Culandanum, Aborlan, Palawan: Newly Discovered Habitat of Pinus merkusii Jungh. & de Vr.

Abstract

Pinus merkuii Jungh. & de Vr. (Mindoro pine) were found thriving on one of the mountain peaks in Culandanum, Aborlan, Palawan. Though not a thick stand, wildlings were found scattered especially on the open part of the area.

The said mountain is constantly subjected to forest fire thus soil is covered with ashes and is thickly vegetated with Pteridium aquilinum (Linn.) Kuhn.

The foot and the middle part of the mountain were not affected with the forest fires thus huge trees of various species were growing, especially Agathis philippinensis Warb. (Almaciga) of the Araucariaceae. The almaciga trees were utilized by the locals for resins but some trees were dying due to indiscriminate tapping and unscrupulous burning by some jealous locals. Few big P. merkusii were also found on this part of the mountain.