Studies on the Development of Tropical Agroforestry System Through Local People's Participation: The Case of Sitio Jordan, San Vicente, Sto. Tomas, Batangas, Philippines

  • Received : 2005.06.14
  • Accepted : 2005.08.16
  • Published : 2005.10.31

Abstract

This study aimed to develop an agroforestry technology through the participation of local people. The study was conducted in the Makiling Forest Reserve (MFR) of the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB). Diagnosis and Design (D&D) methodology was employed to plan and implement effective research and development projects. Diagnostic interview and direct field observation were conducted to identify the significance of the land-use system and to understand how the system works. As a result of the diagnostic interview and direct field observation in San Vicente, old coconut-based land-use system is shifting to mahogany-based agroforestry system. One of the reasons is due to the very complicated socio-economic and silvicultural factors including lower price of coconut farm products, industry development, lack of labor force, and pest and diseases. Change in land use brought about by the shifting to mahogany-based farming system is slow. Also, mahogany trees are observed to be not well-maintained. However, mahogany based land use system gives farmers' a bigger income as well as environmental benefit. Farmer's cooperation and local forestry policy for CDM were proposed to encourage people's self-restoration effort.

Keywords

References

  1. ASEAN-Korea Environmental Cooperation Unit. 2002. Restoration of degraded forest ecosystem in the Southeast Asian tropical region: Annual report, AKECU, Seoul. pp. 78-80.
  2. Bagadion, B.C. 1999. Bending the wind: lessons from Mt. Makiling. Center for Development Management. pp. 18-19
  3. Camacho, L. D. 2003. Economic Evaluation of the different farming systems within the Makiling Forest Reserve: An Evaluation Report
  4. Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesEcosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENRERDB). 1998. Development and management of forest plantations: A guide book. DENR-ERDB
  5. Lee, J. M. 2002. Factors affecting adoption of mahogany- based agroforestry system in the Philippines: Case study in Sitio Jordan, San Vicente, Santo Tomas, Batangas, Philippines. M.S. Thsis, Konkuk Univ. Seoul, Korea
  6. Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME). 2001. The Mt. Makiling forest reserve-Development initiatives and management experiences. MCME
  7. Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME). 1999. Towards the accreditation of qualified Mt. Makiling forest reserve occupants: An action research. MCME
  8. Municipality of Sto. Tomas. Sto. Tomas comprehensive land-use and development plan. Municipality of Sto. Tomas. 3-1-3-84
  9. Nair, P.K.R. 1993. Introduction to Agroforestry. Kluwer Acdemic Publisher. The Netherlands. pp. 347-351