Cathedral Acacia Tree

Cathedral Acacia Tree

Acacia (Samanea saman)  

Dr Abe V Rotor

A well managed park with a Heritage Acacia Tree as centerpiece.

Pride of San Ildefonso municipality, Ilocos Sur.  It sets an example of a living conference hall, a massive natural multipurpose outdoor center.  AVR 2023 

Outdoor conference hall, classroom, playground

 “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” – Albert Einstein

        Acacia Tree - a Miniature Ecosystem 

Closeup of the crown of an acacia tree revealing rich biodiversity and homeostasis (dynamic balance), painting in acrylic by AV Rotor 2025

"Lying under an acacia tree with the sound of the dawn around me, I realized more clearly the facts that man should never overlook: that the construction of an airplane, for instance, is simple when compared [with] a bird; that airplanes depend on an advanced civilization, and that were civilization is most advanced, few birds exist. I realized that if I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes." - Charles Lindbergh

Symbiosis of Drynaria Fern and Acacia Tree

 Tagudin, Ilocos Sur. Photo by the author.

Acacia and Carbon Sequestration

Carbon sequestration is the capture and long-term removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. According to a research conducted at the School of Forestry of the Bogor Agricultural Institute, Indonesia, a mature acacia tree with a crown diameter measuring 15 meters (49 ft) absorbed 28.5 metric tons (28.0 long tons; 31.4 short tons) of CO2 annually.

“When one plants a tree they plant themselves. Every root is an anchor, over which one rests with grateful interests, and becomes sufficiently calm to feel the joy of living.” 
— John Muir

Martines birds, long thought to be extinct locally, find shelter and home 

with the Drynaria, and the host acacia tree. Photo by the author.

Author points at an on-the-spot painting he made in 1976 of a standing heritage acacia tree.  Adjacent to it is a furniture shop. San Vicente is famous for wood furniture industry. The painting graces the lobby of the San Vicente Municipal Hall in Ilocos Sur.

        

Author, with coeds from the University of Northern Philippines, display mounted relics of heritage acacia he painted in 1976. (See photo of painting above). The mounted artwork serves as science specimen and wall decor. Below, closeup of the acacia pod and seeds.  Coed, Angie Tobias of University of Abra holds an acacia seedling ready for transplanting in the field.                                 

“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.”— William Shakespeare
  

 

Closeup view of the deciduous nature of acacia, that is, it loses its leaves once or twice a year to give way to the growth of new and fresh crown.  In effect, the litter of leaves adds fertility of the soil and serves as mulch to conserve soil moisture and prevent soil erosion.

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“To really feel a forest canopy, we must use different senses. And often the most useful one is the sense of imagination.”— Joan Maloof

The La Union Centennial Tree in Bacnotan was proclaimed as one of the 13 Philippine Centennial Trees under the DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 98-25 on 03 June 1998. This DAO also proclaims these centennial trees as Protected Trees and mandates a multi-sectoral effort in protecting these trees. Internet

 “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” – Albert Einstein