Forest

Resources
What is FOREST?

The term “forest” is derived from the

latin word “foris” meaning outside.
Originally, it is uncultivated and
uninhabited village boundary consisting
of natural plants, i.e., trees and grasses.
“Lungs of the earth”
“Is a community of trees and associated organism
considering a considerable area, utilizing air, water
and minerals to attain maturity and to reproduce
and capable of furnishing mankind with
indispensable products and services.” -----Allen and
Shorpe

RESOURCES
The term resources was taken to mean only the
natural factors or things like mountains, mineral
deposit, forests, animal life, soil, water, air etc.
 Resources are those aspects of mans environment
which facilitate the satisfaction of human wants and
the attainment of social objectives.
--------B.S. Negi
ACTS THAT WILL PROTECT THE
FOREST
Presidential Decree No. 54
Penalties for Illegal Logging
Any natural or juridical person who directly or
indirectly cuts, declares, classifies, possesses or
exports logs in violation of existing laws, rules and
regulations shall be penalized.
Republic Act No. 9175
An act regulating the ownership,
possession, sole, importation, and use of chain
saws, penalizing violations thereof and for
other purposes.
Republic Act No. 3701
An act to discourage destruction of
forests, further amending for the purpose
section twenty-seven hundred fifty-one of the
revised administrative code.
 Approximately 97.5 percent of the forest is owned
by the Government and is administered by the Bureau of
Forestry; 2.5 percent is privately owned.

The greater bulk of the forest is in large blocks on

the principal islands such as Luzon, Mindanao, Samar,
Negros, and Palawan. More than 3,000 species of trees
attain a diameter of 30 centimeters (one foot) or more;
however, less than sixty of these are marketed. Seventy-
five percent of the stand consists of dipterocarps,
commonly called lauan, to which "Philippine mahogany"
belongs.
 Forests
Occupying almost all of the country, Philippine forests
may be classified into 5 broad types:

1.) Dipterocarp Type

Covers the largest forest areas in the
Philippines .
Situated from the coastal flats going up to
approximately 800 meters in the altitude.
It is the biggest source of lumber supply in the
country.
2. Molave Forest
Molave forests are those in the Philippines
where molave tress grow.
This type of forest is more open than the
dipterocarp type and the volume of timber per
unit is much less, averaging 30 m3per hectare.
Most of the species found in this type of
forest produce woods that are highly valued
for: their natural beauty and durability. Among
the most important are molave; narra, tindalo,
ipil, akle, and banuyo.
Molave Tree
A tree that grows with a crooked trunk.
It reaches heights of up to 82 to 89 ft. (25 to 30
meters) tall.
The wood of this tree is valuable because it is hard,
yellow wood
that is
durable.
3. Pine Forest
Usually developed in the country’s high plateau regions.
occur in the high mountainous regions of northern Luzon
and Mindoro. The stand, as a rule, is open and scattered,
averaging 45 m3 per hectare.
The principal species is the Benguet pine while Tapulau is
found in the high mountains of Zambales and Mindoro.

Tapulau is not as important commercially as Benguet pine.

While the pines grow in practically pure stands, hardwoods
are found in mixture with them in areas protected from fires,
especially in draws at lower elevations.
The timber of the Benguet pine is generally used for mining
and general construction purposes in the Mountain Province.
These two species of pine supply turpentine and rosin.
4. Mangrove Forest
The mangrove forest has trees that have special root formations.
The fruits and the seeds of the mangrove trees can survive; can
germinate and can float in the seawater.

This type of forest is tidal and it can be found along the clayed
seashore as well as in the tidal zones in the river estuaries.

The species could be used for construction if they could be made

more durable by treatment.

The mangroves are the principal sources of firewood, tanbark,

cutch, dyewood, and charcoal.

Along streams in many parts of the tidal flats there grows the nipa
palm. Its leaves are used for thatch, its sap for the manufacture of
vinegar, alcohol, wine, and sugar.
5. Beach Forest
It can be found along the beach; this kind of
forest forms a narrow strip along the sandy coast
of the beach.
The frontal zone usually consists of a tangle of
vegetation, of which pandan forms a conspicuous
part. The principal trees are talisai, dapdap,
botong, palomaria, agoho, bani, and tawalis.
6. Mossy Forest
 Forests of this type, found on high and very rough
mountainous regions, are essentially protection
forests. As a rule, rainfall and humidity are high.
 Exposed to strong winds, the trees are mostly
dwarfed and usually covered with mosses,
liverworts, filmy ferns, and epiphytic orchids.
Benefits from Trees and Plants
Lumber
Raw lumber has been one of the
Philippine’s major exports. The
apitong, tanguile, guijo, and narra
forests supply most of today’s
construction lumber.
Paper
Produced from pulpwood such as pine.

Distillation Products
Examples of these are
wood, alcohol, acetic
acid, and charcoal. Other
distillation products can
also be secured from
sugarcane, coconut and
nipa palms.
 Other Products
Pine, bamboo, buri, sugar
tanning materials, and
essesntial oils.

In addition, Forest trees provide

food and shelter to our animals.
 Timber and minor forest products
Philippine forest products are generally classified into two
groups, namely (1) the timber, and (2) the so-called minor forest
products, which include all products of the forest other than
timber.

Principal Timber Species. From a commercial viewpoint

the principal limbers may be grouped into six general
classes:
(1) lauans
(2) apitongs
(3) guijos,
(4) yokels
(5) other dipterocarps
(6) legumes.
The lauans, or "Philippine mahogany," are the softer
members of the dipterocarp family.

Red and white lauans

 Are moderately heavy and durable for interior work
when used without sapwood. They are not suitable for
heavy structure and exposure to the weather, except
when the structure is so made that water sheds off, as
in shiplap or in the so-called rizal or rustic siding. For
house construction, the lauans can be used for siding,
partitions, and ceiling and would give excellent results
for light ship-planking.
Apitong
The most abundant of the heavier and stronger
structural timbers of the dipterocarp family.
It lasts for a long time when used without sapwood,
not exposed to the weather or in contact with the
ground.
Properly treated, apitong is the equal in durability
of molave, dungon, Tarrietiasylvatica, ipil, and yakal for
structures exposed to the weather and is superior to any
of these for saltwater piling.
Guijo
is similar to apitong in many respects, especially in
color. Apitong, however, has larger pores and is inclined
to be more resinous.
The wood of guijo is strong, relatively easy to work
and has good wearing qualities. It is best suited for
beams and joists, for automobile and truck framing, and
for other vehicles.
 For flooring it appeals to lovers of reddish-brown
colors. Like apitong, the wood "moves" in process of
seasoning and should be properly dried if the best
service is to be expected. Once thoroughly dried,
however, both woods "stay put. "
Yakal
The hardest and strongest member of
the lauan family.
This wood is resistant to decay, which makes it
particularly suitable for structures exposed to the
weather.
It is an excellent substitute for ipil for house posts and
bridge timbers, and is recommended wherever great
strength and durability are required.
Akle, narra, ipil, and tindalo all belong to the legume family,
which furnishes most of the valuable cabinet timbers.

Akle
is brownish in color and is an excellent wood for
cabinet-making. It has many of the qualities of walnut
and is more resistant to termites.

Narra
 is reddish yellow to dark red. The yellow variety is more
common and more readily obtainable than the red. For
furniture and cabinetmaking and for door and window
framing, narra is almost always the choice.
Tindalo
 A beautiful hard red wood that darkens with age.
 Keeps its shape remarkably well, and, like most
members of the legume family, has a beautiful grain and
is very durable

Ipil
 It is most commonly used for house posts on account of
its great durability and strength.

Minor Forest Products. All products of the forest other

than timber constitute " minor forest products. " Among
the most important are firewood, charcoal, palm
products, cutch and tanbarks, fibers, resins, gums, oils,
rubber and gutta-percha, beeswax, and medicinal plants.
 Ecological Importance
Regulation of Global climate and
temperatures
Reduction in Global Warming
Production of Oxygen
Conservation of soil
Important in the fertility of soil
Control of water flow
Habitats of Wildlife
Absorption of Air Pollution
Prevents soil erosion
Acts as a wind barrier from heavy winds