Background of the Study

According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, forest includes natural

forests and forest plantations. It is used to refer to land with a tree canopy cover of more
than 10 percent and area of more than 0.5 hectare. Forests are determined both by the
presence of trees and the absence of other predominant land uses. The trees should be
able to reach a minimum height of 5 meters.
In the Philippines, forests are classified into different types, namely, dipterocarps,
pine, submarginal, mossy and mangrove. The mossy forest, also referred to as
mountain, montane or cloud forest, but is generally called tropical montane cloud forest,
is a stunted forest. It has no commercial value and is distributed throughout the
Philippines.
From the NSCB Resolution No. 12 Series of 2004, mossy forest stand found
principally on high elevations and very rough mountainous regions characterized by
steep ridges. The trees are mostly dwarf with stems and branches usually covered by
epiphytes (moss) and dominated by podocarp family, beech family, and myrtle family.
At elevations of 1,000 meters and above, mossy forests are located. This forest
is characterized by the abundance of mosses and liverworts on tree trunks and
branches. According to the Canopy in the Clouds (2010), cloud forests are generally
defined by their constant immersion in a layer of clouds. There is an increase in
cloudiness, and climatic conditions are very moist with frequent strong winds. This
formation is common in the summits of Mt. Pulag in the Cordillera Region and Mt.
Isarog in the Bicol Region. All over the world, tropical montane cloud forests are very

rare and represent only a fraction of the world's remaining tropical forests (Canopy in
the Clouds, 2010).
Mossy forests plays are relevant, as they play important roles. One is that mossy
forests are vital water sources. Tropical montane cloud forests have the unique
additional value of capturing water from the condensation from clouds and fog. This
stripping of wind-blown fog by the vegetation becomes especially important during the
non-rainy season and in areas with low rainfall but frequent cloud. Water originating
from cloud forests is also increased because water loss from vegetation wetted by rain
or fog is reduced. This results in stream flows from cloud forest areas that are greater
and more dependable in dry periods (Bubb, et.al. ,2004).
Mossy forests are also storehouses for diverse species. These forests make up
an essential habitat for many endemic and threatened plant and animal species. They
provide a wide range of goods and services for local communities and strong cultural
values are attached to them (BOIS ET FORTS DES TROPIQUES, 2002).
One of the general characteristic of mossy forests is the presence of moss. Moss
is small, simple, green plants. They grow in cool, moist places, often forming dense,
velvety masses of vegetation. Individual plants as well as the masses are called moss.
Mosses are related to liverworts and hornworts. The mosses are bryophytesprimitive,
nonflowering plants lacking true roots. They are anchored to the material on which they
live by slender filaments called rhizoids. A moss plant contains chlorophyll and
manufactures its own food by photosynthesis. It reproduces by alternation of
generations. Generally, there are four major groups or classes of mosses recognised.

These are peat moss (sphagnopsida), lantern moss (andreaeopsida), polytrichopsida

and bryochopsida (Discover Life, 2015).
About 14,000 species of mosses occur throughout the world, from the Polar
Regions to the tropics. Most species live on shady ground, on rock ledges, or on tree
trunks. A number of species live in rivers and ponds. Moss plants do not grow in
saltwater.
The moss plant is hardy. During a dry spell it turns brown or black, and looks
dead; but it becomes green again as soon as rain falls. The mosses are among the first
plants to establish themselves on rocky ground. They slowly break down the rock,
preparing the way for more highly developed plants. (How Stuff Works, 2015).
Moss plants absorb many times their weight in moisture; they soak up rainfall on
hillsides, helping to prevent erosion. The soil-building and moisture-conserving work of
the mosses is indirectly of great importance to humans. The only type of moss of direct
use to humans is the bog moss, or sphagnum. It forms peat, a fuel, and peat moss, a
garden mulch and soil conditioner. Dried sphagnum is used as packing material in
shipping plants
Mosses are very important. Mosses are extremely important during the early
stages of ecological succession. Succession begins with the generation of a new
environment. Also, they stabilize the soil surface, thereby reducing erosion, while at the
same time reducing the evaporation of water, making more available for succeeding
plants.

Most species of mosses are not of any direct economic importance, and none
are a food source for humans. However, Sphagnum moss has a long history of diverse
uses and is certainly the moss of greatest importance to humans. In its natural habitat,
sphagnum selectively absorbs certain ions and secretes others. The bogs in which it
grows

become

acidic

and anaerobic over time,

and

the decomposition

rate by bacteria is particularly slow in these bogs. Organisms buried in sphagnum bogs
remain well-preserved for a very long time.
Peat mosses, derived largely from sphagnum, are economically the most
important mosses. Peat mosses are an important source of fuel in some countries. Peat
is abundant in northern regions and represents a vast reservoir of potential energy. In
northern Europe, peat has historically been dried, and in some cases compressed into
briquettes for use in fireplaces and stoves. In Ireland, peat is still extensively used for
cooking. One great advantage of peat as a fuel is that it burns very cleanly. About 95%
of peat harvested in Ireland is burned to generate electricity. Peat is also highly valued
as a conditioner of inorganic soils. Because it absorbs large amounts of water readily,
peat improves the water-holding capacity of soil. Peat mosses are characteristically
acidic which prevents the growth of most bacteria. They have therefore been used by
indigenous peoples for diapers, and during the World Wars, when bandages were in
short supply; peat mosses were a commonly used antiseptic dressing for wounds.
In recent years, mosses have become important in monitoring the health of
ecosystems, especially in relation to atmospheric contamination. Because bryophytes
lack roots, many of their nutritional requirements are met by nutrients deposited from

the atmosphere. Thus, they are sensitive indicators of atmospheric pollutants. Changes
in the distributions of mosses are therefore an early-warning signal of serious effects of
atmospheric pollution (Net Industries and its Licensors, 2015).
In the Philippines, Mt. Pulag in the Cordillera Region and Mt. Isarog in the Bicol
Region are the ones of the known mossy forest. In the region of Cordillera, specifically
in Benguet, the Mossy forest in Atok or also known as Haights Place is a potential manmade attraction of the municipality of Atok. It is about 7,937 feet. above sea level. Due
to its high altitude, the place experiences frost during the month of December until
February. Moreover, the place offers a spectacular view of the peculiar vegetable farms
including the famous Naguey Rice Terraces (Province of Benguet).
The study is focused in the biodiversity in the Haights Forest of Atok.
Furthermore, it is specifically focused on identifying the species of mosses found in the
said forest. The study is relevant as it contributes new knowledge. Also, it will contribute
to the understanding of the relationship of the culture and the environment. This can
also deepen the awareness of the importance of protecting the environment, as it affect
the lives of people.