The video presents a profile of the White Lauan (Shorea contorta) trees in Luntian Farm: plant identification, and discussion of the challenges to the establishment of a healthy stand.
The White Lauan is a critically endangered species, endemic to the Philippines. Our attempt at introducing White Lauans in Luntian Farm underwent a few setbacks.
Mortality has been extremely high: 89% of the plants died. All the saplings acquired in 2014 withered and perished in the first 15 months. Out of 18 plants from a second batch in 2015, only 3 survived.
We reckon that most young trees died because of light stress. Most plants did not manage to harden and adjust to the conditions of a reforestation project, where light exposure is inevitably more than under the rain-forest thick canopy.
