(For Long-Term Sandalwood Agroforestry Systems)
For plantations in the Philippines, integrating native permanent host trees alongside Santalum album improves ecological compatibility, biodiversity value, and long-term system resilience.
Native hosts are especially suitable for RegenCore™-style regenerative agroforestry systems because they:
- Adapt well to local soils and climate
- Support indigenous biodiversity
- Improve long-term sustainability
- Align with DENR reforestation principles
Recommended Philippine Native Permanent Hosts
1. Pterocarpus indicus – Narra Tree
- 🇵🇭 National tree of the Philippines
- Deep root system
- Nitrogen-fixing legume
- Long-lived hardwood
- Requires canopy management
Best Use: Wide-spacing permanent structural host
2. Intsia bijuga – Ipil
- Native hardwood
- Deep-rooted
- Moderate canopy
- Suitable for long-term agroforestry
Best Use: Secondary-to-permanent host layer
3. Lagerstroemia speciosa – Banaba
- Native & Ecologically Compatible
- Moderate Canopy Structure
- Deep Root System
- Dual Value Potential
4. Albizia procera – Akleng parang
- Nitrogen-fixing
- Deep root system
- Moderate to fast growth
- Long lifespan
Best Use: Low-density permanent host (edge planting)
5. Gliricidia sepium – Madre De Cacao
(Naturalized and widely integrated in PH agroforestry)
- Excellent coppicing
- Nitrogen-fixing
- Easy canopy control
- Strong root biomass
Best Use: Flexible long-term host with pruning control
Recommended Density Model (Example per Hectare)
| Layer | Species Type | Approx. Density |
|---|---|---|
| Sandalwood | Main crop | 400–600 trees |
| Permanent Host | Native hardwood/legume | 100–200 trees |
| Secondary Host | Shrubs/medium legumes | 300–500 trees |
Spacing must allow:
- Root interaction
- Light penetration
- Air circulation
Why Native Hosts Are Strategically Valuable
✔ Improved local ecosystem integration
✔ Reduced invasive risk
✔ Better adaptation to typhoon and tropical rainfall
✔ Stronger ESG positioning
✔ Higher biodiversity credits potential
Management Considerations
- Monitor canopy shading annually
- Avoid over-dominant root competitors
- Use mixed-species strategy (no single host dominance)
- Conduct soil analysis every 2–3 years
Strategic Recommendation
For Philippine sandalwood systems, a mixed native permanent host strategy combining:
- Narra (long-term structure)
- Ipil (secondary stability)
- Madre de cacao (managed nitrogen support)
creates a resilient, regenerative plantation ecosystem.