as salad, for stew or potherb and soup. Widely used as food because of high vitamin and mineral content in addition to carbohydrates and proteins. 23. San Francisco Codiaeum variegatum Young leaves are blanched for salad. It has a nutty flavor especially the yellow ones. 24. Adlai/Tigbi Coix lacryma-jobi The hulled grain analyses about the same as wheat but with a somewhat higher face content. It may be eaten like rice, and cracked as oatmeal. The flour mixed with one-third to one half wheat flour makes good bread, biscuits and hotcakes. It is considered as reserves for food in times of scarcity. 25. Alikbangon Commelina benghalensis Young leaves vegetables. 21. Pugahan Philippines are cooked and eaten as Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 123 Corchorus olitorius Cooked into dinendeng, pakbet or adobo. In Bengal it is very common to add a few leaves of the plant to the daily diet with rice, as it is considered to be tonic. Slaves from India made much use of it as vegetable. When cooked they are very mucilaginous and slimy. The flavor is very good. Corypha elata Roxb. Starch is obtained from the trunk like sago palm, sugar, syrup, vinegar and wine from the sap of the tender inflorescence, and excellent preserves are made from the immature seeds boiled in sugar. Cycas circinalis L. Young rolled leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Ripe seeds are crushed and soaked in several changes of water to remove the poisonous substance and died flourlike product is cooked into small cakes or as porridge. 29. Katmon Dillenia philippinensis Rolfe. The fruit is rounded and contains soft, fleshy, green pulp, with a flavor resembling that of the apple. It used for flavouring fish and it makes an excellent sauce or jam. It can also be eaten raw. 30. Balubo/Balobo Diplodiscus paniculatus Turcz. The seeds are starchy and eaten boiled like lima beans. 31. Paco Diplazium esculentum The young fronds are much desired and are eaten in all parts of the Islands, either raw or cooked. They are used as leafy vegetable or as an ingredient of stew or even pickled. Young fiddle heads are eaten as salad. 32. Apulid Eleocharis dulcis The tuber of this species are dark-colored, 2 to 3 cm in diameter and are boiled and eaten as a vegetable. Ficus nota (Blanco) Merr. The young leaves are cooked as vegetables and the fruits are eaten raw when ripe. The sap of the freshly cut stems also yields drinkable water. The fresh of the cyconium fruits are used for ice cream flavour. 26. Saluyot 27. Buri 28. Pitogo 33. Tibig 34. Balete 35. Pakiling Ficus balete Merr. Ficus ororata (Blanco) Merr. The young folded leaves are cooked as vegetables. Seeds are roasted and used as substitute for coffee. The fleshy portion of the fruit and seed are eaten raw. Philippines 124 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 36. Niog-niogan Ficus pseudopalma Blanco Young leaves are cooked and eaten as vegetable with coconut milk, meat or fish. 37. Bitongol Flacourtia rukam Zoll. & Mor. (Flac.) Bitongol is eaten off-head when fully ripe. It also make a good jam, pies and preserve and is popular in making pickle. 38. Kakawate Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Leaves used as adjunct to Filipino dish, adobo. 39. Bago Gnetum gnemon L. Young leaves, flowers and fruits are cooked with sea foods, an excellent side-dish. Ripe fruits are roasted and while hot, pounded into thin round cakes. These are cooked in boiling oil where they puff into a porous, crisp cake called “ Krupuk”. 40. Gumamela Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Pickles from the petals of the flowers and torta. Flower buds and leaves for salad, omelet and potherb. 41. Roselle/Red sorrel Hibiscus sabdariffa Young leaves may be used as substitute for spinach, or may be cooked with fish for meat in making sinigang. The calyx which is thick, fleshy and sour makes excellent jelly. The unripe fruit is adapted for pickles and a refreshing beverage is made from it. Roselle is used for making tarts, jellies, wine and a variety of other products. 42. Anahau Livistona rotundifolia (Lam.) Mart. The soft endosperm of this species is eaten raw or is made into preserves. The buds are cooked and eaten as vegetables with coconut milk. 43. Binunga Macaranga tanarius (L.) Muell-Arg. The bark, leaves and fruit are used in fermenting drink known as “basi”. The fruit is sometimes used for the same purpose. 44. Gabing-uak, upi-upi Monochoria vaginalis Tubers are eaten in the mountain of Luzon. In Malaysia the leaves are eaten raw or cooked. 45. Bangkoro Morinda citrifolia The fruit of this plant is eaten raw young leaves may leaves may serve as vegetable. 46. Pulau/Lauas Nymphaea nouchaii Seeds are eaten raw, petiole and corm cooked and eaten as a vegetable salad with various dressing, or as ingredients of stews. 47. Nipa Nypha fruticans The flesh of the young nuts makes good desserts or may be eaten raw. Sap is a source of vinegar and sugar. Heat cabbage (bud). Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 125 48. Beach pandan, screw pine Pandanus tectorius Soland. Fleshy portion of lower part of mature fruit eaten raw. 49. Pansitpansitan Peperomia pellucida Eaten as green salad 50. Iba Phyllanthus acida The fruit is about as large as a small grape, ribbed, pale green. Excellent for jelly and varying preserves and makes a good “ade”. Pisonia grandis The tender leaves make good greens, boiled, eaten with meat, butter and vinegar, when they resemble spinach, sometimes cooked with coconut milk. 51. Maluko/kolis Young leaves are eaten as vegetables. It is boiled to destroy the stinging crystals or raphides which are very abundant in the leaves. This is a famine food in India, while the Chinese eat the young leaves cooked. 52. Kiapo or Quiapo Pistia stratiotes L. 53. Hanapol Poikilospermum suaveolens Freshly cut stem exude water for drinking and cooking. 54. Golasiman, olasiman Portulaca oleracea Young leaves and stems are used as adjuncts to stews, meat and fish sinigang. It can be eaten as salad. The fatty or slimy quality of purslane is sometimes objectionable, but by chopping the cooked tip and then baking with bread crumbs and beaten egg, their disagreeable quality is entirely disguised. 55. Alagau Premna odorata Blanco Young leaves mixed with “hito”, a fresh water fish, when cooked with coconut milk. 56. Tangolon Quisqualis indica The tender shoots are cooked and eaten. 57. Sundang hari Rhoeo spathacea Young leaves potherb 58. Bakauan-babae Rhizophora mucronata Lam. Young leaves for potherb. Bark is used for flovouring of local wine “tuba”. 59. Atibulnak Rubus pectinelllus The fleshy pulp of the riped fruit is eaten raw by man, birds and deers. 60. Bikal Schizostachyum diffusum Freshly cut stems gives water for drinking 61. Malabulak Salmalia malabarica Schott & Endl. Buds, young pods and roots of seedlings are cooked and eaten. Philippines 126 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 62. Balatong aso, mongomongohan, andasasi Senna tora Young leaves for potherb and roasted seeds for coffee substitute. 63. Katuray Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers. The flowers and pods can be eaten raw or cooked in steam and prepared as an excellent salad. 64. Dampalit Sesuvium portulacastrum The stems and leaves when boiled are eaten as a vegetable. It is mixed with fish or meat. The leaves give a sour flavouring in the mixture. It could also be blanched and served as a salad dish with sliced tomatoes and fish sauce or salt. 65. Talongtalongan, tarumbulo Solanum cuminggi Dun. The unripe fruits are cooked with either fish or meat and eaten as vegetable. No analysis has been made so far on the constituents of its edible parts. 66. Kunti Solanum nigrum The riped fruits are picked and eaten raw. It is also prepared into jams and pies in the rural areas. The leaves and young shoots are cooked and eaten as vegetables like spinach. 67. Pagatpat Sonneratia alba J. Sm. The fruit is used for food and also for making vinegar. 68. Pedada Sonneratia caseolaris (L.) Engl. The fruits are cooked and eaten and are also a source of vinegar. 69. Malunggayhapon Souropus androgynus Leaves for stew or salad. 70. Kandikandilaan Stachytarfetta jamaicensis Leaves are for stew or omelette. The dried leaves are made to Brazilian tea. 71. Tuhod-manok Synedrella nodiflora Young shoots are eaten raw as salad or cooked. 72. Kalubkob Syzygium calubcob (C.B. Rob) Merr. The fruit when ripe is delicious and are eaten raw. 73. Lipote Syzygium polycephaloides (C.B. Rob) Merr. The edible part of this species is the fleshy portion of the fruit which is eaten raw. Fruits are mixed with wine for flavouring lambanog in Quezon. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 127 74. Yabyaban Maranta arundinaceae Corm and rhizomes are baked. Starch should be washed several times to eliminate bitter substance in the corm. Tacca flour or starch formed an agreeable food when eaten with sugar. And that mixed with white wine flour it is used in making bread. In preparing the flour, rub the tubers under water with rough stone, allow the starch to settle, pour out the water, and then dry the product. 75. Talinum Talinum triangulare Young leaves or stems are used as adjuncts to stews, meat and fish sinigang. It can be eaten as salad. 76. Kalumpit Terminalia microcarpa Decne. The fruit is eaten raw when ripe (violet-black color) and because of its fleshy and acidic characteristics, they are good for preserves. The ripe fruit are boiled and cooked with sugar, oftentimes fruits are sun-dried for longer storage. They can also be dehydrated or made into wine. 77. Toston Trianthema portulcastrum The plant is eaten as a leafy vegetable. 78. Gabigabihan, gabing nuno Typhonium trilobatum Rootstocks boiled, are eaten alone or with stems. 79. Hilagok, susong kalabau Uvaria rufa Fruits are eaten raw or cooked as vegetables. 80. Lagundi Vitex negundo Seeds are boiled and eaten. 81. Ambung Arenga ambong Becc. Buds are edible and can be eaten as salad. 82. Anahaw Livistonia rotundifolia (Lam.) Mart Anahaw buds are highly esteemed as a vegetable. Nuts are eaten when young and green. The rind is tasty when ripe. 83. Anibong Oncosperma gracilipes The young shoot buds (ubud) are edible. Corypha elata Roxb. Buri buds are eaten cooked or raw as salads. The kernels of the young fruits are processed into sweets. The trunk of the buri tree contains a good quality of starch even during its growing stage. The starch is collected when the tree dies. Buri sap is one of the sources of the fermented drink locally known as “tuba”. The fresh sweet sap is a good source of beverage and can be made into a good cidar when fermented. Fermentation takes place within 32 hours after the sap is obtained. 84. Buri Philippines 128 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 85. Sago The trunk contains plenty of starch deposits with high food value. A healthy mature tree may have about 6-7m long trunk containing starch. During World War II, sago starch served as a good substitute for rice and corn (staple food) in places where this plant abounds. At present, the starch also serves as substitute doe flour and has high demand in the world market. Sarawak (an island in Borneo) is the chief exporter of sago starch. Metroxylon sagu The pith can also be toasted and eaten although the taste is somewhat bitter. The shoot in some other palms is also edible. Sago palm can be extracted and made into wine, vinegar, or sugar. 86. Takipan Caryota rumphiana Mart. The young shoot bud (ubod) can be eaten raw or cooked. 87. Niog Cocos nucifera L. Fruits of coconut are edible and can be preserved as sweets. It yields oil for food and lard. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 129 Appendix Table 10. Forest species used as raw materials for holiday decors, wearables, gifts, and other novelty items. Common name/ Scientific name Scientific name Economic importance FOREST VINES Abuhab-baging (Strophantus caudatus (L.) Kurz) The stems are suitable for handicraft production. The species is also employed in traditional medicine, specially as a diuretic. Bulakan (Merremia peltata (L.) Merr.) Stems are collected for basket and handicraft production. Because of relatively inferior appearance and strength, the stem is utilized as substitute materials whenever the preferred species become scare or unavailable. In traditional medicine the species is employed as a purgative and a remedy of cough, diarrhea and worms. Leaves are used when washing hair and applied as poultices to sore breasts, ulcers and wounds. The leaf extract has antibacterial properties and a positive reaction to alkaloids. A drink from the juice of leaves is reputed to treat hernia. It is considered as one of the most damaging weed species in some industrial forest plantation in Indonesia (Narif Prantini, 1991). Hinggiw kalabaw (Streptocaulon baumii Decne.) An inherent strength and durability make hinggiw-kalabaw a preferred species in the vinecraft industry. The stems are made into basket and other handicraft products.traditionally, they have been used for tying purposes. However, the supply has significantly dwindled due to over harvesting and uncontrolled exploitation. Although not observed ion a 2002 field study in Tayabas, Quezon, the species may still be available in adjacent areas such as Dolores, Pagbilao and Mauban. In 1992 an estimated 1,117 lineal meters per hectare was recorded in Quezon ( Aragones et al. 1992). The latex of hinggiw-kalaban is used as a vulnerary. Lukmoy (Rhaphidophora monticola Krause) The aerial roots are ideal for weaving into baskets, handicrafts and other novelty items because of their uniform width. Leaf extracts have some traditional medicinal properties. Malagayaman (Pothos scandens L.) The aerial roots are good materials for making baskets and other handicrafts because of their uniform width. Malayaman is used in Thailand as a blood coagulant for wounds. Fruits and leaves are made into a compress. In Myanmar, the infusion of stems and leaves is drunk as “tea” (Boyce, 2000). Silong pugo (Pericampylus glaucus (Lam) Merr.) The stems are favorite raw materials for woven handicrafts such as baskets and bags because of their small diameter and uniform width. The species is also used in traditional medicine. The barks and roots are rich in the alkaloids menisidine and menisine and used as narcotic. The leaves are used to cure headache, cough and asthma. The sap is applied as an eye medicine. Philippines 130 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Tagolaway (Parameria laevigata (A.L.Juss) Moldenke) The stems are used in basket and handicraft production. The species is used in traditional medicine. It yields good quality rubber although the quantity obtained is not on a commercial scale. Wood rose (Merremia tuberose (L.) Rendle) In Europe,the woody fruits are used in flower arrangement. In the Philippines, the fruits are collected while still buds, air dried until they open and varnished or painted for flower arrangement and decoration purposes. Wood rose is employed in traditional medicine in Southeast Asia. The tuber is used as a drastic purgative. The roots contain 12-25% resin, which show allelopathic activity on the radicle of Amaranthus sp. wheat and oats. No antibacterial activity has been reported, however, against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. The species is also planted as an ornamental in Africa. SEEDS Gugo (Entada phaseoloides (L.) Merr.) Job`s tears (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) Kansasaga (Abrus precatorius L.) The bark fibers are strong and durable and converted into rope and raw materials for baskets and handicraft. The large and hard seeds are used for novelty items, while the large pods are made into coin purses. The plant is one of the chief sources of traditional hair wash throughout Southeast Asia. However, when using as hair wash, contact with the eyes should be avoided because the juice is irritating, painful and may even cause conjunctivitis. Gugo is widely employed in traditional medicine as remedial wash for pityriasis, wounds and itch and externally applied as a remedy for filariasis or elephantiasis. It is used to treat many other illnesses and complaints throughout Southeast Asia. Its medicinal use is traced to the presence of saponins in the bark, wood and seeds. Job`s tears is cultivated as an ornamental plant and more importantly for its beads, which are used in rosaries and jewelry. The soft shelled false fruit are easily husked, while the large kernels are eaten in the same way as rice. Job`s tears can substitute for rice in rice based recipes. Flour is produced from the kernels. The whole grains are fed to poultry. The species is also cultivated as fodder for cattle and horses. It reportedly has medicinal application. The peculiar beautiful and hard seeds are used for ornaments and handicrafts, particularly as beads in rosaries and necklaces and also in soldering jewelry. The species is widely used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of illnesses and diseases. It has a high reputation in the Ayurvedic, homeopathic, Unani and allopathic system of medicine. Seeds are used to treat conjunctivitis, malaria and dysentery in various parts of the world. The juice extracted from the roots and leaves are used to treat aphtha. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 131 FIBERS Abang abang [Curculigo capitulate (Lour.) Kuntze] It has been recently used as accents on basket and other handicraft products. False hair from the leaf fibers has been made by natives of the Camarines Province (Luzon, Philippines). It is used by children in Ifugao province (Luzon, Philippines) for warp in toy looms. The tough and thin leaves are used by natives of northern Thailand for wrapping just like banana leaves. Abang abang fibers are relatively hard in contrast to the cotton fibers and durable in humid, warm climate because they naturally resist fungi. Strong and durable garments have bee made from the fibers by natives of Borneo. The species is widely used in traditional medicine to treat several illnesses. In Peninsular Malaysia, an infusion of the leaves, stem tips and roots is used internally against fever. The flower and root decoction is taken as a cure for stomach aches and as a diuretic. The rhizome decoction is used to treat menorrhagia and applied as lotion against ophthalmia. It is widely employed as an ornamental plant in the Philippines. Indonesia, India, Africa, Europe, and the United States because of its inflorescence that resembles that of ground orchids. The fruit are known to be edible, taste like sweetened cucumber, and increase appetite. They are not extremely sweet by themselves, but leave a very sweet aftertaste. This is most noticeable when a sour substance is consumed after eating the fruits. The sweetness is provided by a protein known as curculin, which is synthesized in the fruits a week after pollination. Curculin`s sweet taste disappears rapidly after about 10 minutes. Anubing (Artocarpus ovatus Blanco) Bast fibers from the bark matted, dull, strong and durable, pinkish brown to yellowish brown with time, soft and pliable. Acquired after retting the bark for 3-4 weeks, they are beaten well to obtain uniform layered. Sheets or mats suitable for crude clothing or other novelty items. An appropriate volume of strips is twisted together to form tying materials. Latex (also known as anubing gum) from the species is a promising material for chewing gum. The species is suitable for purposes of requiring strength and durability such as house posts, telegraph poles and bridges based on its wood density. The bark decoction is applied against stomach ache. Mais (Zea mays L.) The modified leaves enclosing the ear (also known as husk) and the cob are made into ladies bags, hats, decors, novelty items and display items. Corn is widely used as a staple food. It is also used as a main raw materials and poultry feeds and in many industrial products. Philippines 132 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Patola (Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.) Mature and fibrous fruits are used as display items and for other handicraft products. Patola is a well known vegetable especially in the tropics. The immature fruits, young leaves and flower buds are cooked and used in soups, or sliced and dried for later use. Sweet cultivars are now available. Young fruits are eaten pickled. The plant also yields constituents for traditional medicine and cosmetic purposes especially in China and Japan. The seeds produce edible oil. The mature and ripe fruit are fibrous and very bitter due to the development of purgative substances, rendering them inedible. However, their internal fibrous network makes very good sponges. The sponges are easily extracted by removing the rind and the seeds, before and during World War II. The sponges were commercially important as filters in several kinds of engines because of good shock and sound absorbing properties. They were also used as lining in steel helmets and armored vehicles during the war. At present, they are harnessed as insulating materials (sound, shock and temperature), and as component of potholders, table mats, door and bath mats, insoles, sandals and gloves. DYE PLANTS Achuete (Bixa orellana L.) The red dye obtained from the seeds is widely used for coloring fabrics and for cosmetic purposes. Commonly sold in the local markets. It is often utilized as a food colorant in various parts of the country, particularly in rural areas. It is also used to tint butter and polishes for russet leather. The seeds contain a primary coloring material known as bixin, a carotenoid carboxylic acid and a harmless organic dye. The ethyl ester of bixin is used as a suspension in vegetable oil to color food a golden yellow. The dye obtained is sensitive to light and contains sulphur dioxide, limiting its use in food products and beverages. Although the color fades with light exposure, it is resistant to soap, alkaline and acids. A bark decoction is employed in febrile catarrhs and considered as an efficient remedy for some skin diseases. It has anticancer potential, according to Angeles (1986). The dye from the seeds is reported to purge gently. The leaves are said to be febrifugal. Cordage can be made from the bark fibers. The gum extracted from the bark is similar to gum Arabi. Achuete is also an ornamental tree and is often planted in home gardens and public parks. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 133 Binunga [Macaranga tanarius (L.) Muell.-Arg.] The bark yields a brown dye. The poles are frequently used for temporary construction and especially as parts of native houses not in contact with the ground. In southern Sumatra the poles serve as ladders for pepper growers. The wood is a favorite material for wooden shoes aside from being a good fuel wood. It also yields high quality pulp and may be used for particleboard, cement-bonded board, wood-wool board and plywood production. Binunga is used in traditional medicine in many ways. The powdered roots is an emetic for fevers. The root decoction is administered against haemoptysis. The leaf or root decoction is used in internal medicine. The root bark decoction is drank to treat diarrhea dysentery and fever, to clean wounds or applied after childbirth. The medicinal effects may be due to the tannins obtained from the bark and leaves. Hagonoy [Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H. Robinson] The leaves produce a yellow dye. The species is now considered as a very noxious weed in agriculture and range management. It is used as green manure and mulch crop and has also been employed in traditional medicine. The leaves are reportedly useful in controlling the weevil Cylus formacarius and the butterfly Phtorimae operculella in sweet potato, the nematode Heterosera marioni in black pepper, as well as the nematodes in sugarcane and tomato. Ipil Ipil [Leucaena leucoephala (Lam.) de Wit.] A dye has been extracted from the seed, pods and bark in Central America. In the Philippines, the brown dye obtained from the bark us used to color fishing nets. The dried pods are made into accents/decoration of polymer resin laminated trays and jewelry boxes. Ipil ipil is a multipurpose tree in Southeast Asia; fuel wood, shade, fodder, green manure, mulch, post, food, and often combination of these products. It is also turned into live fences, fire breaks, shelter belts, live support for vines such as pepper, vanilla, yam and passion fruits, and shade tree for coffee and cacao. The leaves are fed to ruminant animals or mixed with other green fodders. They are milled as a supplement to poultry feeds and the pelletized form is exported. The wood is used as fuel in households and industries such as ceramics; converted into charcoal, and processed into furniture and parquet flooring, chipboard, and plywood and pulp paper. The bole serves as post and prop for other crops like banana. The young shoots including the young leaflets and green seeds are eaten raw, cooked or mixed with other ingredients; substituted for soya beans, or used as additives to coffee after roasting. The species is also tapped in traditional medicine as an anthelmintic especially against ascaris and trichina. In the Philippines, the tree has been used for reforestation, afforestation, soil improvement, shade plant and nurse crop for a wide range of tropical trees and crops. Philippines 134 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Kakawate [Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth.ex Walp.] The leaves contain a brown dye coumarin. Kakawate is a widely known multipurpose tree. Before, it was mainly harnessed as a shade tree in crop plantations. But is has been integrated in several cropping systems as a shade tree in tea, cocoa, or coffee plantation; as live stake to support black pepper, vanilla and yam, and as soil stabilizer. The wood is used as firewood, charcoal, or sports and farm implements, and locally for furniture, construction and many other, the tree is also planted to stabilize soil prevent erosion and to reclaim denuded lands. Its leaves green stems and bark are used as forage for goats and cattle. The flowers are a source of nectar for bees. It is also employed in traditional medicine as antipuritic, antifungal and antirheumatism. Kamote [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lamk.] The leaves and stem yield a purple to reddish dye when boiled in water; kamote is widely cultivated for its edible tuber. The young leaves are used as vegetable; the young shoots are eaten as salad and also used as poultice. Lantana [Lantana camara (L.)] The leaves yield beige dye. Lantana is also employed in traditional medicine in Southeast Asia to heal cuts, ulcers and swelling and to treat rheumatism. A leaf flower decoction is used to treat constipation, as a febrifuge, diaphoretic and stimulant, and to relieve catarrh and bronchitis. A roots decoction is used to treat toothache, headache, inflammation, gonorrhea and leucorrhoea. Lantana is widely preferred as an ornamental plant in parks and as hedges. Lipay [Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC.] The leaves are sources of brown to violet dye. The species is also widely used in traditional medicine. The root infusion and ointment are used to cure cholera and elephantiasis, respectively. The root decoction acts as a diuretic, while syrup made from the hair of the pods is an anthelmintic. The plant extract exhibits analgesic and antipyretic effects. (Lauk et al., 1993). Mature seeds contain large amount of globulins and albumins, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium (Siddhuraju et al., 1996). The stems are suitable for handicraft manufacture. Breeding of lipay has been done such that cultivars, as the annual hervaceous vine M. pruriens cv. Group utilis is presently utilized as a cover crop and green manure throughout the tropics, as well as subtropical areas. It is one of the most widely used crops for reclaiming weed infested lands. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 135 Luyang dilaw (Curcuma longa L.) The bright yellow inner part of the rhizomes is a source of yellow dye for coloring and flavoring rice. The dye is also used to tint abaca fibers woven into the “tinalak” cloth of the Tibolis, but not as commonly used as the dyes from Morinda bracteata and Piper nigrum. To collect the rhizomes, the plant is uprooted and the rhizomes cut oof the stems, cleaned, pounded with mortar and boiled water. Abaca fibers are boild in the rhizome solution for several hours until the desired hue is obtained. The Ubo tribe of South Cotabato in Mindanao, Philippines cultivates luyang dilaw in their surroundings. Luyang dilaw is a widely known medicinal plant. The main rhizomes are used as a stomachic, carminative, haematic or styptic, hemorrhage jaundice and other liver troubles. It is also applied to relieve itch, small wounds, insects’ bites and many others. It has some insecticidal fungicidal and nematicidal properties making it a potential biocide. Makahiya (Mimosa pudica L.) The leaves are a source of a light green dye. The entire plant is extensively used as anti asthmatic, while the roots decoction is given as diuretic and also to treat dysmenorrhoea. The plant contains tannins that can be used in leather production. The young stems and leaves can cause poisoning. Makahiya can be used as a green manure, although it is regarded as a noxious weed especially in grazing lands. Prickly chaff flower (Achyranthes aspera L.) The leaves are source of light green dye suitable for coloring fabrics and other porous materials. The roots, seeds, and whole plant are widely used for medicinal purposes. The leaves are applied to wounds and to mature abscesses and boils. The root decoction is drank for rheumatism, stomach ache, menstruation pains, absence of menstruation or as an abortifacient. The plant sap is taken for dysentery and rheumatism. In Papua New Guinea, the leaves or roots are applied on boils and swollen legs. In Thailand, the roots serve as anti inflammatory and diuretic. Tayung tayungan (Indigofera tinctoria L.) It is a source of the indigo blue dye through touts in the tropics. It contains glucoside indicant, which is transformed by enzymatic hydrolosis into indoxyl (indigo white) and glucoside after soaking the plant in water. Indoxyl can then be oxidized to indigo blue. Tayung tayungan is also used as cover crop and as green manure, especially in tea, coffee and rubber plantation, the leaves are used in traditional medicine for epilepsy and nervous disorders and to heal sores and ulcers. Ulasiman (Portulaca oleracea L.) A beige dye is extracted from the leaves. Ulasiman is employed in various ways in traditional medicine. It is also a host to root knot nematodes Meloidogyne arenaria M. incognita and M.incognita var. acrita, damping off fungus Rhizoctonia solani, curly top virus, and white fungus Albugo portulaceae. The plant is believed to be among the earliest vegetable. The leaves and tips are cooked as vegetable, and sometimes eaten as green salad. Philippines 136 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources BAMBOOS Buddha`s belly bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. Ex Wendl. Cv wamin McClure) The culms are made for handicrafts such as candle holders and pencil holders and also furniture. It is preferred as an ornamental plant and much used for landscaping or cultivated in pots. Puser [Cyrtochloa fenixii (Gamble) S. Dransf.] It is presently utilized as raw materials (although unknowing by the furniture and handicraft industries) in a variety of products such as decorative hats, mats, fans, baskets and “kaings and bilaos”. It also serves as fences and crop trellises. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources COMMON NAME/ SCIENTIFIC NAME 137 ECONOMIC USES FERNS Kabkab [Drynaria quercifolia (L.) J.Smith] Foliage leaves are used in floral arrangement. Species are widely grown as an ornamental plant even as hanging plant. Rhizome decoction used as an astringent and said to be anthelminthic in concentrated form. Pounded leaves are applied to swellings as poultice; diluted juice sprinkled over a patient head to treat fever, also remedy for stomach aches and cough. Alkaloids are found in leaves and rhizomes; saponins and oxalic and formic acids are also found in leaves. Lagolo (Acrostichum speciosum Wild.) Split or whole stems are used in making Venetian blinds, partition walling and similar items and handicrafts. Rhizome with medicinal properties as vulnerary especially in healing ulcers and as emollient. Powdered rhizomes topically applied to wounds and boils in Malaya and Borneo. Fertile fronds mixed with rhizomes are used against syphilitic ulcers. Tilob (Dicranopteris linearis (Burm.) Underw.) A favorite weaving material are handicrafts owing to its durability and strength. Fronds sometimes used as accents in floral arrangement. Splints from rachises laces into excellent necklaces, bags, bracelets, placemats, and belts. Stems are also woven into partition walls for houses, fish traps, chair or stool seats, caps, and pouches. Oldest stems make the best pens for domestic animals. Young leaves are applied as poultice. Leaf infusion and decoction have antifungal activities; sometime drank to cure fever; laxative; antiasthmatic; also a cure for thrush. HERBS Bamban [Donax canniformis (G.Forster) K. Schumann] Stems are made into hats, laundry and waste baskets, bags, mats, trays, flower pots, holders, tables, magazine racks, bookshelves, musical instruments and fish traps. Also used in stitching thatch and for tying purpose. Stems formed into blowpipe darts in Malaysia. Pith of the stem suitable for papermaking, and leaves for cigarette paper in New Guinea. All plant parts with medicinal properties and used especially by inhabitants of areas where the plant is available. Rhizomes are said to be edible. Flesh portion of the fruit is eaten raw. Guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) Inflorescence is used in floral décor. Leaf stalks are used purely or in combination with other materials to make mats, Venetian blinds, partition and handicrafts items. A preferred forage species owing to its good quality and palatability to ruminants in grazed pastures or in cut and carry systems. Gumi gumi (Xyris complanata R. Br) Flowers are dried and used as floral décor. The naturally twisted scapes (Floral stem/stalks) are woven with other materials into mats, blinds and partition inflorescence with medicinal values. Cultivated as an ornamental species. Philippines 138 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Lubigan (Lepironia articulate (Retz.) Domin) Whole or split stems are made into mats, bags, basket, window blind, and other similar items. Stems pounded with hard and heavy objects until flat and ready for weaving. In Borneo and South Sumatra, the mats are used in packing tobacco, rubber, kapok, cotton, cane sugar and other products and for transporting food items such as rice, salts, and dried fish. Rhizome is reported to be edible. Ragiw [Rhynchospra corymbosa (L.) Britton] Inflorescence are used in floral décor. Whole or split fibers from the stems are fashioned into mats, sandals, baskets, screens, novelties, and similar items. It is also plowed in the fields as green manure for rice. Vetiver [Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash] Leaves are woven into bags, mats, mail holders, and other handicraft items. Leafstalks also made into hats. Leaves sometimes used as thatching; young leaves good forage material. Rhizomes and roots the sources of the well known “vertiver oil” obtained by steam distillation and used in perfumes, deodorants, soaps, and toiletries. Vetiver oil with medicinal value as a carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, refrigerant, stomach, tonic, antispasmodic and sudorific. Also has an insecticidal and insect repellant property. Roots woven into prized fans for their agreeable odor. Rhizomes and roots moistened to five pleasant smells to a room moistened to give a pleasant smell to a room and cooling screen. Dry powdered roots and rhizomes inserted in between clothes as deodorize and insect repellant. Species used in erosion control owing to its dense downward root system up to 4 m deep that effectively anchors strips of plant behind it. Pandan Pandan dagat (Pandanus odoratissimus L.f.) Leaves converted into strips that are woven into small handbags and containers to large floor mats or light interior wall panels. Also made into strong and durable “sabotan” hats and sometimes used for thatching. Leaf fibers suitable for hand made papermaking. Fragrant oil from the male florescence known as “kewda oil”. Characteristic aroma of kewda oil due to 2 phenylethyl methyl ether (about 66-85% and terpinen-4-ol (9-21). Oil a stimulants and antispasmodic. Also used to flavor tobacco and betel and to scent clothes, bouquets, lotion, cosmetics, soaps, hair oil and incense sticks. Roots with diuretic effects. Species planted as live fence, coastal windbreaks and soil stabilizer. Vayasubas (Freycinetia formosan Hemsl.) Aerial or prop roots made into high quality handicrafts such as baskets, fans, hats, coin purses and similar items. Sustainable as strong ropes. Inflorescence sometimes used as emergency food. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources 139 SEED FRUIT LEAVES Araucaria (Araucaria spp.) Leaves as components in floral décor. Timber used in all kinds of construction and interior works like mouldings, linings, paneling, domestic flooring, furniture and cabinet work and other special application such as matches, match boxes, broom handle, chopstick, agricultural implement and aircraft frames. Several species used as ornamental and Christmas trees. Seed of several species edible. Auri (Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. Ex Benth.) Dried fruits(pods) used in floral decors. Timber suitable for furniture and cabinet making, construction, floor and window frames, moulding, boat building, carts, wheels, joinery, turnery, oil crusher, tool handle and agricultural implements. Auri a reforestation and an afforestaion species. Planted as an ornamental tree along roads for its beautiful, bright yellow inflorescence. Used for erosion control and as a shade tree in western Malesia including the Philippines. Balitbitan (Cynometra ramiflora) Dried fruits used in floral décor. Wood heavy, hard, only moderately durable but still suitable for interior construction, tool handles and woodcraft. Species an ornamental wayside tree owing to the beautiful juvenile leaves. Banaba [Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers.] Dried fruit used for novelty items, interior décor, hanging décor, and similar items. Wood used for medium heavy construction under cover ( post, beams, scantlings, door and window frames), bridge and wharf building, boat building, and others. Also suitable for sliced veneer and plywood production. Species cultivation for ornamental purposes and as a nature park tree. Bark with medicinal properties. Bitaog (Calophyllum inophyllum L.) Dried fruits used in floral decors. Oil from the seed used for lighting purposes, soap making, and skin care product such as creams, lotions ad cosmetic. Timber obtained in fairly quantities and suitable for construction, furniture and cabinets’ works, cartwheel hubs, vessels, musical instruments, canoes and boats. Fruit edible. Dungon late (Heritiera littoralis Aiton) Dried fruits used together with other materials for floral décor and similar items. Wood heavy and suitable for uses requiring strength and durability; has high energy value and ideal for firewood and charcoal. Tannins from the bark used in toughening fishing nets. Seeds edible; seed extract used to treat diarrhea and dysentery. Root used as fish poison. Philippines 140 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Fringon (Bauhinia spp.) Seeds used in floral décor. Species planted as an ornamental or road side tree for its beautiful flowers. Leave and barks with medicinal properties, and well known for their astringent, anthelmintic, carminative and diuretic effects. Also use against diarrhea and cough. Flowers said to be a laxative and used in curries and pickles. Bark a source of bast fiber. Species a source of a lectin with an affinity to galactose and lactose, which are widely applied in biochemical, histochemical and immunochemical studies in medicine. Also reported to have stimulatory effects on thyroid function without hepatotoxic effects. Kalumpang (Sterculia foetida L.) Fruits crafted into novelty items and seeds into necklaces and beads for handicrafts. Wood used for temporary construction and also for sidings, ceilings, and partitions. Seeds may be slightly poisonous when fresh but edible and may also be a source of oil for illuminants and paints. Leaves and flowers with some medicinal properties. Trees planted for shade. Natural dye extracted from the fruit rind. Beautiful, ribbon-like bast fibers, suitable for handicrafts. Lipay (Macuna spp.) Seeds hard and made into bead chain (charms key chains) and other novelty items. Seeds with traditional medicinal properties. M. pruniens widely grown as a cover crop and green manure. Its stem likewise used in handicraft production such as basket, bags and similar items. Narra (Pterocarpus indicus Willd.) Fruits as components in floral décor. Wood used as structural timber for light to heavy construction, joist, rafters, beams and interior finish. Ranks among the finest for furniture, paneling, musical instruments, high grade cabinets work, high class interior joinery, billiard tables, decorative flooring for both light and heavy traffic and many other purposes. A resinous substance called “kino” or “sangre de drago” exuded by the bark and considered as a powerful stringent. Boiled, shredded bark used against diarrhea and dysentery, sometimes as diuretic. Also has tanning properties and yields a reddish or yellowish dye. Tree extensively used for ornamental purposes or for shade especially in Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Also reforestation species to stabilize denuded and marginal soils since the roots can fix atmospheric nitrogen. Flowers and young leaves reported edible. Palosanto (Triplaris cumingiana Fisch. & Mey) Dried flower used in floral décors. Species planted for ornamental purposes. Philippines Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Pili (Canarium ovatum Engl.) Talisai (Terminalia catappa L.) 141 Fruit nut shield crafted into novelty items and decors and make for excellent cooking fuel. Wood used for temporary construction and as firewood. Kernels or nuts used for various confectionary and bakery product. Boiled pulp edible and yield oil for cooking and illumination. Resin suitable for similar purposes as Manila elemi. Young shoot and leaves edible. Trees planted as wind breaks, as ornamental and for shade along roads and highways. Bark a source of tannin. Roasted kernels serve as laxative. Oleoresin applied to relieve pain from arthritis and rheumatism and also n boils, abscesses and furuncles. Dried fruits used with other materials in floral décor. Wood, suitable for house and boat construction furniture and cabinet making. Bark and leaves used for tanning leather, dyeing cloth and making ink. Seeds edible. Trees commonly planted for shade and as ornamental along roads and in gardens. Oil from seed used medicinally as a substitute for true almond oil. Leaves sudorific and aookued ti rheumatic joints. Tannins from the leaves and bark used as astringent in dysentery gastric fever, bilious diarrhea and thrush; also as diuretic and cardiotonic and applied externally on eruptions. A decoction of old leaves (red leaves) used as vermifuge. Fruits purgative. Crushed flowers mixed with water and drank to incude sterility. Sap of young leaves mixed and cooked with the seed oil said to be specific against leprosy. Philippines 142 Country Report on Forest Genetic Resources Voyavoy (Phoenix loureiroi Kunth var. loureiroi) The hard, durable and rain resistant leaves used as fence. Leaflets with a variety of domestic application such as the production of mats, hats, baskets, brooms, and the famous raincapes “vakol” and “suot” , the latter being the hooded capes worn by women. Apical bud eaten as vegetable. Fruits sweet and commonly eaten by children, the floury pith cooked in many ways. Wades pitogo (Cycas wadei Merr.) Seeds used as hanging décor. Species as an ornamental tree gardens and parks. TREES Kaitana (Zanthoxylum limonella (Dennst.) Alston) Wood is a favorite material for carvings and small decorative novelty items. Also for house, building (planking, rafters, scantings),furniture, small articles such as jewelry box, kris handle and sheaths, axe handle, walking sticks, inlay works and gun stock. Fruits used as spice and yields an essential oil with medicinal properties. Pounded bark mixed with oil externally used for stomach ache; a bark decoction used fro chest pains. Chewed bark applied to snake bite. Fibrous materials from the roots used to caulk canoes. Raintree (Acacia) [Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr.] Wood is good for wood carving, wall paneling, furniture, cabinet, kitchen utensils and boat building. Also planted as an ornamental tree for shade and forage. Leaf and bark decoction used as medicine. Alkaloids found in barks, stems, leaves, and seeds. Philippines Prepared and published by the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau College, Laguna, Philippines February 2012 Department of Environment and Natural Resources