2. • 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.
3.
4.
5. 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
6. 2) 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 thickets
6) Cultivated fields
7. Forests 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. • Natural factors may also bring down forests
pests, grazing and gnawing animals, lightning that may
cause fires, and calamities like storms or strong winds.
11. Lumber- 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
12. 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..
13. Other Products- pine, bamboo, buri, sugar tanning
materials, and essential oils
In addition, forest trees provide food and shelter to our
animals.
Pine Essential oil
Bamboo