Gardening

Pinus Kesiya: The Benguet Pine Tree




Every time the Cordillera Region is mentioned, especially the province of Benguet and Baguio City, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Is it the weather? Fog? Fresh vegetables? or the Pine tree? 

Visiting the Cordillera Region, one of the things that you will probably notice are the pine trees growing around the forest and mountains of the region. This pine tree is commonly known as the Benguet Pine or the Pinus Kesiya.


Know More about Pinus Kesiya

Pinus Kesiya is one of the most widely distributed pines in Asia, and in the Philippines, it is commonly known as the Benguet Pine. And, it’s the dominant species of the Luzon Tropical Pine Forests. Not only can it be found in the Benguet Province but also grows in the other parts of Cordillera like Mt. Province, Ifugao, Kalinga, Abra, and including Nueva Vizcaya, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur. 

Aside from the Philippines, Pinus Kesiya also naturally grows in other countries such as India, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, China, and Vietnam. The Benguet pine grows at an elevation between 300-2700 meters high, and it needs a quite moist environment. Additionally, this pine tree can grow up to 30-35 meters tall. 

One of the interesting things about Pinus Kesiya is that it is commonly propagated through seed which is not only spread by winds but also by birds and rodents.

Benguet Pine in the Parks of Baguio City

Baguio City is also popularly known as the “City of Pines” and in some parts of the City, you can spot Benguet pine trees growing all over the place. Almost all of the parks in the city have a Benguet pine, some of these parks are Pine Trees of the World, Wright Park, Botanical Park, and at the Mines View Park. These are the places you can closely check the Benguet Pine. 

Taking Care of the Benguet Pine

Pine trees have a lot of help in nature. It helps in stabilizing the soil to avoid soil erosion, especially during the rainy season. Trees also serve as habitat for other wildlife species such as birds. This also helps in reducing pollution, and trees also give off oxygen which we need to breathe. And, one of the important help of a pine tree is that it lowers the temperature. 

Other than that, we should take care and secure the safety of the Benguet Pine and other pine tree species for the next and the upcoming generation have the chance to see the actual and physical look of the pine trees.    

Source: Contributions Of Pine Trees To The Philippine Environment, The Gymnosperm Database, Sustainable Forest Management Of Benguet Pine In The Cordillera, Philippines, Pinus kesiya (Khasi Pine, Benguet Pine)

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