Cadayona’s Native Tree Farm

Detailed Information

Size of area being restored
11 ha

Geographical features of site
Agroforestry

Objectives of restoration
To promote the utilization of Philippine Native Trees as emergent species in an agroforestry farm to support fruit crops, and to increase the rewilder’s health and personal well-being by simply being fulfilled and fascinated with their grandeur.

Type/method of restoration
Agroforestry Farm using Dipterocarps and other Towering Native Trees as emergent species in overall farm design.

Challenges and threats to the area
At the start of advocacy, one of the challenges is the lack of accessible planting materials for the project and details such as of the Toog (Petersianthus quadrialatus).

Solutions/interventions being done in response to challenges and objectives
Learning by doing.

Enrique Cadayona is a retired clinician, a classical guitar teacher, and an agroforestry farmer who is simply fascinated with towering native trees.

His interest for the environment sparked when he was in elementary school, back when he used to visit and immerse with the lush forest of Sierra Madre – but never thought that one day his life would be surrounded with trees in his agroforestry farm in Calinan, Davao City.

His agroforestry farm is perhaps one of the most unique and aesthetically pleasing agroforestry farm in the country, as he incorporated towering native trees, mainly dipterocarps species, and his favorite Toog (Petersianthus quadrialatus) which species holds the tallest standing tree in the country in his farm set-up, which he started to develop in 2010, long before the fad for native trees emerged in the Philippines. As an agroforestry farmer and a native tree enthusiast, Enrique Cadayona’s perspective and efforts is more directed on preservation of native trees through adoption and domestication of towering trees in order to support the ecological requirements of his understory fruit bearing crops such as the tasty lanzones, and the hopes that one day that the emergent native trees he planted which some are endangered could become a source of planting materials in support to rewilding and reforestation projects in the country.

Today, Enrique Cadayona enjoys the satisfaction of the fruit produce of his crops, and the joy that his towering trees bring to his soul everyday upon witnessing their grandeur.

As his commitment for the environment and to preserve and protect the native trees he planted and nurtured from the greed of men, Enrique allotted thirty percent (30%) of the total land area of his 11-hectare farm as a protection or no farming zone, and made a legal bond that no one could cut down his sky-reaching native trees even generations of heirs to come.

For Enrique Cadayona, the secret to a successful Rewilding Project is not rocket science, but TLC (Tender, Love, and Care) of the nurturer for his trees.

Cadayona’s Native Tree Farm
Brgy. Calinan, Davao
Site Information
Individual Spearheading
Enrique Cadayona
Categories:
Locations:
Map Location