Bilar Man-Made Forest

The Bilar Man-Made Forest is a 2-kilometer stretch of densely planted mahogany trees straddling the border of Bilar and Loboc municipalities in interior Bohol, Philippines. Created as part of a mid-20th-century reforestation project within the Loboc Watershed, it features uniformly tall trees forming a dense canopy over the highway. Notable for its striking tunnel-like appearance, cool shade, and uniform growth, it is a popular roadside stop between Tagbilaran and the Chocolate Hills.

Visitors can expect a straight 2-kilometer paved highway cutting through a dense, uniform stand of tall mahogany trees that form a canopy overhead, creating a tunnel-like effect. The site is an open roadside attraction with pull-over areas for photos. There are no buildings or trails inside the forest; viewing is from the road and roadside. The environment is shaded and noticeably cooler than surrounding open areas, with dense trunks on both sides of the road.

The forest was established as part of the Loboc Watershed Reforestation Project, initiated in the late 1940s and expanded in the 1960s-1970s, when thousands of mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) seedlings were planted over a large area spanning Bilar and Loboc to address deforestation, prevent soil erosion and protect the Loboc watershed. The 2-kilometer roadside section became the most visible result of the project.

The forest is a well-known example of large-scale reforestation in Bohol and is promoted as an ecotourism landmark demonstrating community and government efforts in forest rehabilitation. It is a standard stop on Bohol countryside tours.