GESCIE+_ACTIVITY 9.

1_SUSTAINING BIODIVERSITY

A concrete road is about to be constructed in an old-growth forest in Lobo, Batangas to

connect the hinterland barangays to the nearest town where healthcare and other
government services are accessible. However, the road construction would mean the
destruction of semi-deciduous forests where critically endangered Philippine teak
(Tectona philippinensis) are thriving. Given that you are the Mayor of Lobo, Batangas,
what would you do?

The Philippine Teak is an endemic backwoods tree species. It is a little to

medium estimated tree with brilliant purple blossoms. The species can accomplish a
stature of 15 to 25 meters and a distance across of around 50 centimeters. It has leaves
which are 8 to 15 cm long and 3 to 6 cm wide circular to praise lanceolate, taper, light
green above and pale underneath with harsh surface. It has terminal blossoms at times
in the upper axils around 8 x 10 mm in measurement. The natural products are little
which are encased in amplified industrious calyx with hard endocarp and slender
exocarp. The seeds are elliptical. It has grayish trunk with slim chipping bark like that of
guava. The wood is hard and weighty with relative thickness of 0.710. It is light yellow
with somewhat wavy grain. The surface is fine also, lustrous.

The species produces significant lumber. As a result of its high-thickness and high-
strength wood, the species is suggested for heavyduty primary uses, for example, for
building ships what's more, boats, spans and wharves, mine lumber, posts and shafts,
railroad carriage what's more, for substantial furnishings, carpentry and wood cutting. It
is likewise utilized as kindling.

The decoction of the species new dried leaves is utilized for feminine problems and
hemorrhages. The oil from the nuts is used as hair cultivator or can be applied to treat
skin aggravations.

As the Mayor of Lobo, I will look in view of IUCN Red List of Threatened Species,
as the Philippine Teak is fundamentally jeopardized because of its proceeding with
decrease in region of inhabitance and degree of environment due to farming and
metropolitan development just as immediate misuse of the species. As I weigh between
the importance of both road construction and the Philippine Teak, I can say that it is not
necessary to choose between the two as we can continue the construction while
propagating the endangered species we are protecting.

Similarly, it is additionally in the rundown of fundamentally imperiled species according

to DENR-DAO 2007- 01. The species can be found in beach front to marsh limestone
timberland. It is normally found in bushes and optional woodlands at low heights in
Batangas, Iling Island in Mindoro also, in Mt. Makiling, Laguna. It likewise flourishes in
the leftover patches of molave woods and in gorge and chasm and on the alleviation
limestone slopes with around 18 to 30 degree slant.

The species will in general rule the semideciduous woods. It happens in affiliation with
Terminalia polyantha. Others related species incorporate Vitex parviflora, Tamarindus
indicus, Mangifera indica, Ceiba pentandra, Parkia roxburghii, Syzygium spp., and Ficus
spp.

An examination on the conceptive phenology of the species in Lobo, Batangas

uncovered that overall blossoming was seen to those test trees that had a place with
huge breadth at bosom tallness. Blooming in trees with at least less than 30 cm
measurement happens during the beginning of the southwest storm in June to mid-July
while masting (mass cultivating) starts in August also, organic products developed in
September. While major leaf flushing happens during September to January until the
populace got leafless in summer.

Likewise, proliferation rehearses for its nearby relative Tectona grandis can likewise be
applied for Philippine Teak. Nonetheless, in the nonattendance of value seeds,
vegetative proliferation utilizing stem cuttings can be utilized all things considered.
Additionally, an examination on the proliferation of the species utilizing direct cultivating,
uncovered root wildlings and cuttings uncovered that cuttings is more achievable and
fruitful. Another examination shown that for better development and endurance of
seedlings in the nursery, utilization of biocore at 20g/established cutting is suggested.
Based from the consequences of the investigation on the Response Philippine Teak
seedlings applied with 20g of biocore/established cuttings improved seedling stature,
distance across, % natural issue and % nitrogen contrasted with the control and other
medicines. Also, ERDB has on-going concentrate on the macropropagation of
Philippine Teak, in this way, results convention on the species spread will before long
be accessible.

Sources:

http://erdb.denr.gov.ph/2017/11/07/volume-29-no-1-philippine-teak-tectona-
philippinensis-benth-hook-f/

https://philjournalsci.dost.gov.ph/home-1/48-vol-145-no-3-september-2016/606-
xerophytic-characteristics-of-tectona-philippinensis-benth-hook-f

https://binhi.ph/tree/philippine-teak/

Mutia, Aila G.

BS Criminology 2A