BUCARI HIDES GIANT TREES | DENR rangers discover ‘virgin forest’

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Sunday, April 16, 2017
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ILOILO City – Forest rangers of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 discovered an old-growth forest of giant trees in Sitio Bongol, Barangay Bucari, Leon, Iloilo.

The rangers made the discovery using an improved LAWIN (Landscape and Wildlife Indicators) System – an innovative technology in monitoring the status of forests.

Old-growth forests are relatively old and undisturbed. The dominant trees in them are beyond their average life span and these forests are mostly free of logging or other human disturbances.

While on foot patrol in Sitio Bongol, the rangers spotted diverse giant tree species living inside the forest such as the Philippine mahogany (laua-an), kalantas (lanigpa), Philippine rosewood (toog) among many others.

According to DENR-6, these species are best for furniture and plywood production and recognized in the local and world market.

However, some of these species are now considered vanishing timbers, such as the Philippine rosewood (toog).

The forest rangers also discovered inside the forest a one-foot long mushroom locally called ihi kang kering-kering.

Old-growth forests are often biologically diverse, and home to many rare – if not threatened or endangered – species of plants and animals

Mushrooms play a vital role in the ecosystem, without them the forest will be very dirty, according to the DENR.

However, DENR cautioned the public; some mushrooms could be poisonous.  

Barangay Bucari is part of a vast area of mountainous terrain situated in the highlands of Leon and another municipality (Alimidian). This area is generally called Bucari – a special economic zone for tourism and ecological enterprise due to its cool climate, topography, highland attractions and scenery. 

Located in 58 kilometers from Iloilo City, Bucari spans terrain and mountain ridges that are part of the Central Panay mountain ranges.

Fauna found in the area include the Visayan warty pig, snakes, lizards, hawks, frogs, hornbill, and monkeys. Species of existing endemic flora are pine trees, narra, teak, bacan, antipolo, hambabalop, mahogany, antosan-dilaw, kultingan and undergrowth coffee.

“The discoveries that were made are positive indications that we have a rich ecosystem in the region and that we should continue protecting it,” said DENR-6 director Jim Sampulna.

The LAWIN System was a huge help to DENR-6’s forest rangers, he added.

DENR-6 partnered with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to develop the LAWIN System.

“We continue to campaign and remind the public not to destroy these kinds of forests or be charged with violating Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act,” said Sampulna.

The LAWIN Forest and Biodiversity Protection System is an integrated science-based assessment, user-friendly and assists in the environmental monitoring of forests and biodiversity.

It allows the communities and environment authority to preserve the status of natural forests and also to properly manage the ecosystem against degradation and deforestation, said Sampulna. (DENR-6/PN)

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