Evidence-based target characteristics for seedlings: Experimental design, initial results from field trials and future research

Low seedling quality is a pervasive problem for smallholder forestry in the Philippines. Intervention measures to improve seedling quality are being examined in a research project funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. Field trials have been established as part of this ‘seedling enhancement project’ to compare performance on outplanting of Gmelina arborea when imported, selected and non-selected seeds are used. Itis expected that this research will provide important information for the development of evidence-based guidelines for seedling quality, and assist in refining the best practice manuals for seedling production

Working with local government units in implementing the Forest Nursery Accreditation Policy

One of the interventions identified to improve the effectiveness of tree nurseries is the introduction of nursery accreditation and seed certification programs. The need to forge a linkage with the local government units (LGUs) has been emphasized in order to achieve this, and the ACIAR Seedling Enhancement Project has established a linkage with four LGUs on Leyte Island. To formalize the partnership, a memorandum of agreement has been signed stipulating the specific roles of the LGUs and the Seedling Enhancement Project. Aside from conducting training workshops, demonstration nurseries have been established to help improve the capability of extension workers and nursery operators in producing high quality tree seedlings. This paper describes the process of forging partnerships between project researchers and LGUs in developing and implementing the mechanisms for accrediting forest nurseries

Strategies to improve seedling quality in smallholder forestry in the Philippines: A synthesis of findings from a systems research program

Project ASEM/2006/091 and earlier forestry projects in the Philippines funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) have identified the prevalence of low quality forestry seedlings. A research strategy involving systems modelling to identify intervention measures, and progress in applying these measures, are described. This has involved developing a seed centre, identifying superior mother trees, developing nursery best management practice guidelines, and assisting the national government to trial these guidelines. Recommendations are made to increase the extension and training effort in production of high quality seedlings, and to conduct further research into watershed restoration utilizing hiqh quality germplasm of indigenous tree species

The operational effectiveness of the forest nursery sector in Leyte, The Philippines

Current programs and policies on forest management in the Philippines are biased towards the promotion of small-scale forestry. However, the scaling-up of smallholder forestry is hampered by the limited availability of planting materials and the low quality of planting stock. A study of the operational effectiveness of the forest nursery sector in the province of Leyte reveals that the operation of the nursery industry is not well-organized. The support provided by assisting agencies failed to promote the sustainability of smallholder nurseries. While a decentralized nursery management is widely perceived as the best alternative for reaching smallholders with planting stock, transferring the seedling production to smallholder nurseries needs strong collaboration with and support from the government nursery group. It is imperative for the government nursery group to refine its production objectives, operation schemes, types of assistance extended to smallholders and the means of extending the support to make it attuned to the needs and constraints of the smallholder nursery group

The Potential Role of Nurseries in Improving Access to High Quality Planting Stock and Promoting Appropriate Silvicultural Systems to Improve the Productivity of Smallholder Tree Farms in Leyte, the Philippines

Constraints on availability of high-quality planting stock, improper matching of the species to the planting site and low level of silviculture hamper the success of smallholder tree plantings in Leyte. In spite of the available technologies in nursery and plantation management, smallholders still lack the necessary technical skills. This suggests that insufficient efforts are exerted by concerned agencies in extending the knowledge to the level of smallholders and it is indeed imperative to design means by which this pool of information can be disseminated. Inasmuch as most tree planting activities involve the establishment of nurseries, use of the nursery sector as a focal point of extension warrants investigation. Potential intervention measures including establishment of model smallholder nurseries to showcase the nursery cultural practices, creating a farmer-based seed distribution network to facilitate the distribution of germplasm and widen the species base, and accrediting the nurseries to improve sales, are suggested. These measures are designed to solve the previously identified problems ultimately promoting a wider adoption of smallholder forestry in the province and eventually in other regions of the country

Small-Scale Forestry Development in Leyte, the Philippines: The Central Role of Nurseries

This paper presents results of survey research into the role of the forestry nursery sector in the development of smallholder forestry in Leyte, the Philippines. Seedling production in the province is basically carried out by three categories of nurseries: individual, communal and the government. Seedlings in the government nurseries are primarily raised for free distribution to landholders but the extension scheme fails to reach the majority of the smallholder farmers. Seedling demand of landholders is mostly catered for by the more numerous and accessible individual and communal nurseries. However, problems of capital outlay, sources and supply of germplasm, technical knowledge in nursery management for both timber and fruit trees and low sales are among the major impediments in the sustainability of small-scale nurseries. Most of the communal nurseries fail to sustain the operation after the withdrawal of supporting agencies. Knowledge of site-species matching is needed not only by small-scale nursery operators but also by the managers of government nurseries. It is concluded that the seedling industry in the province is not well established and there is a need to organise better the overall nursery system so as to improve the availability of seedlings and promote appropriate site and species combinations

Germplasm Access and Planting Stock Quality in Smallholder Forest Nurseries in Leyte, the Philippines

This paper presents the results of a study investigating the germplasm access and quality of planting stocks in the smallholder nursery sector in the province of Leyte, the Philippines. Data were gathered through personal interview and analysed using the SPSS program. A total of 59 smallholder nursery operators and 15 government personnel involved in managing government nurseries were interviewed. Government nurseries were established primarily to provide planting stocks to smallholder tree farmers; however, the farmers either individually or in groups are raising seedlings to meet their own planting stock requirement. The type of species produced is largely determined by species availability. There is no free flow of information on germplasm sources resulting in inefficient distribution and utilisation of available species. This has resulted in the wide production of a few common exotics. Less emphasis is given on the use of genetically superior germplasm due to lack of information on a good-practice germplasm collection protocol and limited access to certified sources. The germplasm pathway in smallholder nursery system operates with a very weak link to agencies dealing with high quality planting materials. High quality germplasm enters the system but in a sporadic and uncontrolled way. Although smallholders possess the basic knowledge of nursery seedling culture, the planting stocks raised are of low quality suggesting the need to refine their skills in seedling production

Designing intervention strategies for forestry seedling production in the Philippines

The forest nursery sector in the Philippines is not delivering high quality planting stock of a wide species base for tree farming and reforestation programs. The ACIAR Seedling Enhancement Project, funded by ACIAR, has been implemented to address this problem. The project uses a systems approach and has developed a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) to analyse the forest nursery system and investigate the relationship between factors affecting seedling quality and the operational effectiveness of the forest nursery sector. A workshop with various stakeholders was held to demonstrate the interactions among nursery system components using the BBN and to identify potential policy interventions. Stakeholders revealed three main themes, namely Market for seedling and timber (i.e. poor market of timber and seedlings), Funding of nurseries (i.e. budget) and Seedling quality (i.e. low quality of forest reproductive material) as potential leverage areas for improving the operational effectiveness of the forest nursery sector. Nursery accreditation, capacity building, increased seedling sales and an improved pathway of high quality germplasm were identified as major interventions. Further, policy reform was deemed necessary to create market-driven incentives for accredited nurseries and for government nursery operation to support the existence of private nurseries. The Seedling Enhancement Project has commenced pilot testing specific policy interventions