FORESTS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND THEIR IMPORTANCE Our country has one of the world’s most biologically rich tropical forests (now it is one of the most severely deforested countries). Forest is a dense growth of trees, together with other plants, covering a large area of land. In this module, we will be more aware about the types of forests seen in the Philippines, their uses, and where these forests can be found. Forests and biodiversity are keys to all life forms. The richer the diversity of life, the greater the opportunity for medical discoveries, economic development and adaptive responses to such new challenges as climate change. Table 13.1 Types of Forests TYPES OF FORESTS (CHARACTERISTICS DIPTEROCARP _ | A forest made up of tall trees with branchless trunks. It produces famous commercial Philippine wood like, yakal, apitong, tangile and buan. Dipterocarp is the most valuable and extensive type of forest in the Philippines. It is also the common and the most important of all types of forest. There are two types of Pine Forest: The Mindoro Pine, which is found in Mindoro and Zambales, and ‘The Benguet Pine found in Candelaria, Quezon. Mindoro Pine - is a’ medium-sized to large tree attaining a height of 25-45 m and a trunk diameter of up to Im. The bark is orange-red, thick and deeply fissured at the base of the trunk, and thin and flaky in the upper crown. The leaves or “needles” are in pairs or occur in groups of two, very slender, measures 15-20 cm long and less than Imm thick, green to yellowish green. Benguet Pine ~ A large tree which can grow to 35m in height. The needles grow in cluster of three, and measure 12 to 24 cm. It is distributed from Burma and IndoChina and the Philippines. It is common. in Northern Luzon at high elevations, where it is, widely cultivated. It grows poorly at low altitudes 2Tmonsoonal forest which the western Philippines The molave forest is a di ft found only in parts of the ¥ According (contral Luzon, Mindoro and Palawan). 's 1 type makes up to Agaloos (1984), the molave Eee. fe only 3% of the total forest azea of he PHAIPD UT usually included in the category ae attaining a 1981). Molave is a medium to large tree ann a diameter of 100 to 150 centimeters ancl eight 25 to 30 meters Its a tree that grows imegularly, short, crooked, and has a fluted bole with thick, lo medium, to moderately lege bess = BEACH Itis a narrow strip of woodland along the sandy a wz _| gravely beaches of the seacoast. The beach forest used to occur on coastal areas and is a transition between the mangrove forest and other forest types inland. For all practical purposes, beach forests no longer exists in the Philippines (Agaloos 1984) or Southeast Asia (Whitmore 1984) MANGROVES [Mangroves forests are also known as the “rainforest of the sea.” It grows well in tropical countries, including the Philippines. Mangroves are an important part of the coastal and marine ecosystem that are restricted to coastal fringes and tidal flats And now occupy approximately: 1,391 km?, They have been subjected to intense pressure becatice their woods are valuable for fuel (charcoal) and ae ancl many of them have been converted to shponds, The mossy forest (also referred cloud forest in the literature forest by the FMB) is fou . usually above, 1800 miki Pane ae rest and has tributed throughout soil- holding functions, eeyeater, and. to as mountain or and unproductive To conserve and protect the forest, the old have been placed under the N. Ecologically, the forest gives invalu, by providing watersheds for rivers, and regulator of water flows and cirben a multitude of animal and plant life utmost importance. Its destruction will hav of potential resource for wood and hab Feas Systems (NIPAS). als to the country bi Ton Protector of soils op peviding habitats for a ea '¢ forest is they if satan ™NB Of the capacity'of the 92 .biosphere to regulate atmospheric and hydrospheric cycles; loss of wildlife hal and species; soil erosion; siltation; flooding; and landslide. 13.1 Importance of Forests 1. Climate Control Climate control and atmosphere purification is a key for human exist- ence. Trees and soils help regulate atmospheric temperatures through a process called evapotranspiration. This helps to stabilize the climate. Additionally, they enrich the atmos phere by absorbing bad gases (exam- ple CO, and other greenhouse gases) and producing oxygen. Trees also help to remove air pollutants. 2. Habitat and Ecosystems Forests serve as a home to millions of animals. Think of the many types of reptiles (snakes and lizards) wild animals, butterflies and insects, birds and tree-top animals as well as all those that live in the forest streams and rivers. Animals iorm part of the food chain in the forests. All these different animals and plants are called biodiversity, and the interaction with one another and with their physical environment is what we call ecosystem. Healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters such as floods and wildfires. 3. Watershed Forests serve as a watershed. This is because almost all water ultimately comes from rivers and lakes and from forest-derived water tables, Some rivers running through forests are also kept cool and from drying out. La Mesa is one of the watersheds that we have in the country.Economic Benefits Forests are of immense economic importance to us. For example, plantation forests provide humans with timber and wood, which is exported and used in all parts of the world. They also provide tourism income to inhabitants (people living in or close to forests) when people visit to see the best of nature economic importance of forests.