Another Big Haven

In going to an area for possible biodiversity enumeration, it is very comfortable and easy to list the more conspicuous entities first. Even if I am not an outsider in our area, it is also easier for me to list first the big ones. We have a tree which has eluded me the identity until I visited Bislig, Agusan del Sur in Mindanao. The areas along the roads through a 6 hour bus travel from Butuan City to Bislig are mostly planted with these very conspicuous trees. We also saw trucks hauling these logs presumably from the plantations to the city.

Our tree is not common is our vicinity, it just grow there very luxuriantly and quickly as there are no other trees competing for sunlight. It easily outdid the height of the coconut trees around it. While in Bislig, I realized our tree can be sold to paper millers or furniture makers.

Birds love cavorting with one another inside its canopy. We see yellow orioles, coppersmith barbet, bulbuls, oriental magpie robin, brahminy kites, crows and other birds which i can't yet identify. That black something at the young branch is an oriole's nest. I once saw  orioles and crows fight over something there inside the canopy, and they give very loud fighting sounds. I can only presume that the crows are trying to 'birdnap' the young 'oriolet' from the nest. Knowing how crows snatch my mother's chicks, I am sure they can also snatch the young orioles. 

Above is how the canopy looks like during the start of the rainy season

It shed leaves during the dry season, March to May, and sprout leaves again when the rains come.

 The trunk is now about 3-4 feet in diameter, although i really did not make a direct measurement. It is near the road so everybody will look at it when passing by. I see some critters climbing this trunk many times. Some of them are lizards and chameleons. That long molded line vertically arising on the trunk is a termites highway. They have strong noses in knowing the dead branches which they can feed on, even at that enormous height.

Without any big tree around it is standing proud and imposing in that area. It is a big haven for many creatures; birds, reptiles, insects. So, buyers' offer  to cut that tree fell on deaf ears. 

My nephew here was 7 years old, now he is 14. I cannot get a photo of the present trunk and buttress, as it is covered by profuse vines and bushes.It is clear here that no big size trees can be seen around it. Only some molave trees about 1 ft in diameter are present at the back. 

This Big Haven for creatures is Albizia falcata, (syn Albizia falcataria, Molucca albizia). It is a tree legume that fixes atmospheric oxygen to use for its fast growth. So it tolerates poor soils. 

Family: Mimosaceae

Distribution: It is native to the eastern islands of the Indonesian archipelago (Moluccas) and New Guinea, Southeast Asia like the Philippines, Burma, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It is now also introduced to tropical Africa and America. In the Philippines it is grown as a cash crop most especially in deforested areas, harvested after 7-8 years and another 8 years from the coppice. 

Uses: It is one of the fastest growing timber trees, so its wood is light, used for making paper and substitute for pinewood as a pulping source. It is also used to make shelves, pallets, packing cases, match and tea boxes, and matches. It can also be used for making furniture. 

Reference: For other detailed characteristics of growing, harvesting, economics, please click this reference.