DOCSLIB.ORG

Biodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources in the Philippines: a State of the Art Report

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Biodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources in the Philippines: a State of the Art Report Biodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources in the Philippines: a State of the Art Report Edwino S. Fernando, William Sm. Gruezo, Nathaniel C. Bantayan, Margaret M. Calderon, & Josefina T. Dizon HIGHLIGHTS Introduction 1. In this report only the plants and terrestrial ecosystems, and the economic and socio- cultural factors affecting them, are treated in detail. 2. The Philippines is one of the world’s 25 megadiversity countries with impressive record of species diversity and endemism (Mittermeier et al. 1999). However, it is also considered a biodiversity “hotspot” (Myers et al. 2000) because its species and ecosystems are threatened. 3. Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability among living organisms, or simply the total variability of life on Earth. The term biodiversity is often referred to at three different levels, viz. genes, species, and ecosystems. It also covers the complex sets of structural and functional relationships within and between these different levels, including human action, and their origins and evolution in space and time. Biogeography and Climate 4. Recent palaeogeographic (Roeder 1977; McCabe et al. 1982; Geary et al. 1988) and plate tectonic models (Hall 1998) indicate complex geological origins for the Philippine archipelago. The archipelago comprises more than 7,000 islands of varying sizes and distance apart and with a generally mountainous topography. The archipelago is today linked by island arcs to neighboring islands to its north and south. These island arcs have been postulated as migration routes for flowering plants in both directions. 5. The Philippine Islands lie slightly above the equator on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean. They are spread in a north-south orientation between 210 and 50 N latitude and between 1160 and 1260 E longitude, stretching some 1839 km between Taiwan to its north, and Borneo and Sulawesi to its south. The islands form part of a distinct plant geographical region in Southeast. Asia known as ‘Malesia’ (Figure 1) that also includes Malay Peninsula and the islands of Borneo, Sulawesi, Moluccas, Java, the Lesser Sunda, and New Guinea (Steenis 1950; Johns 1995a). FERNANDO, et al. (2001) Biodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources of the Philippines: Highlights 2 Figure 1. Map of the plant geographical region of Malesia that includes the Philippines (after Johns 1995a). 6. The tropical climate of the Philippines is largely governed by the southwest and northeast monsoons with two main seasons: the wet (typhoon) season from June to October and the dry season from November to May. The mean annual rainfall varies considerably in different parts of the archipelago ranging from 900 mm to 4500 mm. The western parts of the archipelago, which are in the lee of many mountain ranges, are generally drier and seasonal in character. The eastern parts receive much of the rainfall and are perhumid. Greatest precipitation occurs when tropical storms (typhoons) cross the archipelago from the Pacific. 7. There are six distinct faunistic and seven floristic regions within the archipelago. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines (DENR- UNEP 1997) recognizes 15 biogeographic zones based on floristic, faunistic, and geological composition of the geographic areas. Forest Formations 8. The natural vegetation of the Philippine Islands is generally a mosaic of different kinds of forests (often called “formations”, Whitmore 1984) which differ from each other in structure, physiognomy, and floristic composition. The primary vegetation (both dryland and wetland) may be divided into 13 types following the scheme and nomenclature used by Whitmore (1984). The 13 types of primary vegetation or forest formations are: (1) tropical lowland evergreen rain forest (Figure 2), FERNANDO, et al. (2001) Biodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources of the Philippines: Highlights 3 Figure 2. Shorea palosapis (Blanco) Merr., a Figure 3. Forest over limestone on Palawan species of the family Dipterocarpaceae, is Island. This formation is generally open with endemic to the Philippines. This species and few scattered large trees. © Photo by E.S. others in the family are major components of Fernando the tropical lowland evergreen rain forest and its emergents. © Photo by M.L. Castillo (2) tropical semi-evergreen rain forest, (3) forest over limestone (Figure 3), (4) forest over ultramafic rocks, (5) beach forest, (6) mangrove forest, (7) brackish-water forest, (8) peat swamp forest, (9) fresh-water swamp forest, (10) tropical moist deciduous forest, (11) tropical lower montane rain forest, (12) tropical upper montane rain forest, and (13) subalpine rain forest. Biodiversity of the Philippines 9. There are in the Philippines about 54,000 species of various kinds of organisms that have been described to date, representing about 3.8% of the conservative estimated total for the world (Villareal and Fernando 2000; see Table 1). Many hundreds of species remain unknown to science. More than 40% of the known Philippine species are endemic to the archipelago. Of the Philippine organisms, those traditionally regarded as ‘plants’ comprise only 32% (total 16,865/6,335 endemic). FERNANDO, et al. (2001) Biodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources of the Philippines: Highlights 4 Table 1. Estimated number of living species of all kinds of organisms currently known in the Philippines (after Villareal and Fernando 2000). Taxonomic group Estimated No. of Species Endemic Species Angiosperms 8,120 c. 5,800 Gymnosperms 33 6 Ferns & Fern Allies 1,031 334 Bryophytes 1,271 195 Algae 1,355 ? Fungi, Slime molds, water molds 3,555 ? Lichens 789 ? Cyanobacteria & Protozoans 711 ? Sub-total 16,865 c.6,335 Mammals 179 110 Birds 559 171 Reptiles 257 158 Amphibians 95 51 Fishes 2,175 ? Molluscs and Squids 8,000+ / Echinoderms 641 ? Insects 20,131 c. 13,898 Spiders 400 ? Mites and Ticks 1,001 c.486 Other Arthropods 2,298 ? Annelids 700 ? Poriferans/Sponges 200+ Cnidarians 500+ ? Sub-total 37,136 c. 14,874 TOTAL 54,001+ Protected Areas 10. The Philippines has one of the oldest national park systems in Southeast Asia established in the early 1900s. The 4, 244 ha Mt Makiling Forest Reserve on Luzon Island (see Figure 4) is one of the earliest having been established in 1910. This and other national parks established before 1992 became the initial components of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS). Currently, there are 294 of these in the NIPAS with a total area of more than 4 million ha, including some marine parks and reserves and mangrove swamps (see Table 2; Figure 5). Majority, are however, terrestrial ecosystems representing different types of forest formations ranging from a small 1-ha forest park to the large 247,861-ha national park. Table 2. Categories of protected areas in the Philippines (after DENR-UNEP 1997). Category Number Area (in hectares) National parks, national marine parks and reserves 67 455,314 Game refuges and bird sanctuaries 8 924,150 Wilderness areas 16 3,297 Watershed forest reserves 85 1,200,129 Mangrove swamp forest reserves 27 undetermined Tourist zones and marine reserves 56 undetermined Protected areas declared through administrative and 14 127,749 memorandum orders Newly proclaimed protected areas under NIPAS category 21 1,410,261 TOTAL 294 4,120,900 FERNANDO, et al. (2001) Biodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources of the Philippines: Highlights 5 Figure 4. Mt Makiling on Luzon Island rises to 1100 m above sea level. It is the oldest established national park and one of the 18 centers of plant diversity in the Philippines. © Photo courtesy of MCME. Figure 5. The Batanes Protected Landscapes and Seascapes is in the northernmost island province of Batanes, and is one of the 294 protected areas in the Philippines. This protected area is an important flyway for migratory birds. © Photo by E.S. Fernando FERNANDO, et al. (2001) Biodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources of the Philippines: Highlights 6 Centers of Plant Diversity 10. About 18 areas in the Philippines, mostly mountains, have been identified as centers of plant diversity (see Table 3). These areas are considered to harbor the greatest diversity of plants anywhere in the archipelago. One of these is Mt Makiling (see Figure 4), generally regarded as the best-known biological area in the Philippines owing much to its scientific history (Pancho 1973). It is often cited in having more species of woody plants than the entire United States of America (Dasmann et al. 1973; Earthlife 1986). Table 3. Centers of plant diversity in the Philippines (after DENR-UNEP 1997). Name of mountain or area Location 1 Mt Iraya Batan Island 2 Sierra Madre Mountains Isabela Province, Luzon 3 Mt Pulag Cordillera Mountains, Luzon 4 Mt Arayat Pampanga Province, Luzon 5 Mt Makiling Laguna and Batangas Provinces, Luzon 6 Lobo Batangas Province, Luzon 7 Mt Isarog Camarines Sur Province, Luzon 8 Mt Halcon Mindoro Island 9 Coron Island Coron Island 10 Palawan Island Palawan Island 11 Southern Samar Samar Island 12 Sibuyan Island Sibuyan Island. 13 Mt Kanlaon Negros Island 14 Mt Talinis + Lake Balinsayao Negros Island 15 Mt Baloy Panay Island 16 Mt Kitanglad Mindanao 17 Agusan Marsh Mindanao 18 Mt Apo Mindanao 11. As a center of plant biodiversity and shown by the major work of Pancho (1983) dealing with the vascular flora of Mt Makiling and vicinity, this legendary and biologically important mountain (Figure 4) harbors some 949 genera, 2038 species, 19 subspecies, 167 varieties, and several forms and cultivars of flowering plants and ferns in 225 families. Tan (1982) listed 211 species of mosses belonging to 97 genera and representing nearly a one-third of the Philippines’ moss flora. Flora and Endemism 12. The indigenous flowering plants are estimated at about 8000 species belonging to nearly 1500 genera and 200 families. These estimates are based from Merrill (1926). The number of species is roughly 26%-32% of the 25,000-30,000 (Jacobs 1974) estimated for the entire Malesian region, while the number of genera represent more than 60% of the total 2382 (Steenis 1987) for the region.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Endemic Philippine Teak (Tectona Philippinensis Benth. & Hook
    RESEARCH ARTICLES Endemic Philippine teak (Tectona philippinensis Benth. & Hook. f.) and associated flora in the coastal landscapes of Verde Island Passage, Luzon Island, Philippines Anacleto M. Caringal1,2, Inocencio E. Buot, Jr2,3,4,* and Elaine Loreen C. Villanueva3 1Batangas State University–Lobo, Lobo, Batangas, Philippines 2School of Environmental Science and Management, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines 3Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines 4Faculty of Management and Development Studies, University of the Philippines Open University, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines deciduous forests, pines, lower and upper montane forests The Philippine teak forest (PTF) is a formation with the Endangered Tectona philippinensis Benth. & Hook. and sub-alpine) based on the dominant floristic elements f., Lamiaceae – an endemic tree flora in the Batangas have been the focus of ecological classification since Province along the Verde Island Passage, Luzon 1900s (refs 13–16). The Philippine teak forest (PTF), Island, Philippines. In this study, we determine the however, has not yet been included in these national general floristic composition of PTF. Vegetation anal- classifications. ysis across coastal to inland continuum generated the The forest with endemic Tectona philippinensis Benth. data for general floristic richness, growth structure & Hook. f., (APG: Lamiaceae) has long been considered and diversity indices. A total of 128 species under 111 as one of the most important areas of floristic genera in 48 families was recorded with overall plant richness10,17,18. Until the present study, however, PTF diversity of very low to moderate (Shannon–Wiener: remains to be classified among the major forest ecotypes 0.8675–2.681).
    [Show full text]
  • Academic Sciences International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences ISSN- 0975-1491 Vol 5, Issue 3, 2013
    Academic Sciences International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences ISSN- 0975-1491 Vol 5, Issue 3, 2013 Research Article PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF TECTONA GRANDIS.LINN NEHA KHERAa* AND SANGEETA BHARGAVAb a*Department of Chemistry, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India, bDepartment of Chemistry, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India. Email: [email protected] Received: 20 May 2013, Revised and Accepted: 22 Mar 2013 ABSTRACT Tectona grandis Linn. commonly known as Teak or sagwan is one of the most famous timber in the world and is renowned for its dimensional stability. Teak is a major exotic species found in tropical region. It is commonly found in India and other south Asian countries. Teak is also considered as a major constituent in many folklore medicines. Medicinally it has various pharmacological activities like antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, analgesic, anti-diuretic, and hypoglycemic. Further studies reveal the presence of carbohydrate, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, proteins and flavonoids. Extracts from various parts of teak is used to cure bronchitis, biliousness, dysentery, diabetes, leprosy, hyperacidity. Its medicinal properties are recognized in ayurvedic system of medicine. Keyword: Tectona grandis, Antioxidant, Antifungal, Phenolic compounds, Diabetes. INTRODUCTION Marwadi: Sagwan, Sag. Tectona grandisLinn. (TG) is commonly known as “teak” belongs to Punjabi: Sagwan, Sagun. verbanaceae family. It is a large deciduous tree 30-35 metre tall with light brown bark,leaves simple, opposite, broadly elliptical or acute Tamil: Tekku, Tekkumaram, Tek, Kalindi. or acuminate, with minute glandular dots, flowers are white in Telgu: Teku, Pedda, Tek, Peddateku, teku-manu, Adaviteku, Teechekka. colour, small and have a pleasant smell[1].
    [Show full text]
  • Threats on the Natural Stand of Philippine Teak Along Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor JESAM (VIPMC), Southern Luzon, Philippines
    54 Journal of Environmental Science and Management 20-2: 54-67 (December 2017) ISSN 0119-1144 Threats on the Natural Stand of Philippine Teak along Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor JESAM (VIPMC), Southern Luzon, Philippines ABSTRACT This study documents the threats of the critically endangered Tectona Romel U. Briones1* philippinensis in the backdrop of the past conservation policies and projects. Twelve Edwin R. Tadiosa2 20m x 50m plots were distributed in three altitudinal strata (S1= 50 – 100 m asl, S2= Antonio C. Manila3 150 to 200 m asl, and S3= 250 – 300 m asl) using stratified random sampling. Every tree was examined to detect presence of pest and diseases on foliage, stem, buttress 1 Tropical Forestry Department and exposed root system. Threats of anomalous weather patterns like intense drought College of Agriculture and Forestry – and human disturbances were also recorded. Leaf skeletonizers, shotholes, buttrot, BatStateU Lobo Campus heartrot, rootrot, illegal harvesting, charcoal making, wind damages, and intense dry Batangas State University, season are among the most alarming threats of T. philippinensis. Germinants and Rizal Avenue, Batangas City, wildlings are most susceptible to wilting during intense drought during dry season. A Philippines 4200 number of interesting species of arthropods and macrofungi within the stand were also 2 Philippine National Herbarium encountered. There are variations on the incidence and infection across altitudinal Botany Division, National Museum of habitat and across diameter classes. Poles and standards at lower altitudinal habitat the Philippines, Manila (<100 m asl) are the most disturbed and susceptible to the disturbances. Existing 3 Biodiversity Management Bureau conservation and protection policies should be strictly implemented especially in Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife hotspot habitats.
    [Show full text]
  • Chemical Constituents, Toxicity and Antimicrobial Activities of the Essential Oil from the Leaves of Tectona Grandis
    27384 Sherifat Aboaba et al./ Elixir Bio Technology 75 (2014) 27384-27387 Available online at www.elixirpublishers.com (Elixir International Journal) Bio Technology Elixir Bio Technology 75 (2014) 27384-27387 Chemical constituents, toxicity and antimicrobial activities of the essential oil from the leaves of tectona grandis Sherifat Aboaba 1,* , Akinsola Akande 1 and Guido Flamini 2 1Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. 2Dipartimento di Farmacia, Via Bonanno 33, 56126, Pisa, Italy . ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article history: The leaves of Tectona grandis (Verbanaceae) was subjected to hydrodistillation in order to Received: 11 January 2013; obtain the essential oil from the plant. The pale yellow essential oil gave a percentage yield Received in revised form: of 0.184%. Relative percentages of individual component were analyzed by GC/GC-MS. A 20 September 2014; total of fifty-four (54) constituents were identified representing 86.5% of the total essential Accepted: 29 September 2014; oil fraction. Oxygenated monoterpenes, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated sesquiterpenes, apocarotenoids, phenylpropanoids and non-terpene derivatives were the Keywords various classes of compounds identified. The LC 50 value from the brine shrimp toxicity Tectona grandis , assay was 183.29µg/ml. The oil extract was also subjected to antibacterial assay and it Verbenaceae, showed significant activities against all the clinical test organisms used except Pseudomonas Hydrodistillation, aeruginosa . Apocarotenoids, © 2014 Elixir All rights reserved Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Artemia salina . Introduction synergistic activity against different bacteria both gram-positive Tectona grandis Linn., commonly known as teak tree or and gram-negative species. This present work is however aimed sagwan (Hindi) is known in the world for its dimensional at extracting, characterizing and carrying out bioassays on the stability, extreme durability and hardness in timber production leaf essential oil of the plant as a source of bioactive substances.
    [Show full text]
  • Xerophytic Characteristics of Tectona Philippinensis Benth. & Hook. F
    Philippine Journal of Science 145 (3): 259-269, September 2016 ISSN 0031 - 7683 Date Received: ?? Feb 20?? Xerophytic Characteristics of Tectona philippinensis Benth. & Hook. f. Jonathan O. Hernandez1, Pastor L. Malabrigo Jr.1, Marilyn O. Quimado1*, Lerma SJ. Maldia1, and Edwino S. Fernando1 1Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna Tectona philippinensis Benth. & Hook.f. is one of only three species in the genus Tectona (Lamiaceae) restricted to the Asian tropics. It is endemic to Ilin Island and Batangas Province on Luzon Island, Philippines and is regarded as a critically endangered species. While role of xerophytic characteristics of plants are very important for their survival and growth under various environmental pressures, such characteristics in native tree species remain unclear. In this study, the anatomy of the species was analyzed to determine the xerophytic characteristics of T. philippinensis. Histological paraffin technique was used to examine the anatomical structures of leaf and young stem of the species. The anatomical structures of T. philippinensis have the characteristics typical of xerophytic plants. This includes the presence of four types of trichomes, extended and well-developed vascular system, and multiple layers of palisade and sclerenchyma cells. Extension of extended vascular bundles to both non-glandular hairs on the adaxial surface and glandular hairs on the abaxial surface of leaf is reported for the first time in this study. Therefore, anatomical structures of this species suggest its ability to survive under marginal conditions. However, studies on ecophysiology, pot experiments/field trials, phenology, and associated vegetation of the species are suggested to further understand its habitat preference and adaptation mechanisms.
    [Show full text]
  • Philippine Teak
    hilippine Teak (Tectona philippinensis) is an endemic species of the Philippines. PThis species is very important as it is one of the only three species that belongs to the genus Tectona which includes the commercial teak (Tectona grandis) and the molave (Vitex parviflora). The species belongs to the family Verbenaceae. Due to the rapid decline in population, the species has been declared by the IUCN as critically endangered. With the current species status, there must be urgent conservation efforts to save the species from extinction. Moreover, because of the various important potential uses of the species, further researches on the propagation and plantation establishment of the species are encouraged in order to conduct massive seedling production for successful plantation establishment, protection and maintenance of the species. The information herein can serve as a guide for the students, researchers, nursery operators, plantation managers and the public who have keen interest to help and save our FOREWORD very own Phillippine Teak from extinction. HENRY A. ADORNADO Director I RISE 29.1 Page Philippine Teak Common Name 3 Scientific Name 3 Taxonomic Classification 3 Description 3 Uses 4 Origin and Distribution 4 Ecological Status 4 Habitat and Ecology 4 Phenology 8 Propagation 8 Plantation Establishment 6 Pests and Diseases 9 References 9 CONTENTS II RISE 29.1 PHILIPPINETectona philipinensis Benth. TEAK& Hook. f. For. Marita W. Briz MaritaW. For. Compiled by Photo byGinoLaforteza Common Name Philippine Teak (Eng.); Malapangit (Tag.); Bunglas (BisPn), Malabayabas (Lobo, Batangas) Scientific Name Tectona philippinensis Benth. & Hook. f Taxonomic Kingdom : Plantae Classification Phylum : Magnoliaphyta Class : Magnoliapsida Order : Lamiales Family : Verbenacea Genus : Tectona (teak) Species : Tectona.
    [Show full text]
  • World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Chaithra Et Al
    World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research SJIF Impact Factor 8.084 Chaithra et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Volume 9, Issue 6, 1146-1156. Review Article ISSN 2277– 7105 A REVIEW ON PHARMACOLOGICAL USES OF TECTONA GRANDIS.LINN 1*Chaithra S. R. and 2Bijesh Vatakkeel 1(Student), College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Govt. Medical College, Kannur, Pariyaram, 670503. 2(Lecturer), College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Govt. Medical College, Kannur, Pariyaram, 670503. ABSTRACT Article Received on 06 April 2020, Tectona grandis. Linn is a plant belongs to the family Verbenaceae. Revised on 27 April 2020, Most commonly it is known as “Teak” a large deciduous plant most Accepted on 18 May 2020 DOI: 10.20959/wjpr20206-17675 commonly used in wood industry. But the presence of large amount of chemical constituents in this plant shows various medicinal properties. *Corresponding Author Teak is also a major constituent in many of the traditional medicines. Chaithra S.R. As we all know that the importance of medicinal plants is increasing in (Student), College of this era because of the various side effects caused by the drugs that we Pharmaceutical Sciences, used for disease treatment. But most of the medicinal plants and their Govt. Medical College, Kannur, Pariyaram, 670503. vast applications are not familiar to us. It is necessary to give proper importance to the medicinal plants in this time. So finding the chemical constituents present in the various parts of the plants and identifying the medicinal properties are important. This review covers various pharmacological activities of one of the important and most common plant Tectona grandis.
    [Show full text]
  • Response of Tectona Philippinensis Benth. & Hook (Philippine Teak) Cuttings to Applied Mykovam and Biocore
    Philippine Journal of Science 132 (2): 89-94, December 2003 ISSN 0031 - 7683 Response of Tectona philippinensis Benth. & Hook (Philippine Teak) Cuttings to Applied Mykovam and Biocore Yolina Tarranco-Castañeto* and Minda P. Follosco-Edmiston1 Nueva Vizcaya State University, College of Forestry Bayombong, 3700 Nueva Vizcaya 1Biology Department, College of Science De La Salle University-Manila 2401 Taft Ave., Manila Tectona philippinensis locally known as Philippine teak is an indigenous species belonging to the family Verbenaceae. This species had been declared as endangered due to rapid population decline. Because of this, there is an urgent need to propagate and plant the species to save it from future extinction. Successful rooting using stem cuttings was already achieved and therefore further study was conducted to determine the response of Philippine teak to added Mykovam and Biocore in the nursery. Results of the statistical analysis revealed significant effect of the treatments on height, stem diameter, % organic matter and % nitrogen of the rooted cuttings. Tallest height of rooted cuttings was observed using Biocore at 20 g/seedling (36.97 cm) giving 82.30% increase over that of control seedlings (20.28 cm). Likewise, seedlings applied with combination of Biocore + Mykovam at 5 g/seedling had 25.30 cm height. Seedling diameter was also affected by the application of treatments. Biocore applied at 20 gram/seedling gave significantly biggest seedling diameter among other treatments. Moreover, analysis of tissues revealed significant differences in % organic matter and % nitrogen content among different treatments. Percent organic matter and % N was found 12.16% and 11.32% higher using Biocore 20 g/seedling over that of the control seedlings.
    [Show full text]
  • Tectona Philippinensis Benth
    Volume 7 Issue 2 April 2014 Visit of Teak Researchers from Research INSIDE THIS ISSUE Institute of Tropical Forestry, Guangzhou, Visit of Teak Researchers from Research Chinese Academy of Forestry Institute of Tropical Forestry, Guangzhou, Chinese Academy of Forestry 1 Wood Anatomy of Naturally Grown Philippine A team of four teak researchers from the Research Institute of Teak (Tectona philippinensis Benth. & Hook. f.) 2 Tropical Forestry (RITF), Chinese Academy of Forestry, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China visited TEAKNET and Prices of Plantation Teak Imported to India 10 KFRI during 24 February - 1 March 2014. The research team TEAKNET Directory Online Form 10 consisted of Prof. Liang Kunnan, Prof. Zhou Zaizhi, Dr. Ma Huaming and Dr. Huang Guihua. Their visit was part of a training programme and study tour organized by TEAKNET to Editorial the important teak growing areas of South India with particular In this issue, we bring you an interesting emphasis on teak genetic improvement, silviculture and article on the endemic Philippine teak, Tectona utilization of harvested wood products. During the visit, the philippinensis with respect to its anatomy and team had a meeting with teak researchers of KFRI and the utilization. A brief highlight of the visit of Chi- Institute of Forest Genetics & Tree Breeding (IFGTB), nese scientists to TEAKNET is also included. Coimbatore. Readers may be interested to note that the next World Teak Conference 2015 will be held in Ecuador, South America and you can expect the first announcement in mid-April 2014. TEAKNET website has been updated and readers are welcome to visit us on www.teaknet.org.
    [Show full text]
  • Philippine Plant Conservation Strategy and Action Plan 1
    Framework for Philippine Plant Conservation Strategy and Action Plan 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION 21) in 1996. PA 21 adopts a framework that places people and nature at the center of development activities. PP lants are a vital part of the world’s biological diversity and an essential UNCED also proved to be a turning point resource for the planet. They offer the towards the conservation of the world’s most diverse uses for local households. biological resources as it was also during They are sources of firewood, herbal the UNCED that the nations of the world medicine, beverages, condiments, resins, adopted the Convention on Biological food, and light construction materials. Diversity (CBD). Ratification of the CBD Plants or plant parts such as roots, by the Philippine Government was on 08 rhizomes, leaves, bark and fruits are October 1993. The objectives of this collected, prepared and either served as Convention are the conservation of food or administered to treat certain biological diversity, the sustainable use of illnesses. Plants or plant parts are also its components, and the fair and equitable used as ornaments and are basic in sharing of benefits derived from the landscaping purposes. Economically utilization of genetic resources. Part of the important ornamental plants, like orchids commitments of the Philippine and ferns provide alternative sources of Government to the CBD is the perpetual income to the local people. Ecologically, existence and conservation of plant plants provide oxygen that we breathe, diversity. hold water to prevent flooding, release water to prevent drought and serve as As an urgent response and as a sanctuaries for most of the faunal species, manifestation of its commitment to among others.
    [Show full text]
  • Threatened Plants of the Philippines: a Preliminary Assessment
    Threatened plants of the Philippines: a preliminary assessment 1* 2 3 EDWINO S. FERNANDO , LEONARDO L. CO , DANIEL A. LAGUNZAD , 4 5 5 WILLIAM SM. GRUÈZO , JULIE F. BARCELONA , DOMINGO A. MADULID , 6 7 8 AIDA B. LAPIS , GREGORIO I. TEXON , ANTONIO C. MANILA , 9 and PRESCILLANO M. ZAMORA An assessment of the conservation status of the full bryophyte and vascular flora of the Philippines was conducted. The threat categories used follow those previously prescribed and defined in Philippine Republic Act No. 9147, the ‘Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act’ and its Implementing Rules and Regulations which were derived from the 1994 IUCN Categories and Criteria (ver. 2.3), and those in the DENR Administrative Order No. 2004- 15. The resulting list of the threatened plants of the Philippines comprises 694 taxa in the following categories: Critically Endangered 99, Endangered 186, Vulnerable 176, Other Threatened Species 64, and Other Wildlife Species 169. The taxa in the list include 478 angiosperms, 11 gymnosperms, 203 pteridophytes, and two bryophytes (mosses). More than 77 percent of all the taxa listed are endemic to the Philippines. Key Words: endangered plants, Philippines, threatened plants, Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act ------------------------------------------- 1Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, and Forestry Herbarium, Museum of Natural History, The University of the Philippines – Los Baños, College, 4031 Laguna, Philippines. (*Author for correspondence:
    [Show full text]
  • Leaf Architecture and Petiole Anatomy of Philippine Dipterocarpus Species (Dipterocarpaceae)
    Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 27(1): 1‒14, 2020 (June) © 2020 Bangladesh Association of Plant Taxonomists LEAF ARCHITECTURE AND PETIOLE ANATOMY OF PHILIPPINE DIPTEROCARPUS SPECIES (DIPTEROCARPACEAE) 1 2 JONATHAN O. HERNANDEZ , LERMA S.J. MALDIA, DENNIS E. PULAN , 3 1 INOCENCIO E. BUOT JR. AND BYUNG BAE PARK * Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College 4031, Laguna, Philippines Keywords: Dipterocarpus; Leaf architecture; Petiole anatomy; Taxonomic markers Abstract The study investigated the leaf architecture and petiole anatomy of eight Dipterocarpus (Dipterocarpaceae) species growing in Mount Makiling Forest Reserve (MMFR) in the Philippines to delineate the species, especially during their non-flowering phase. Leaf and petiole samples from MMFR were examined following the manual on leaf architecture studies. Freehand technique was used to examine the stomata and petiole characters. A UPGMA phenogram was then generated to determine the relationships among Dipterocarpus species using 26 leaf and petiole characters. The most useful characters to delineate Dipterocarpus species are the presence of trichomes, the arrangement of vascular bundles (medullary and outer vascular bundles), areolation, fimbrial vein, and leaf size. Other characters viz., the laminar ratio, blade class, laminar shape, base shape, margin type, and intersecondary, and layers and shape of parenchyma and collenchyma cells were useful as unifying characters. Therefore, certain characters of the leaf architecture and petiole anatomy may be used as taxonomic markers to delineate and correlate the Dipterocarpus species in the Philippines particularly during the non- flowering phase of the species. However, further investigations using samples from the wild populations of the species and molecular techniques may be done to elucidate the taxonomic use of the characters presented in this study.
    [Show full text]