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[av_heading heading=’Restoring the country’s native forests’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY JULIO P. YAP JR.
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February 2, 2018
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TO SAVE and restore the country’s native forests, the production of plantation-grown timber must be increased.
Following this, a project on advancing the required knowledge and techniques for utilizing available genetic resources of tree species, as well as establishing the foundation genetic materials for long-term breeding programs was reviewed.
The program’s accomplishments, which were highlighted during the review, included the collection of 30 kilograms of falcata seeds from 253 mother trees; deployment of arrays of breeding populations across the target plantation areas and intended products; and trained teams of technicians for tree improvement technicians to support the country’s wood industry.
The project involves selecting information on the best genetic performance from seedlots collected from various sources that will eventually produce superior trees of yemane and falcata.
The project envisions to develop and produce falcata and yemane trees with excellent bole form, with resistance to major pests and diseases and with shorter rotation or harvesting time.
Yemane and falcata are wood tree species known to be light and fast-growing.
Yemane wood can be processed into construction materials, particularly for furniture and joinery, while falcata wood can be processed into paper, veneers, and crates.
The project aims to acquire genetic information on the breeding populations of falcata (Paraserianthes falcataria [L] Nielsen) and yemane (Gmelina arborea Roxb.) to guide future breeding and tree improvement programs.
This three-year project is jointly implemented by Isabela State University for the yemane component, and Central Mindanao University for the falcata component.
As the funding and monitoring agency, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) attended the end review and evaluation of the project, “Advancement of Science for the Sustainable Utilization and Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources of Falcata and Yemane,” in Bolinao, Pangasinan.
The review covered various topics, such as tree breeding, shortening rotation periods, and enhancing plantation production.
The review also emphasized the importance of identifying superior mother trees, which will undergo genetic characterization.
Implementing SUCs and agencies will submit necessary requirements and will strategize on how to sustain the project in terms of data gathering prior to its completion.
Meanwhile, researchers from six implementing state universities and colleges and agencies gathered at the DOST-PCAARRD to discuss and assess the status and accomplishments of the “National Research and Development Project on Watershed Management in the Philippines (Phase 2).”
With a vision of enhancing science and technology-based watershed and ecosystem management, a team from the University of the Philippines-Los Baños aims to develop a network of learning watersheds and watershed management decision support system.
DOST-PCAARRD served as the funding and monitoring agency of the two-year project.
The network of learning watersheds will serve as venues for building up a long series of empirical databases and local knowledge on watershed and ecosystem resources through long term continuous monitoring.
As the empirical database and knowledge grow, watershed management decisions and policies are expected to become more effective in the attainment of the project’s objectives. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)
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