The participants during the lecture on the development of seed technology protocols and macrosomatic clonal propagation techniques for forest tree species given by FERD technical staff, For. Romana A. Mauricio.

ERDB Main Office.  The Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) through its Forest Ecosystem Research Division (FERD) conducted the “Training on Propagation Techniques of Forest Tree Species” last April 25-27, 2023. Ms. Genivive N. Maberit and Mr. Rey Jean Mark A. Daanoy from the Coral Bay Nickel Corporation (CBNC) attended the event. The said mining company has been operating since 2005 and is regarded as one of the largest producers of Nickel and Cobalt Mixed Sulfide in the world. The company has requested a training on macro-somatic clonal propagation and nursery establishment from ERDB in preparation for CBNC’s site rehabilitation and reforestation.

Series of lectures on seed technology and clonal propagation of forest trees and hands-on training were provided by technical staff of ERDB-FERD led by For. Paul J. Cuadra.

On the first day of the training, lectures were given by the assigned FERD technical staff. For. Faith Anne Manarin, Science Research Analyst and For. Romana A. Mauricio, Supervising Science Research Specialist gave lectures on the different methods of propagating forest tree species through the development of seed technology protocols and clonal propagation techniques, respectively.

Mr. Allan Alinsunurin, ERDB Clonal Nursery staff, led the hands-on training on clonal propagation wherein the participants had an actual experience on planting Bignay [Antidesma bunius (Linn) Spreng] cuttings using misting and non-misting propagation techniques in ERDB clonal nursery.

The participants also visited the Bamboo Gallery and Forest Tree Seed Center (FTSC) at the ERDB Main Office, as well as the Los Baños Experimental Station (LBES) located within the Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve.

Some of the activities during the hands-on training such as seed collection, processing and handling and clonal propagation techniques (non-misting and misting methods) (top and bottom left photos); field visit at the Los Baños Experimental Station (LBES) located within the Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve (top right photo); and awarding of training certificate conducted at the FERD Conference Room (bottom right photo).

At the end of the training, Ms. Maberit and Mr. Daanoy of CBNC extended their gratitude and shared their insights regarding the activity.

Mr. Daanoy said, “Thankful po kami sa hands-on training na ito dahil nakita namin kung saan kami nagkulang at kung saan kami nagkamali sa pagtatanim ng mga forest trees. Nagpapasalamat  din po kami dahil hindi lang po yung nakasulat sa libro kundi mga praktikal na pamamaraan ang itinuro ng mga trainers na nag assist sa amin, he added.

For. Paul J. Cuadra, the OIC-Chief of FERD, encouraged the participants to do their own research using the best practices gained in this training and be observant on the results when they do simple experiments on clonal propagation.

As part of the participant’s post-training action plan, they assured the office that the knowledge they gained from this training will be cascaded and applied in the various rehabilitation and reforestation efforts of their mining company.

This will be an integral part of their operation, particularly as inputs in the implementation of their environmental management plan, as a responsible mining company.

In addition, the office will continue collaborating and establishing linkages among mining companies through the conduct of different trainings promoting the developed various technologies of ERDB for the sustainable and successful rehabilitation of our marginal and degraded environment. /Kim Aaron U. Tolentino and Ricky M. Florindo, FERD

Published:

  • dateMay 5, 2023
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