LUCBAN, Quezon – Endangered tree species, ‘Makaasim’ and ‘Batikuling,’ will soon have high quality planting stocks through a project.
The project, “S&T Interventions on the Production of Quality Planting Materials of Two Important Forest Tree Species [Makaasim (Syzygium nitidum Benth) and Batikuling (Litsea leytensis Merr.)] Indigenous in Mt. Banahaw de Lucban,” is being monitored and funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
The project will provide a scientific way of producing high quality planting stocks of indigenous trees for tree plantation. It is expected to develop rooting protocols for cloned Batikuling and Makaasim tree species and produce high quality planting stocks of indigenous forest tree species by this year.
In relation to the monitoring activities of the project, a team from PCAARRD recently visited Southern Luzon State University.
During the visit, Forester Kathreena Gutierrez, project leader, reported that the maintenance and management of the hedge garden was 50% complete. She also reported that the enhancement of clonal nursery and rooting facilities was 60% complete, while the test on varying concentrations of rooting hormone and mycorrhiza formulation in rooting Batikuling and Makaasim stem cuttings is 73% complete.
The PCAARRD monitoring team lead by Dr. Leila America, Forestry and Environment Research Division (FERD) Director, visited the hedge garden, clonal nursery and rooting facilities, and recovery area of Makaasim and Batikuling tree species.