Know '!lour fhilippint fortst lttritagt By FELIPE R. AMOS Director of Forestry and TEOFILO A. SANTOS Forester, Bureau of Forestry

INTRODUCTION crder in 1863, constructive legislation and Our heritage, the forest resources, con­ regulations were introduced and investiga~ sist of the following: tions were begun, laying the foundation for (a) Timber which refers to the standing forestry work in this country. Handicapped timber that produce wood for construction ~hough were the organizers, yet consider­ and for industries using wood as raw ma­ able information was gathered regarding our te·rials. It is the major product of the for­ forest, particularly in the field of botany, est and it does not include firewood and natural history and utilization. The forest charcoal. area was estimated in 1890 by Fernando (b) Minor forest products which include Castro at about 48,112,920 acres (17,447,560 all other forest products of minor impor­ hectares). Unfortunately the Manila fire­ tance, such as firewood, charcoal, split and of 1897 destroyed the records and natural unsplit rattan, Manila copal~ nipa, tanbarks history collections. rmd dyebarks, buri, bohos a.nd bamboos, oleo When the Americans took the sovereign­ resin, etc. ty over the Philippines in 1900, information ( c) Wildlife which includes game ani­ regarding the forests had to be collected mals of the forest like deer, tamaraw, gam(? &11 over again. It was found that the Span­ birds like wild ducks, snipe, doves, pigeon, ish laws embraced provisions of far reach­ etc., and protected insect-eating birds and ing effect on the · conservation and protec­ song birds. tion of the forests against destruction by ( d) Forest land use which refers to for­ men and against wastefuf exploitation. The est land itself and its uses, such as for pas­ Forest Service organized under the Amer· ture, tree farms, sawmill site, log pond site, ican regime maintained in principle the ~altworks, timber depot, etc. Spanish laws. These Spanish laws were re­ ( e) Indirect benefits of the forest which stated by an Act of 1902 of the United include the influences of forest upon stream States Congress which defines the duties and flow and erosion, the conservation and en­ jurisdiction of the Bureau of Forestry inso­ richment of the soil, shelter and habitats far as public timber lands are concerned for wildlife and game animals, hunting This Act of the United States Congress was grounds and fishing areas and healthful out­ adopted by the Commonwealth of the Phil­ door recreational opportunities for -the peo­ ippines and, later, by the Republic. Under ple. this law, the Bureau of Forestry is given Exploration of Forest Resurces. priority of authority .in determining what The exploration of Philippine forests portion of the Philippine public domain shall was started when tlie Philippines was under be retai·ned for forest usage, to be admin­ the sovereignty of Spain. Under a royal istered separately from lands declared for

TENTH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE Page 3 agricultural or mining purpose·s. Under the of one foot or more. Less than 60 species Constitution of the Republic of the Philip­ are, however, handled by wood users and pines, ownership of natural resources, includ­ lumbe·rmen. It was further found that about ing forests, rests with the State. The pro· 75 per cent of the standing timber is repre­ tective laws of the Philippines accounts for sented by Dipterocarp species. Minor for­ the retention of a large part of public do­ est products of economic value were found main as forest lands under the administra­ abundant in many forest areas. tion of the National Government through TIMBER RESOURCES the Bureau of Fore.;;try. Forests Top All Natural Resources.­ From the time the Bureau of Forestry The forest resources of the Philippines is was organized in 1900 under the American E'stimated to have an a c t u a 1 value of Tegime, extensive explorations of forest area<> P27,860,611,000.00, or four times more than were conducted to determine once again the the combined value of the land, mineral, E:xtent of differe·nt types of forests, the spe­ animal and fishery resources, according to cies of trees found, the density of timber fl report on the evaluation of the country's stands, logging possibilities, etc. Wood sam­ five most important natural re.;;ources this ples and botanics! collections of trees were year ( 1955) to President Magsaysay by made and identified. Botanical specimens Secretary Salvador Araneta of agriculture of minor forest products were also collected and natural resources. and identified and their distribution was re­ The report which was prepared by the .corded. From the results of explorations dire"Ctors of five bureaus under the depart­ and studies, it was found that there are over ment of agriculture and natural resources 2,000 species of trees that attain a diameter shows the following:

EVALUATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES (A) Actual Values Percentage 1. Forest Resources ...... 'P27,860.61 l,OOO 80.02 2. Land Resources ...... 4,387' 7 33,000 12.60 3. Mineral Resources ...... 1,409,990,000 4.05 4. Animal Resources ...... 861,108,000 2.47 5. Fishery Resources ...... 298,092,000 .86 Total 'P34,817,574,000 100.00 (A) 1. Timber ...... P2 7 ,044,450,000 97.07 2. Minor forest products ...... 758.769,000 2.72 3. Grazing land ...... 49,523,000 .18 4. Wildlife ...... 7,869,000 .03 Total 'P27,860,611,000 100.00 (B) Potential Values Percentage 1. Forest Resources ...... P49,496,l 71,000 62.51 2. Mineral Resources ...... 13,985,500,000 17.66 3. Land Resources ...... 13,285,103,000 16.78 4. Animal Resources ...... 2,220,651,000 2.80 5. Fishery Resources ...... 798,451,000 .25 Total 'P79, 785,876,000 100.00 (B) 1. Sawn lumber ...... P48,680,010,000 98.35 2. Minor forest products ...... 758,769,000 1.53 3. Grazing land ...... 49,523,000 .10 4. Wildlife ...... 7,869,000 .02 Total ...... 'P49,496, 171,000 100.00 Area of Forests.-The forests cover about has considerably reduced the area of the 16,487,600 hectares or 55.4 per cent of the forests. The table below shows the classi­ total land area of the Philippines, which is fication of the land surface of the Philip­ 29,740,972 hectares. The continuous con­ pines, based on soil cover, as of June 30, version of forest areas into agricultural lands 1953:

Commercial forests ...... 11,415,000 hectares 38.38% Non-commercial forests ...... 4,459,9001 hectares 15.00% Cultivated ...... 8,180,072 hectares 27.50% Cogan and open lands ...... 5,073,300 hectares 17.06% Swamps ...... 612,7002 hectares 2.06% Total ...... 29,740,972 hectares -100.00% Forest Types: lave type." Most of the species found in The forests of the Philippines may be this type produce woods that are highly classified into six broad types based on the valuable for their natural beauty and dur­ composition of the stands: ability. Among the most important ones 1. Dipterocarp type.-This is the prin­ are molave (Vitex parviflora), narra (Ptero­ cipal forest type from the commercial stand­ carpus indicus), tindalo (Pahudia rhom­ point. In this type the numbers of the Dip­ boidea), ipil (Intsia_ bijut,a), akle (Albizzia terocarp family form the predominating tim­ acle), banuyo (Wallaceodendron celebi­ ber species and constituting about 75 per cum), etc. cent by volume. They thrive under varied 3. Pine type.-This is the forest type conditions, f.rom the moist valley bottoms found in the mountainous regions of high to hilly or mountainous country in all parts altitude of northern Luzon. As a rule, the cf the Philippines except in areas of high stand is open and scattered, the principal ~ltitude in Mountain Province. The com­ species, the Benguet pine (Pinus insularis). position of the forest is generally complex, Tapulao (Pinus merkusii) is found in the consisting, as a rule, of several stories. They high mountains of Zambales and Mindoro. form the upper story in more or less purn The pines practically grow in pure stands ~tand. This forest type is the main source except in places of lower elevations where of lumber supply. About 70 per cent of they are mixed with hardwoods. They are the annual production of lumber is repre­ a potential source of turpentine. sented by the predominating seven species 4. Mangrove Type.-This type is found of the lauan family, namely, white lauan on tidal flats at the mouth$ of streams (Pentacme contorta), red lauan (Shorea ne­ and on the shores of sheltered bays. Ma­ grosensis), tangile (Shorea p0lysperma), jority of the stand is composed of members mayapis (Shorea squamata), apitong (Dip­ of the family Rhizophoraceae, consisting of terocarpus t,randiflorus), yakal (Hopea sp.) the following species: Bakauan, busain, po­ and guijo ( Shorea guiso ). totan, langarai and tangal. Other specie;; 2. M olave type.-This type of forest is found in this type of forest are pagatpat, more open than the Dipterocarp type, and api-api, tabo, tabigi, piagau and dungonlate. the volume of timber per unit area is much The mangrove species are the principal less. It occurs in regions where there are sources of firewood, tanbark, cutch, dyewood distinct wet and dry seasons. Local soil and charcoal. Nipa palms grow a l o n g conditions inte·nsify the effects of the dry streams in many parts of the tidal flats. In season, thus, during this season there are many places it grows in dense stand. places approaching desert conditions. Ma­ 5. Beach Type.-Above the high tide lave predominates on dry limestone ridges, line are found sandy beaches where the hence such forests are designated as "Mo- original form of vegetation has been kept.

TENTH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE Page 5 This is a distinct type known as the "Beach nearly absent. The climatic conditions are type." The frontal zone usually has a tangle very moist. The trees are mostly dwarf of vegetation, of which pandan is conspi­ because they are greatly exposed to strong cuous. The principal trees in this type are winds. Their trunks and branches are gen­ talisai, dapdap, dungon-late, palomaria, ago­ erally covered with mosses, liverworths, ho, bani and tawalis. ferns and orchids. The principal species are Dacrydium spp., Podocarpus spp., Eugenia 6. Mid-mountain and Mossy Type.-This spp., Myristica spp., Symplocos spp. and type is found on high and very rough moun­ Tristania decorticata. tainous regions, and as such, they are es­ The volume of standing timber which sentially protection forests. The topography includes tree3 40 centimeters and over in of the regions where this type is found is diameter is estimated, as of June 30, 1953, characte·rized by steep main ridges rising to at about 1,081,778,000 cubic meters or peaks whose sides are cut into similar ridge" 458,673,872,000* board feet, as shown be­ by deep canyons. The soil is shallow or low:

Commercial forests: Accessible forests ...... 707,482,680 Cu. M. 65.40% Inaccessible (Protection) forests ...... 272,220,600 Cu. M. 25.17% Non-commercial forests (accessible) ...... 95,021,913 Cu. M. 8.78% Mangrove ...... 7,052,770 Cu. M. .65% Total ...... 1,081,777,963 Cu. M. 100.00%

Table I shows the approximate area and cies, namely, yakal, guijo, red lauan, tangile, volume of standing timber in public forests mayapis, apitong, palosapis, white lauan, as of June 30, 1953. bagtican and almon. About 7 5 per cent of the stand of high­ The following shows the stand .of· tim­ land forests is composed of Dipterocarp spe- ber by groups:*

First group ...... 73,020,013 Cu. M. 6.75% Second group ...... 119,969,176 Cu. M. 11.09% Third group ...... 518,279,822 Cu. M. 47.91% Fourth group ...... 370,508,952 Cu. M. - 34.25% Total ...... 1,081,777,963 Cu. M. - 100.00%

Value of Standing Timber.-The Gov­ public forests. At present, the rates of for­ ernment is collecting forest charges and re­ est charges and reforestation fund charges forestation fund charges on timber cut from are given below:

Forest Reforestation Charges Fund For each cubic meter of first group timber ... P3.50 PO.SO For each cubic meter of second group timber . 2.00 0.50 For each cubic meter of third group timber ... 1.25 0.40 For each cubic meter of fourth group timber . 0.60 0.40

Based on forest charges and reforestation The standing timber has a commercial fund charges alone, the estimated value of value estimated at P27,044,450,000.00 based the standing timber is Pl,834,022,000:oo. on an average price of P25.00 per cubic

Page 6 FORESTRY LEAVES meter for logs. Sawn into lumber this tim­ when it was organized under the American ber will yield ar::iund 270,444,500,000 board regime was to develop the lumber industry. feet which at the· present average price of For this purpose, it conducted studies on PlS0.00 per 1,000 board feet, F.O.B. Philip­ the be·.>t ways the Philippine woods could pine ports, gives a commercial value of be manufactured into articles of commerce. F48,680,010,000.00. This gives an insight Another step taken was to popularize the of potential contributions that the timber Philippine woods by exhibiting samples in resources can give· to our national economy. mternational expositions abroad and in local Distribution cf Important Commercial carnivals and town fairs. Our red lauan, Forests.-At the beginning of the American tangile, mayapis, bagtican, almon and white administration, the Philippines had exten­ !auan, which are known in foreign markets sive commercial forests of fine timber. In m: Philippine mahogany, easily found ac­ many places, the forest edges were along ceptance abroad. Various species were te.>t­ river banks and along coast lines. With ed in the laboratory for tensile and cross­ the advent of American administration, dev­ hending strengths. Kiln drying and air-dry­ elopment in agriculture, commerce and in­ ing studies were also conducte·d to test the dustry enhanced the cutting of timber. Fol· seasoning qualities of the various woods. lowing the law of least resistance, the lum­ Durability test was also conducted to deter­ bermen concentrated their operations in mine their resistance when in contact with E'asily accessible areas. Illegal kaingin mak· the ground. ing accounted also for the opening of wide Simultaneously the exploitation of com­ timbered areas in many accessible places. mercial forests was started by American As a result, the large blocks of important technicians with American capital. Modern commercial forests that remain today are logging and sawmill equipment capable of located far in the· interior of unsettled re­ mass production following the American gions, in areas of rough topography or in i::atte·rn of timber exploitation in the Pacific meas bordering the Pacific coasts where Northwest were introduced, replacing in a transportation and ·loading are periodically large extent the slow, primitive method of difficult. Specifically, they are located in logging and milling. Techniques in logging ~he interior of Agusan and Davao, Cotabato, and milling were also introduce-cl by Amer­ Lanao, Ca marine·;; Sur, Samar and N egros ican technicians. Since then the lumber in­ Island, along the Pacific coasts of Surigao, dustry progressed rapidly as shown by the Davao, Quezon and Cagayan, and in the fact that timber production increased from rough sections of the provinces of Cotabato, 46,398,960 board feet in 1902 to the· highest Zamboanga del Sur Zamboanga del Norte, pre-war figure of 1,093,218,704 board feet Misamis Oriental, Camarines Norte, Moun­ tain Province, Basilan Island and Leyte. in 1937. At the outbreak of the last world Palawan Island has also wide area of com­ war, there were 163 sawmills having ag­ mercial forests. Concentrations of opera­ gregate daily capacity of 1,693,000 board tions employing modern sawmill equipment feet. Actual production of lumber amount­ and heavy machinery for logging are at f'd to 348 million board feet annually. Lum­ present found in these province;; except Pa­ ber and timber exports increased from 87,000 lawan where timber stands are of the spe·· board feet in 1903 to 251,694,880 board cies other than Philippine mahogany and feet in 1937. The principal foreign markets where the high cost of transportation de- for Philippine woods were: United States, 1racts the interest of investors. Canada, Japan, Australia, China; South Development of Lumber Industry.--One Africa, England, Germany and other Euro­ of the· first tasks of the Bureau of Forestry pean countries.

TENTH ANNIVERSARY· ISSUE Page 7 The lumber industry was almost com­ Production pletely destroyed during the war. How­ Fiscal year (Sq. Ft.) ever, it rehabilitated itself very remarkably 1947 425,610 in spite of the difficulties that confronted 1948 2,405,340 it. Logging and sawmill plants were ra­ 1949 3,980,612 pidly rehabilitated. During the fiscal year 1950 10,936,994 1952-1953, there· were 446 sawmills with 1951 22,306,290 r;ggregate daily capacity of 3,322,700 board 1952 38,233,044 56,832,653 feet. Actual lumber production during the 1953 year amounted to 429,139,547 board feet. The importation of plywood dropped ra­ During the same fiscal year, timber produc­ pidly from 11,382,326 square feet in 1949 tion of 1,206,114,589 board feet surpassed to 262,276 square feet in 1953 due to in­ the highest annual production figure before creased production of the local producers. the war. Lumber and timber exports, which The use of pl¥wood in many types of amounted to 427,114,905 board feet, almost building construction has so rapidly gained cfoubled the highest annual export figure oopularity that almost all the plywood pro­ before the war. Until at present, the lum­ duced are consumed locally. The prospect ber industry largely depends on the local of exporting plywood is faced with the prob­ market ,where about 85 per cent of the lum­ lems of how to improve the quality of man­ ber and timber produced is disposed of an­ ufacture and to reduce the cost of produc­ nually. It may be said that in the field t~on so as to enable the producers to place their products in highly competitive mar­ of lumber industry, the Philippines is the kets abroad. most advanced of all the Southeast Asian countries in point of production, mechaniza­ Investment in the Lumber Industry. tion and efficiency developed by the men At the outbreak of the last world war employed. the lumber industry was already highly developed with estimated investment of Plywood Industry. P46,000,000.00. Most of the investment The plywood industry marked a new was represented by the cost of machinery development in the lumber industry. Its and equipment used in logging and milling. expansion dates back from the close of the The amount of capital invested i·n the lum­ last world war, although this industry was ber industry, as of June 30, 1953, is ap­ introduced by the Americans over 30 years proximately Pl 17,595,000.00. 0 f this ago. At the outbreak of the war, there were amount, about P63,273,00.00 represents in­ only two plywood mills operating in the vestment in sawmills alone. It is on ac­ Islands but these were destroyed during the count of the enormous investment it absorbs war. Today, there are seven modern ply­ that the lumber industry is given consider­ wood mills operating in the Philippines with E"ble attention in our program of national investment of about P5,000,000.00. One of economic development. Revenue Derived from the Lumber Industry. these mills has only recently started opera­ Forest charges and reforestation fund tion. In addition to these plywood mills, charges due on timber cut from public for­ a veneer mill had been put up in Basilan ests are the principal revenue that the lum­ Island. The expansion of plywood industry ber industry contributes to the government. after the last world war may be gleaned Collection of reforestation fund by the Bu­ from the following annual production of ply­ reau of Forestry was started only on June wood: 7, 1947, in accordance with Republic Act

Page 8 FORESTRY LEAVES No. 115. During the fiscal year 1952-1953, not a problem of big capitalists who can the Bureau of Internal Revenue actually afford to employ high-salaried technicians. collected P3,450,956.00 of forest charges on The small capitalists, on the other hand, tjmber alone and the Bureau of Forestry geneTally suffer the consequences of lack of collected Pl,025,694.52 of reforestation fund. technical "know-how." Including lumber inspection fees of Lack of capital is another problem that P581,253.00, sawmill permit fees of P98,- confronts not only the small operators but 875.00 and license fees, license bond depo­ z lso some of the big operators. Several big sits forfeited by the government amounting operators stopped their operation or with­ to P240,440.00, the lumber industry con­ drew from the lumber industry due to finan­ tributed to the government a total revenue cial difficulties. But the worst hit are the of P5,397,218.00 during the year. This ex­ small operators whose failure is caused more cludes indirect taxes derived from the lum­ by lack of capital than by any other cause. ber industry, such as sales tax, income tax, They have to be e"Xtended financial assist­ ~oreign exchange tax, etc. ance by some means. During the fiscal year 1952-1953, ther~ Freight rates on logs and lumber are were about 90,000 persons employed in the quite high. It is an item of cost that the lumber industry. Due to the wide geograph­ lumbermen have· always complained of. ical distribution of lumbering operations, big Freight on each 1,000 board feet of logs number of workers find employment in log­ from the Philippines to · Hawaii and the ging or in sawmill in their respective prov· Pacific Coast ports of the United States and inces. It is noticeable that many workeTs Canada is $45.00, to Atlantic and Gulf ports, in thickly populated provinces, like Ilocos $56.50, to Hongkong, P54.00, to Bangkok Provinces, Cebu and Bohol, move to active and Singapore, P54.00, to Djakarta, P59.00, lumbering districts for work. Labor is not to Rangoon, Colombo, Calcutta and Bom­ f' problem in the lumber industry, the sup­ bay, P74.00. For lumber shipment to Ha­ ply be·ing in excess of the need of the in­ waii and the Pacific Coa11t ports of the United dustry. States and Canada, $42.50, to the Atlantic It is significant that, as in other major and Gulf ports, $54.00, to Hongkong, P24.50, industries, the workers in the lumber indus­ to Japan, PS4.00, to Saigon and Bangkok try have learned to assert their right to end Singapore, P39.50, to Djakarta, P43.00 have due share of the fruits of their labor E.nd to Rangoon, Colombo, Calcutta and and to have a better standard of living. As Bombay, P46.50. As the United States is n result, the lumbermen are now incurring the premier market for Philippine lumber, greater expense for better wage payment the high freight charges on shipment to that and for the protection of health and secur­ market should be reasonably reduced in or­ ity of their men. Progressive lumber com­ der to induce the ·expansion of our lumber panies provide free light and water, good export trade. hospitals, schools, playgrounds, theaters, The heavy tax burden borne by.the lum­ churches and other conveniences for logging ber industry is strongly objected to by the and sawmill camp communities. They also lumbermen. The 17% exchange tax on im­ give their men vacation leave and other ported machinery and equipment for logging privileges. All these mean increased cost of L'lnd sawmilling should be eliminated if the production. lumber industry is to be given any relief Problems of Lumber Industry.-There at all. As the agricultural machinery im­ ere now many Filipinos who are considered ported to the Philippines is exempted from technicians in the production of logs and payment of 17% exchange tax, the imported lumber. Technical "know how" is, therefore, machinery for logging and sawmilling which

TENTH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE Page 9 Elso produce commodities of commerce ~re firewood, charcoal, rattan, palms, vines; should also be exempted from payment of bohos and bamboos, and orchids. Many 17 'lo exchange tax. trees yield nuts, resins, oils, gums and tan­ The wharfage tax of P0.60 per cubic ning or dye barks. Almaciga trees yield meter of export logs and fl.itches should also resin known as Manila copal and Benguet be eliminated for the reason that all logs pine trees yield turpentine. The predom­ that are exported do not pass any govern­ inant trees in mangrove swamps produce fire­ ment wharf. Export ft itches are almost in· wood, charcoal, tannin and dye barks. Nipa variably loaded at the private wharves of palms growing in thick stands in most man­ lumber companies. grove swamps areas produce leaves valuable Mismanagement is often the cause of for thatching houses and yield sap that is failure of the small operators. This prob­ converted into fermented beverage or man­ lem cannot be well remedied unless the ufactured into alcohol. Minor forest pro­ small operators are extended financial as­ ducts gathered from public forests are gen­ sistance to enable them to employ exper erally consumed locally. A few of them ienced men to gather their business effi­ constitute commodities for export. ciently. Estimated Quantities of Minor Forest MINOR FOREST PRODUCTS Products in Public Forests.-The estimated Aside from timber, Philippine forests quantities of different minor forest products have abundant minor products that are of in public forests are shown below as of June economic value. In the upland forests there 30, 1954:

Firewood: Upland species ...... 118,259,000 cubic meters Mangrove species ...... 2,831,000 cubic meters Rattan: U nsplit rattan ...... _ . _ ...... 777,111,000 linear meters Split rattan ...... _ . . . . 114,250,000 kilos Nipa shingles . _ .. __ ... _ . _ ...... _ . _ .. _ . _ 196,221,000 pieces Nipa sap ...... _ ... _ .... _ ..... _ .. 39,246,000* liters Bohos and Bamboos _ . _ ...... 220,450,000 pieces Manila copal ...... 24,577,000 kilos Manila elemi ...... 322,000* kilos Dipterocarp resins ...... 8,852,000 kilos Oleo resin ...... 50,001,000* liters Tanbark and dyebark ...... 1,542,433,000 kilos Diliman and other Vines ...... 3,057,000 kilos Buri leaves ...... 2,463,000 kilos Buri fibers .. '...... 135,000 kilos Charcoal ...... 7,878,000 cubic meters Lurnbang nuts and Kernels ...... 1,792,000 kilos

Estimated Value of Minor Forest Pro­ of Internal Revenue P183,606.34 represent­ c1ucts.-The forest charges on the above mi­ ing forest charges on different minor for~ nor forest products are estimated at P66,- est products cut and collected from public 216,000.00. Their commercial value is es­ forests. timated at P758,769,000.00. WILDLIFE Revenue from Minor Forest Products.­ The forests of the Philippines are havens Considerable amount of forest charges is of wildlife which includes game animals like collected by the Bureau of Internal Reve­ deer, tamaraw, wild pigs, etc., game birds r:ue annually. During the fiscal year 1952- like wild ducks, snipe, doves, pigeons, etc., 1953, there· were collected by the Bureau 2nd protected insect and song birds. Unlike

Page 10 FORESTRY LEAVES the forests of Malaya, India and Africa, CONSERVATION OF FOREST RESOURCES there are no fierce wild animals in Philip­ In forestry, the concept of conservation pine forests. There is no inventory of the does not mean accumulation of forest wealth­ !<.umber of game animals and birds found Rather, it refers to systematic cutting of in Philippine forests. It is estimated, how­ timbec and other forest growths in such a C'ver, that for every hectare of forest land manner that the forest capital is kept in its: there is PO.SO worth of game and wildlife. present condition, if not better, so that it This will give us a total value of P7,- can provide a sustained supply of raw ma­ 869,000.00. terials for the need of the people. Unlike mining in which the ores removed from the FOREST LANDS bosom of the earth are not replaced at all, The wise use of forest lands is a source !umbering, if carried on scientifically, can be of government revenue. Under Section kept on indefinitely because the timber or 1838 of the Revised Administrative Code, other forest growths cut and removed are the Director of Forestry may lease or grant being replaced. Obviously the enemies of permits for the best use of forest lands oc forest conservation are the destruction of vacant public lands not declared alienable forest growths by illegal kaingin making, the disposable land. unregulated cutting by illegal forest usera and the wasteful method . of forest extrac­ INDIRECT BENEFITS tion. The responsibility of conserving the The indirect or intangible benefits de­ forests rests on the Bureau of Forestry. At rived from the forests are its influences on present we have adequate laws for conserv­ stream flow, soil and climate. Such benefits ing the forests. These laws are well im­ cannot be evaluated in terms of pesos but plemented by forest regulations of the Bu- in general well-being of the country. For­ 1 eau of Forestry. In the granting of for­ ests act as water reservoirs and as such, they estry license, the Bureau of Forestry is regulate stream flow, prevent flood in a large guided by the principle that the one who degree and minimize the silting of streams. is most qualified to protect the forest is The supply of water for water power and given the preference to get the license. The for irrigation depends upon good forest cllowable annual cut granted in the license c-over. It is for this reason that the water­ is calculated not to exceed the estimated ~heds of streams supplying water for water ::.nnual growth of the forest and, at the same power have to be kept under adequate for­ time, it is based on the volume of over­ est cover and must be reforested when nec­ mature trees in the ~rea which have to be e·ssary. The importance of this matter must cut to save them from deterioration. The be well recognized in view of the fact that method of cutting, gathering and removing water powers are now being developed in the forest products is prescribed in the li­ various parts of the country. The Ambuk­ censes to avoid wastes of raw materials and lao Hydroelectric plant is a very typical unnecessary damage to the forest. The cut­ example of the project ting of trees below the prescribed limit i$ Forest cover minimizes soil erosion and prohibited. The pUrpose is to avoid. the cut­ enriches the soil fertility content. Forests ting of trees that have not reached their provide excellent hunting grounds, healthful economic age. Such are the regulations of recreational opportunities, food, and shelter the Bureau of Forestry designed to con­ and habitats for wildlife and game animals. serve the forest but, the perennial problem They ameliorate climate and make it health­ of lack of fund and personnel has made ful for man. They also enhance the natural it impossible for the Bureau of Forestry beauty of landseapes. to stop the illegal kaingin making, the un-

TENTH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE Page 11 regulated extraction by illegal cutters and for their products. A corollary to the ex­ the wasteful cutting of timber and other pansion· of lumber and timber production is forest products by forestry licenses. the expansion of lumber markets. The for­ It is significant to state that the Bureau eign markets should be developed much fur­ of Forestry is now starting a more effec­ ther in order to stimulate increased pro­ tive measure towards fore·.st conservation. duction. Steps are now being undertaken to reforest Forest conservation should be given pro­ the logged-over areas so as to supplement per attention in the planning of accelerated by artificial planting the natural regenera­ industrial development of the country in tion of such areas. This is a much cheaper order that there could be a continuity of method of restoring forest areas than by supply of timber and other forest products. reforesting them after they have been re­ In order to reach this obje'Ctive, the Bureau duced to grassland by illegal kaingin makers. cf Forestry must be given adequate funds A movement is presently being started and personnel. by the Bureau of Forestry for effective for­ est conservation. The step being taken is Every work creation is threefold . . . First, to require the timbeT licensees to practice there is ·the creative idea, passionless, timeless, be­ selective logging. By this measure, destruc­ holding the whole work complete at once ... Cec­ tive method of logging will be greatly min­ ond, there is the creative energy begotten of that iI11ized, if n.c;>t entirely stopped, and the nee· idea, working in time from the beginning to the end, with Sff'eet and. paSlfions . . . Third, there is essary stocking of timber in the area for the creative power, the meaning of the work and s1,1cceeding cuts would be provided so as to its response to the living soul . . . And these three rna.intain continuo\ls supply of timber for are one, each equally in itself the whole mark. the present and future needs of the people. -Dorothy L. Sayers

A REMINDER ; The Philippines still has. abundant forest Compliments resources. The standing timber is estimated at 1,081,777,963 cubic meters of which 707,- of 482,680 cubic meters under the accessible c;:ommercial forests are suitable for commer­ ci.al exploitatjon. Our annual cut of about 1 billion board feet can be increased con­ Mayor Isabelo siderably without depleting the forest pro­ vided that the illegal kaingin making or Abeleda the shifting method of cultivation and the ·Timber Licensee illegal and destructiv:e cutting of timber are controlled. ln al.most all Dipterocarp for­ -Specialty: ests, overmature trees constitute consider­ Railroad Ties (Malave) ~ble volume of the stand. This overmature (Under contract timber must be cut an;' _utilized properly as fast as possible in order to save it from w/MRR) deterioration. Posts (Malave, Tindalo, The lumbermen have machinery and I pil, Bansalaguin, etc.) equipment adequate to increase lumber and timber production. So as to make max­ Address: imum use of these investments, they should San. Jose, Occidental Mindoro have additional capital . and good markets

Page 12 FORESTRY LEAVES