Description
by: Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan
In the year 1900, the Philippines boasted the richest rainforest in the world. 70% of the total land area of these islands were blanketed in forest-covering a total of 21 Million hectares.
After 100 years, forest cover has been reduced to 18.3% of total land area covering barely 5.5 Million hectares. Most of this is secondary forest. Barely 800,000 hectares is primary old growth forest.
As of the beginning of 1999, 1.4 Million hectares were still covered by Timber Licensing Agreements, 516,412 hectares were covered by IFMAs and tree plantations. And, were additional 500,000 hectares in Mindanao were being studied for inclusion in new timber corridors.
The Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park spanning an area of only 360,000 hectares is the last great rainforest of the Philippines. It is besieged.
This book tells the story of that forest.
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