Forests and Forests Wealth

          Forests are one of the rich natural resources of the Philippines. Forrest lands total 16,633,000 hectares, representing 55% of the total land area. Of this total forested area, 14,452,650 hectares are commercial forests and 2,180,00 non-commercial forests. In the Asian world, the Philippines ranks third in forest reserves, the first being Indonesia and the second, Japan.

          There is much wealth in the Philippine forests. There are 3,800 species of trees in the forests. Of great demand for construction purposes are the timber of the almon, apitong, guijo, ipil, red and white lauan, narra, tangile, tindalo and yakal. Aside from timber, the Philippine forests yield valuable dyewoods, medicinal plants, cutch (tanbark), guttapercha, resins, nipa palms and rattan.

          Unfortunately, the Philippine forests have been destroyed by illegal logging, fires, and slash-and-burn (kaingin) farming. The wanton destruction of forests has proceeded at the rate of 170,000 hectares a year, one of the fastest rates of denudation in the world. At this alarming rate of destruction, the Philippines could become deforested within a few decades.
Narra, Philippine National Tree:

          Most famous of the Philippine woods is the narra (Pterocarpus indicus), which is regarded by foresters as the "Queen of Philippine Trees". It is the national tree of the Philippines, in accordance with an executive proclamation of Governor General Frank Murphy dated February 1, 1934. In the Philippine forests, it may be seen towering in majestic height, with a crown of golden flowers. It has a massive truck clothed with a soft grayish bark that exudes a scarlet liquid of great value for dyeing and medicinal purposes.