I visited this right after we left the infamous Bohol Chocolate Hills.
Located just a few kilometers away from Chocolate Hills our tour guide made a quick stop in this place.
No Entrance Fee, located on a major highway and taking a picture here is 'Buwis Buhay!"
I felt so awed by the majestic sight of those tall, luscious trees covering the road providing shelter from the scorching heat of the sun. Per our tour guide, this man-made forest is stretching 2 kilometers of mahogany trees planted together with local trees and foliage of Bohol.
The atmosphere changes once you entered the forested area since those tree branches and leaves catch the sunshine rays before it reaches the ground thus giving a fresh cool breeze.
I actually loved how those straight tree trunks stand so high from the ground like a warrior boasting their think branches covered with leaves giving shade to the entire trail of the forest.
However despite the beauty that I feel and see.... something is missing...I do not hear any birds chirping... am I the only one who noticed this? Aside from the sounds of vehicles crossing from time to time, distant yells, and laughs from another tourist I do not hear any birds which are very unusual for a forest not to have.
I did not bother to ask our tour guide for this as I busied myself taking pictures. Yet that very moment of silence in Bilar Manmade Forest hunts me up to this time as I made this post and searched some other post explaining that missing forest essential which directed me here on this post - The Dark Side of Bohol’s Bilar Manmade Forest + An Appeal to People Planting Trees by https://iamtravelinglight.com/ if you have time to read it explains why there are no birds singing in that lovely Mahogany forest leaving it kinda lonely.
“Molave, as a native species, has a relationship to the land, water, and other organisms that have developed over a million years. Certain fungi live with the roots, certain insects feed on the plant parts, while others pollinate the flower. Birds and mammals live along the branches and feed on the seeds. No such relationship exists for the newcomer. The result is ten hectares of mahogany in a biodiversity-dead zone. There are no birds, no insects, only nearly dead soil due to the lethal chemicals that leak from the rotting leaves (emphasis mine). Native species are rarely found as seedlings beneath the canopy, and so, most significantly, there is no future for ten hectares of mahogany.”- https://iamtravelinglight.com/
Despite that, I still encourage you to visit this place when you travel to Bohol.
You may want to visit the following pages:
Wholly protected under the government law, the Mahogany Forest was part of the nationwide reforestation program that was launched in the 1960s during the reign of Diosdado Macapagal. The 857.4 hectares of bare land was gradually planted with young Mahogany trees by volunteers, and after a few decades, the growth of these trees turned out to be wondrous and remarkable, making it a definite pit stop for tourists who pass by here. - https://www.boholtourism.com.ph/man-made-mahogany-forest/
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Getting to Bohol’s Manmade Mahogany Forest:
When you’re on tour to see the Chocolate Hills, you’d definitely pass by this forest because this is located along the highway in Bilar, Bohol which is about 40 km from Tagbilaran City.- https://www.boholtourism.com.ph/man-made-mahogany-forest/
We saw a lot of these, I really don't know what is this called as this one looks like a thick tube of black plastic wire in a distance. And when I was about to pick it up, it suddenly moved which scares the creep out of me.
And I took this picture of hers on the side of the road for her safety.
Location: Loay, Interior Road, Bilar, Bohol, Philippines
Distance from Town Proper: 50 min (33.8 km) via Tagbilaran City - Corella - Sikatuna - Loboc Rad and Loay Interior Road
Entrance Fee: NONE as of January 2020
Operating Hours: Any time of the Day / Night Visit is discouraged as there is no lamp post in this area.
Parking Fee: No Exact Parking space/ Park at your own risk / Park anywhere
Precaution Statement: BUWIS BUHAY PICTURE TAKING!!! as this is a major highway that has vehicles from time to time.
You may want to visit the following pages:
