The Philippines is known all over the world for its hardwoods. From 1972 to 1988, the logging industry leveled 8.57 million hectares of forest. During the same period, the industry devastated 3.88 million hectares of forest. Due to the unabated destruction of our forest, only 6-8% of natural vegetation remains.

Considered to be one of the world's richest repositories of biological diversity, we have about 3,879, identified tree species of which 3,574 are indigenous and 305 are introduced species. Unfortunately, nationwide reforestation efforts have limited itself to planting a number of species-gmelina, mahogany and narra.

Why Do We Care?

With most of our forests gone...

What is an Indigenous Tree?

Indigenous tree is synonymous to native tree. It exists at a given location or in a particular ecosystem. Endemic species, on the other hand, is a native species restricted to a particular geographic region owing to factors such as isolation or in response to soil or climatic conditions (CBD,2003)

Why Indigenous Trees?

Nature provides us with what we need and we must be responsible in taking care of it. For the past years, forest resources are being threatened. Thousand hectares of forest areas were destructively logged leaving us nothing but open lands.

As a result of massive exploitation of our forest, the existence of many of these indigenous species in the wild are threatened.

It is imperative  to protect and ensure the existence of the indigenous tree species. Indigenous tree species has wide range of ecological services and provides multiple uses to the daily life of rural communities.

Native tree species abound in the uplands. It is attractive because planting material is readily available for propagation from seed, cutting or wildlings. Since introduced species are not adapted to local pests and diseases or may be carrying different form of disease, indigenous trees has inherent ecological adaptability in the site and present a lower risk when planted by farmers. It can easily be integrated in the farmers' farming system. 

What Can We Do?

Let us campaign to:

1. Reforest for biodiversity, protection and production
2. Promote the use of indigenous tree species in reforestation and tree planting activities
3. implementing the Total Commercial Log Ban

What Can We Get From Indigenous Tree?

• Wood for house/pen construction, bridges, boats, carts, furniture, poles, fencing, packing crates, barrels, pulp, tools, implements, handicrafts, musical instruments
• Livestock fodder from leaves, fruits and seeds
• Food for human consumption from fruits, seeds, roots, leaves and flowers
• Medicines from bark, fruits, seed, roots, leaves and flowers
• Green manure from clippings of leaves and small stems
• Industrial raw materials (gums, resins, dyes, oils)
• Stream bank and watershed protection
• Soil conservation (contour hedgerows or strips)
• Soil improvement (N-fixation, nutrient cycling, soil microclimate, amelioration)
• Shade (around houses, bordering paths and roads or as nurse tree)
• Shelter belts, wind breaks, fire breaks
• Live fencing and live trellis
• Insect management: bee forage, silk production, butterfly farming
• Ornamental value and spiritual value