Appropriate surveying methods in the Philippines: Can modern GPS units help?

An investigation was undertaken to test the effectiveness of two procedures for recording boundaries and plot positions for scientific studies on farms on Leyte Island, the Philippines. The accuracy of a Garmin 76 Global Positioning System (GPS) unit and a compass and chain was checked under the same conditions. Tree canopies interfered with the ability of the satellite signal to reach the GPS and therefore the GPS survey was less accurate than the compass and chain survey. Where a high degree of accuracy is required, a compass and chain survey remains the most effective method of surveying land underneath tree canopies, providing operator error is minimised. For a large number of surveys and thus large amounts of data, a GPS is more appropriate than a compass and chain survey because data are easily up-loaded into a Geographic Information System (GIS). However, under dense canopies where satellite signals cannot reach the GPS, it may be necessary to revert to a compass survey or a combination of both methods

Recovery of milling timber from smallholder tree farms using chainsaw and mini-bandsaw

The sawing recovery rates of chainsaws and mini-bandsaws used on Leyte Island, the Philippines to produce sawn timber from smallholder tree farms are compared through sawing trials. The sawing recovery rate for a mini-bandsaw is 52% while that for chainsaws is 39%. The sawing trials found that log sizes and the cross-section areas of boards showed a weak linear relationship to the sawing recovery rate for sample logs sawn. Significant differences in sawing recovery rates between the saw operators involved in the sawing trials were also detected. This paper mainly reports the results for comparing the sawmilling recovery for chainsaws and mini-bandsaws, while the financial as well as policy implications of the differences in sawing recovery rate between these two saw types are discussed in a separate paper in these Proceedings

Financial evaluation and implications of sawing recovery of chainsaws and mini-bandsaws in smallholder timber processing

A trial was conducted in late 2008 and early 2009 to compare the sawing recovery rate using chainsaws and mini-bandsaws in small-scale timber processing on Leyte Island, the Philippines. The sawing recovery rate for chainsawing was found to be 39% while that for the mini-bandsaw was 52%. The financial feasibility of using both saws in processing timber from smallholder tree farms on the island as well as its policy implications are evaluated in this paper. The net revenue of small-scale sawn timber processing is PhP873/m3 from chainsawing and PhP1895/ m3 for bandsawing. Profitability of sawn timber processing was found to be highly sensitive to sawing recovery rate and therefore both the use of saws with a smaller kerf and training of the saw operators are recommended. Profitability was also found to be highly sensitive to haulage distance of sawn timber. Negative returns were predicted for a hauling distance of more than 2.25 km and 3 km for chainsawn timber processing and bandsaw milling, respectively. It is recommended that farmers, extension agents at local government units and Foresters of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) should consider road access in forestry promotion if tree farming is oriented towards the sawn-timber market

Reliability of the Barangay-based smallholder tree farm inventory: Research and policy implications

The reliability of the inventories of smallholder tree farms conducted by barangay chairmen in selected municipalities in Leyte has been evaluated. The average number of trees per farm reported in the barangay-based inventory is 40 while the average verified number of trees is 49. The average stand age reported is 9.25 while the verified stand age is 9.03. No significant difference was found between the barangay-based inventory and verified data in terms of number of trees and stand age. Regression analysis shows that the difference in number of trees reported and the verified number of trees is directly proportional to the aggregate number of trees grown, thus the more trees grown, the higher the difference. The species reported by barangay-chairmen were found to be correct although some of them were reported using local names. The response rate of barangay chairmen in conducting the barangay-based inventory was acceptably high

Cost-effective systems for seedling production and tree farm establishment

Experiences from the ACIAR Smallholder Forestry Project reveal that production and use of high quality seedlings is a critical consideration for successful tree farming and reforestation activity, considering that most reforestation activities have been largely dependent on nursery-produced seedlings. While the use of polyethylene bags has been the traditional technique in raising seedlings, the planting stock produced often have a deformed or J-shape taproot and may develop to mature trees with poor anchorage in the field. The research project introduced the use of hiko tray as potting containers in seedling production as a way of resolving the problem of J-rooting and producing higher quality seedlings. A economic analysis was conducted to determine the comparative advantage and feasibility of the polybag and hiko tray techniques, with a view of promoting the adoption of the hiko technique among tree farmers, especially the smallholders. Results of the study revealed that the hiko tray technique is superior to the traditional polybag technique in terms of labour efficiency and cost in the nursery and field establishment, aside from the fact that higher quality seedlings are produced which provide the tree farmer with a higher level of assurance of timber harvest and cash income from forestry

Nursery management in relation to root deformation, sowing and shading

The polybag is widely used for seedling production in the Philippines. Seedlings commonly have root deformation which has adverse effects as they grow and develop into mature trees. This study assessed the influence of potting technique and hardening intensity on the growth performance of seedlings in nursery and field conditions. Seedlings of bagras (Eucalyptus deglupta) and mangium (Acacia mangium) were grown in hiko trays and 4" x 6" polybags at the College of Forestry nursery, Leyte State University (LSU). Kalumpit (Terminalia microcarpa) and pellita (Eucalyptus pellita) were used for a trial in the Conalum Agroforestry Farmers Association (CAFA) nursery in Inopacan, Leyte, aimed at validating LSU results and at the same time evaluating farmers' perceptions on the use of hiko trays and polybags in seedling production. It was found that seedlings of bagras, mangium, kalumpit and pellita grown in hiko trays have smaller diameter and height compared with those in polybags at 12 weeks. Root deformation of seedlings was absent in hiko trays but high with seedlings in polybags. As perceived by both farmers and ACIAR researchers, hiko tray seedlings are of high quality exhibiting sturdy shoot, trained roots and homogenous growth

Overview of timber demand and supply on Leyte Island, The Philippines

This paper presents findings from research into the timber demand and supply chain on Leyte Island, the Philippines, based on surveys of tree farmers and timber merchants registered with the DENR 8 office. Most of the farmer-respondents grow gmelina and mahogany on their farms. Other trees species grown include the exotics of mangium, auri and ipil-ipil, and the indigenous species of molave, narra, antipolo, bagras and toog. The mean estimated stumpage volume available from an average tree farm for the areas covered by the study was 597.38 m3 over an area of 2.05 ha. Sixteen out of the 39 farmers interviewed had commenced harvesting their trees. Seven lumber dealers and timber processors were also interviewed in the study. On the average, they have been in business for 14.3 years. Most procured their raw materials from sources outside Leyte, particularly Mindanao and Cebu, only two sourcing their raw materials within Leyte provinces. Tree species that they had commonly processed included gmelina and lauan. The total stock requirement of the seven respondent dealers/processors is about 724,000 bd ft per year

Rapid silviculture appraisal to characterise stand and determine silviculture priorities of community forests in Nepal

Published online: 7 September 2016Community forestry in Nepal is an example of a successful participatory forest management program. Developments in community forestry in four decades have focused on the social and governance aspects with little focus on the technical management of forests. This paper presents a silviculture description of community forests and provides silviculture recommendations using a rapid silviculture appraisal (RSA) approach. The RSA, which is a participatory technique involving local communities in assessing forests and silviculture options, is a simple and costeffective process to gather information and engage forest users in the preparation of operational plans that are relevant to their needs. The RSA conducted on selected community forests in Nepal’s Mid-hills region shows that forests are largely comprised of dominant crowns of one or two species. The majority of studied community forests have tree densities below 500 stems per hectare as a consequence of traditional forest management practices but the quality and quantity of the trees for producing forest products are low. Silviculture options preferred by forest users generally are those which are legally acceptable, doable with existing capacities of forest users and generate multiple forest products. For sustainable production of multiple forest products, the traditional forest management practices have to be integrated with silviculture-based forest management system.Edwin Cedamon, Ian Nuberg, Govinda Paudel, Madan Basyal, Krishna Shrestha, Naya Paude

How understanding of rural households' diversity can inform agroforestry and community forestry programs in Nepal

Socio-economic diversity can help to bring about innovative development in agroforestry practices. The diversity of households in the mid-Nepal hills was analysed using survey data from 521 randomly selected households in six villages. A cluster analysis derived the following household typology based on socio-economic variables—Type 1: resource-poor Brahmin/Chhetri; Type 2: resource-poor Janajati; Type 3: resource-rich mixed-caste households; Type 4: resource-rich Brahmin/Chhetri; Type 5: resource-rich Janajati; Type 6: resource-poor Dalit households. The analysis revealed that social status (caste/ethnicity), household status on foreign employment and landholding are strong predictors of household segmentation in rural Nepal. This paper suggests revision of existing wellbeing ranking approaches using these socio-economic variables for more inclusive and equitable agroforestry and community forestry outcomes.E. Cedamon, I. Nuberg and K.K. Shresth

Nursery management in relation to root deformation, sowing and shading

The polybag is widely used for seedling production in the Philippines. Seedlings commonly have root deformation which has adverse effects as they grow and develop into mature trees. This study assessed the influence of potting technique and hardening intensity on the growth performance of seedlings in nursery and field conditions. Seedlings of bagras (Eucalyptus deglupta) and mangium (Acacia mangium) were grown in hiko trays and 4' x 6' (approximately 10 cm x 15 cm) polybags at the College of Forestry Nursery, Leyte State University (LSU). Kalumpit (Terminalia microcarpa) and pellita (Eucalyptus pellita) were used for a trial in the Conalum Agroforestry Farmers Association (CAFA) Nursery in Inopacan, Leyte, aimed at validating LSU results and at the same time evaluating farmers' perceptions on the use of hiko trays and polybags in seedling production. It was found that seedlings of bagras, mangium, kalumpit and pellita grown in hiko trays have smaller diameter and height compared with those in polybags at 12 weeks. Root deformation of seedlings was absent in hiko trays but high with seedlings in polybags. As perceived by both farmers and ACIAR researchers, hiko tray seedlings are of high quality exhibiting sturdy shoot, trained roots and homogenous growth