Forests

WHAT IS A FORESTS?• The forest is a complex ecosystem consisting

mainly of trees that buffer the earth and support a myriad of life forms. The trees help create a special environment which, in turn, affects the kinds of animals and plants that can exist in the forest. Trees are an important component of the environment. They clean the air, cool it on hot days, conserve heat at night, and act as excellent sound absorbers.

Forests• Forests in the tropics have rich biodiversity.

More than half of the plants and animals can be found in rainforest. The constantly high temperatures and the continuously high humidity in the tropics make this biodiversity possible. The temperature is in most tropical rainforests between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius.

• The original forests of the Philippines covered nearly half our land about 145,973.30 square kilometers.

a type of Philippine forest

Forests Occupying almost all parts of the country, the great forest belts are divided into distinct types:1) primary or virgin forests in lowlands, like

mangrove, dipterocarp, and molave forests

molave forest mangrove forest

Forests2) Secondary forests- developed from virgin

forests through succession by illegal logging or the kaingan system, the system in setting the forest on fire for cropping.

3) Grasslands and open country- developed from and to secondary forests

4) Parang vegetation- grasslands with patches of secondary forest tree species

5) Bamboo thickets6) Cultivated fields

Humans and the use of ForestsForests are often misused

by people. Immature trees are cut down ruthlessly, destroying living organisms and standing timber, and consuming the seeds of young trees. And fires, as they destroy trees, cause soil erosion and floods in the lower areas.

Humans and the use of Forests In the Philippines, setting

the forest on fire in preparation for cropping is a practice known as kaingan. Forest fires are also caused by arsonists, debris burners, smokers and irresponsible campers.

Humans and the use of Forests Indiscriminate logging is another way by which

humans mismanage our forests. So many trees are cut down that reforestation can not make up for the loss.

Humans and the use of Forests• Natural factors may also bring down forests pests,

grazing and gnawing animals, lightning that may cause fires, and calamities like storms or strong winds.

Benefits from trees in our ForestLumber- Raw lumber has been one of Philippines’

major exports. The apitong, tanguile, guijo, and narra forests supply most of today’s construction lumber.

apitong tree narra tree

Benefits from trees in our Forest Paper- Paper is produced

from pulpwood such as pine.

Distillation products- Examples of these are wood, alcohol, acetic acid, lampblack, paints and varnishes, and charcoal. Other distillation products can also be secured from sugarcane, coconut, and nipa palms..

Benefits of Trees in our ForestsOther Products- pine, bamboo, buri, sugar

tanning materials, and essential oilsIn addition, forest trees provide food and shelter

to our animals.

BambooPine Essential

oil

Thank You for Listening!!!