Species introCountry intro
Almaciga
The Agathis philippinensis is a coniferous evergreen tree mostly found above 500 masl.
Known locally in Philippines as Almaciga, it is now considered an endangered plant in the Philippines.
Local tribal people in Philippines taps the resin of this Almaciga tree as it provides good commercial values. The tapping can be seen in the picture of the tree, where a top layer of the tree trunk is cut.
Known worldwide as the “Manila copal” which is being used for making varnish, lacquer, soap, paint, printing ink, linoleum, shoe polish, floor wax, plastic, water proofing material, and paper sizing.
Locally, the Almaciga sap is used as incense in religious ceremonies and for making torches, caulking boats, mosquito smudge, patent leather and sealing wax.
''Agathis philippinensis'' is a species of large ''Agathis'' tree native to the Philippines, Sulawesi and Halmahera, where it occurs in upland tropical rainforest at 450-2,200 m altitude, rarely as low as 250 m in northern Luzon.
