Mahogany

Mahogany's conservation status is already considered Vulnerable by IUCN in its natural habitat in South America, but here in the Philippines, it has been used for years in tree planting activities in the country and became an invasive alien species (A.K.A. invasive exotic species).

As an invasive exotic species with fruit containing above 60 seeds that is inedible, it has no use to the birds. The leaves even emit chemicals that make the soil acidic and intolerable to other plants causing the surrounding ground to be absent with native soil microbes, burrowing and crawling insects, and small herbs.

However, this tree has excellent timber quality that can be used for construction materials such as plywood, high-grade furniture and cabinet making, paneling, framing, and flooring, among others.

The oldest mahogany was cultivated since Dr. Pablo Mateo’s presidency found by the NALLRC and PUP Laboratory High School. However, young mahogany trees are found almost everywhere in the main campus. It was cultivated in the Interfaith Chapel, Lagoon and Oval areas as part of the urban greening project of Luntiang Pilipinas in the early 2000s by then Sen. Loren Legarda.