LOS BANOS, Laguna, Philippines – A special laboratory for the production of quality tree species mainly for reforestation purposes has been constructed here.
The clonal facility was set up by the Los Banos-based Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB).
“DENR-ERDB now has a bigger laboratory primarily built for the production of more quality planting materials of forest tree species, especially the indigenous species,” ERDB Director Marcial C. Amaro Jr. said.
For years, the bureau has been conducting research on the cloning of different tree species to produce seedlings that have a high chance of growing into healthy trees and in turn can provide economic and environmental benefits.
So far, ERDB researchers have developed cloning protocols for dipterocarp and other indigenous species as well as fast-growing exotic forest trees.
“In this cloning facility, our priority at least for the next six years is to support President Benigno Aquino 111’s program for the environment which is the National Greening Program (NGP) spearheaded by the DENR under the leadership of Secretary Ramon JP Paje,” Amaro said.
He added: “Our goal is to make available thousands of quality planting materials that will be used for NGP’s purposes and to continue ERDB’s research projects on the cloning of quality forest tree species.”
The clonal facility is described by its supervisor, Angelito B. Exconde, as comparable to existing “state-of-the art” facilities in terms of its design and the materials that were used. Within the facility are areas for sterilization and potting, rooting, recovery, and hardening where daily operation for growing cloned materials is being undertaken.
A training hall will also be built within the facility as a venue in extending ERDB forestry technologies to those who share the same field of work and interest in rehabilitating the Philippine forest ecosystem, Exconde said.
“We further plan to open it for educational tours for students and other visitors to make them aware of the importance of trees and the knowledge on using quality planting materials in tree-planting endeavors,” he added.