Did you know that there is a forest giant in Bohol that was believed among the rarest in the Philippines and was thought to be extinct in the country, but is still existent, although endangered?
Quisumbing-guisok (Hopea quisumbingiana) or siyam and sungkad in Samar and Leyte is a dipterocarp, meaning its fruit have two wings (di-ptero-carpus) is critically endangered and has been thought of as extinct, but a few are still surviving in Bohol, according to Restituto Piolio, center chief at the Capitol-owned Bohol Biodiversity Center (BBC) in Bilar.In fact, another dipterocarp, Yakal Saplongan (Hopea plagata) has also been found and only in Sierra Bullones in Bohol, he added.
In the country, we have 24 dipterocarp species and 4 sub species, he said as he explained how dipterocarps grow strong and straight in the forests, lording it over other species in the battle for sunlight.
Before the dipterocarp project, publications has it that Bohol has only three species, but with Edwino Fernando and accompanying taxonomists of the University of the Philippines, Visayas State University and Soils and Water Conservation Foundation, we found out that we have 16 and not just three species as earlier published.
And to make sure that these species are again seen, the Bohol Environment Code of 1998 put up the BBC in a government property in Bilar to make sure that propagation of these rare disappearing species can start and rejuvenating the province’s forests of its endemic giants and endemic trees can take a good root.
“Before, we did not know where these trees can be found, it was the SWCF and company who went out and identified these trees especially the dipterocarps and where they are located, they started it all,” confesses Jimmy Rautraut, who was among those who would be sent out to the forests to gather wildlings and seeds that fall from the fruiting giants and endemic plants.
With over six years of service and now the center water system management manager in the nursery, Rautraut, who is well past his sixty, continues to enjoy bagging the wildlings, some of which he could not identify as he modestly admits he still has to know much about these trees.
With the Bohol Environment Code, the BBC has been mandated to propagate these trees so seedlings can be available any time people go on tree planting programs.
Rolando Agpaoa, nursery in charge, said “based on our semestral target, we are to produce 160K assorted seedlings but this year, we targeted 200K native, endemic and dipterocarp seedlings, others we planted, some we collected while others are planting,” as he was pointing to a crude greenhouse topped with palm leaves where the delicate wildlings are hardened before they can be properly bagged.
Beside these crude green houses are rows upon rows of bagged and labeled seedlings of Guijo (Shorea guiso) for construction, ship and boat building, Palosapis (Shorea palosapis), Narig (Vatica elliptica), Quisumbing guisok (Hopea quisumbingiana), Manggachapui (Hopea acuminate) famed for being the materials for Manila galeons and Guisok-guisok (Hopea philippinensis), neatly arranged.
On the other side, Yakal Saplungan (Hopea plagata), the Philippines fifth hardest wood, Mayapis (Dipterocarpus turbinatus) which is a source of medicines from its resin to it bark and the wood is material for plywood, White lauan (Shorea contorta), Apitong (Dipterocarpus grandiflorus), Yakal malibato (Shorea malibato), Tanguile (Shorea polysperma), Almon (Shorea almon), Manggasinoro (Shorea assamica ssp. Philippinensis), Hasselts panau (Dipterocarpus hasseltii) and Malaanonang (Parashorea malaanonan).
“Majority of these, we have propagated at the bursary, but some hardwoods do have erratic flowering and fruiting seasons, some between 2-10 years, other from 10-20, so we really have to wait,” Piolio said.
Ang the BBC has also kept plots upon plots of bagged endemic and native tree species.
Endemic species are those that can also be found in other provinces and islands in the region like Mindanao and Luzon, while native species are those which can only be found in Bohol.
Endemic species like Talisay gubat (Terminalia foeditisimma), Bani (Pongamia pinnata), Sagimsim (Syzygium brevistylum), Libas (Spondias pinnata), Aniam gubat (Antedesma sobolivaceum), Bitanghol (Callophyllum blancoi), Toog (Petersianthus quadrialatus), Siar (Peltophorum pterocarpum), Kalingag (Cinnamomum mercadoi), Langin (Micromelum caudatum), Antipolo (Artocarpus blancoi),Tagibokbok (Gomphandra apoensis), Cacao (Theobroma cacao), and still a hundred more or less, are also neatly stocked in the nursery, awaiting for Boholanos to do their share of the planting.
These species are adapted to the local climate, can withstand extreme heat and weather conditions prevalent in the tropics, helps conserve areas of biodiversity as well as maintain the balance in the ecosystem, foresters all agree.
And to think that we are only getting these wildlings from a few areas where the SWCF went, and there are still forest areas in Bohol where no focused study have been started, you could just simply gape at the possibilities, Rautraut said.
And now that the local authorities have pushed for the endemic, native, fruit bearing and dipterocarps in tree planting activities, BBC is there to serve and stay.
Those interested in planting these, can visit the BBC in Bilar or request from the Office of the Governor for seedlings over 50 pcs.
BBC staff also monitors and evaluates those trees whose seedlings were sourced out there, to make sure that technical assistance can be given and that those requesting parties truly nurture their planted trees.And thanks to the BBC staff led by Piolio, there is always that tree seedling of a rare Boholnative trees that will soon rise and regain the forest cover we have lost in the last decades. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol
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