Did you know that you have friends in our forests?
Narra, Talisay, White Lauan, and Bagras are just a few of them. Many of them started growing long before your lolo and lola were born!
But first, why are these trees our friends?
A good friend shares with you, listens to your problems, and knows your favorite food. Unfortunately not many people realize that the Philippines is full of “forest friends” like this!
Forests share
Forests share with us many things. Water from forested watersheds is shared with you to bathe. Medicine and knowledge of forests continue to be shared between Indigenous People and scientists to benefit everyone. The benefits are so great, that unfortunately some people and groups steal from forests. Some people don’t know how to share!
Forests help you forget your problems
Forests are where we can forget the stresses of school or work. In fact some people “forest bathe” to increase relaxation and exercise. You are always welcome to talk to a tree; they will always stand by you, and listen.
Forests give us food
Water from forested watersheds also help us grow our food in farms, which we then buy from the market, karinderia, or restaurant. Most of the food you eat come from agriculture dependent on forested watersheds.
Our Forest Friends are “native”
Would you trust a friend who understands you, or someone who hardly knows you?
Native trees are trees most familiar to local wildlife. Birds and bats have grown to love the fruits of native trees. Some native trees have evolved here to survive typhoons.
These trees have long been part of our local ecosystems.
Forest “Frenimies”
However for many years many people have been planting the opposite of native trees: exotic trees. These are trees from other countries, chosen because they grow faster, have beautiful flowers, or because the fruit or wood they provide are preferred for economic reasons.
Some of these trees might be ok for urban gardens or plantations, but these trees do no good for our forests or the forest ecosystems which share with us all the things mentioned earlier.
These trees are not well-adapted to the Philippines. Some easily fall after typhoons. Others grow fast and don’t allow space for local species to thrive.
Get to know your Forest Friends
To protect native trees and our forests, we must get to know them. Here is a partial list of some of the most beautiful and much-needed trees of the Philippines. Forest friends of the Philippines!
Join or organize your own tree trek
Adopt-a-Seedling
You can help grow more of our Forest Friends!
Through a minimal donation of three hundred fifty pesos (P350), you can Adopt A Seedling which will be planted in the Sierra Madre. It is home to many Forest Friends, and even the Haring Ibon or Philippine Eagle.
Adopt a seedling here today.
