Ecological  Restoration Project

A selection of framework species was used in the ecological restoration of a watershed located in Tadao, Pasuquin. A 100-hectare research and conservation site that is meticulously studied with floristics and ecological profile to restore the fragmented forests back to its natural vegetation. The site is a challenging area comprising ultramafic, forest over limestone, mountain spring waterways, and dry seasonal forests.

The restoration project is part of the National Greening Program in 2013 under the Philippine tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF) under the umbrella of the DENR R1.

Over a hundred thousand native seedlings

Over a 100 thousand seedlings were raised to augment the required project produced by the Northwestern University and its local community partner. About 30 species were chosen from the 242 floristic profiles of the area. They are keystone species as well as the most promising species as required in the Forest Research Restoration Unit guidelines of the RFRI.

Holistic collective effort, a community empowerment

The partner organization, farmers, local community and the academe crafted a system to facilitate the production of seedlings, hauling, planting and establishment. The indigenous knowledge of the local community were important to produce quality seedlings and time of planting based on their experience.

The whole community is participatory during the seedling production until the time of planting where each household were given a chance to work and get paid. The farmers organization also allotted budget for the repair of their irrigation canals. University Students were also participated in the planting of seedlings.

Monitoring and Evaluation

After 5 years of establishment, the site was assessed and found several trees with promising growth, eventually the vegetation is slowly returning to its vast greenery. However, some areas were burned caused by forest fires, but remaining trees are at their best vigor such as Calophyllum inophyllum and Calophyllum blancoi planted on areas that are always flooded during rainy season, this are springs and waterways. Barren areas are planted with Narra Pterocarpus indicus and Adaan' Albizia retusa and Bulala Nauclea orientalis were planted to augment natural population. Other species that were promising are the Terminalia catappa, Wrightia pubescens, Cassuarina equisetifolia, The Biodiversity Research unit of the CBCREEC visits the area to document the natural regeneration of endemic species such as Podocarpus costalis and Syzyguim spp.