Forest Restoration using Native Trees

Eric D. Buduan
Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation

Outline of Presentation
I. Forest decline in the Philippines II. Causes of forest decline III. Present condition of forestlands IV. Why restore forest V. Why use native trees VI. Forest Restoration using native trees VII. Nursery management VIII. Restored forest IX. PTFCF

FOREST DECLINE
Ideal forest cover is 45%
70-80% forest cover 60% forest cover 40% forest cover

SOURCE: HARIBON

FOREST DECLINE

34% forest cover 23.7% forest cover

SOURCE: HARIBON

Forest Cover of the Philippines- 2002

Forest cover declined from

70-80%

in

1900 to only

17.9% (5.39M
has) in 2002 (DENR-2005).

Causes of Forest Decline

Commercial logging has led the way in destruction of rain forest since the 1800's, but surged dramatically in the 1960s and 1970s. This photo was taken on Mount Busa, Mindanao, in 1993. 2001 (photograph by R. Brown)

Causes of Forest Decline

2007

2010

Land-use conversion (plantations of oil palm Espanola, Palawan)

Causes of Forest Decline

Land-use conversion (rice paddies and banana plantation Maragusan, Compostela Valley)

Causes of Forest Decline

Kainginmaking (slash and burn farming)

Causes of Forest Decline

Mining operation

Causes of Forest Decline

Forest fire, charcoal making, fuelwood collection

Causes of Forest Decline

Timber poaching, illegal logging

Causes of Forest Decline

Mangrove tan bark collection Rizal, Palawan

Causes of Forest Decline

Conversion of

mangroves to fishponds (aqua culture)

Present condition of Forestlands

Livestock grazing and annual burning resulted to this degraded forestland (Aritao, Nueva Viscaya)

Present condition of Forestlands

Livestock grazing and annual burning resulted to this degraded forestland (Aritao, Nueva Viscaya)

Present condition of Forestlands

Kaingin (with annual burning) and conversion to agriculture resulted to this degraded forestland (Tulgao, Tinglayan, Kalinga)

Present condition of Forestlands

Logging and kaingin resulted to this degraded forestland (San Mariano, Isabela)

Present condition of Forestlands

Kaingin and vegetable production resulted to this degraded forestland (La Paz, Zamboanga City)

Present condition of Forestlands

Kaingin making for corn and upland rice cultivation favoured the massive colonization of exotic Piper aduncum (Tboli, South Cotabato)

Present condition of Forestlands

Kaingin and burning resulted to this degraded forestland

Present condition of Forestlands

Mining operation is contributing significant destruction of forest and forestlands (Narra, Palawan)

Why restore our forest????

Mitigate impacts of global warming and climate change Ensure sustainability of forest goods and services Conservation of biodiversity Protection of our watersheds that supports food production. Life support system of indigenous people and lowland communities

2011 International Year of Forests

Why use native tree species????

Biodiversity conservation purposes Sustain forest goods (food, timber, medicines) and services (habitat of wildlife). National pride and heritage conservation of endemic species Consistent to forest ecosystems succession (from grassland, brushland, secondary forest then primary forest)

Why not use exotic tree species????

Negative impact on watersheds and protection areas Minimal biodiversity conservation contribution Recommended only for plantation and production areas

Forest Restoration Considerations

Site identification and characterization (consider soil, elevation, climate, degree of degradation) Define objective of forest restoration (production, protection, aesthetics) Establish partnerships and work-out agreements (with DENR, LGU, communities, church) Nursery development and management (site development, source of planting materials) Planting (Rainforestation, Assisted Natural Regeneration, Enrichment planting) Protection and maintenance (including fire prevention/protection system)

Forest Restoration using Native Trees

Seed collection from identified mother trees.

Forest Restoration using Native Trees

Collection of wildlings (if seeds are not available), leaving behind at least 20% as future trees

Forest Restoration using Native Trees

Nursery care for at least 6 months prior to planting. Activities include soil bagging, planting of seedlings, watering, and hardening-off.

Forest Restoration using Native Trees

A three-year old Igyo a fast growing pioneer tree species much suitable for planting in open areas.

Forest Restoration using Native Trees

Fruits of Apitong a dipterocarp.

Forest Restoration using Native Trees

Bignay fruits suitable for making wine and vinegar. Food for wildlife too.

Forest Restoration using Native Trees

Fruit and seeds of Katmon suitable mix for sinigang and good source of Vitamin. C

Forest Restoration using Native Trees

Antipolo fruits Seed can be roasted and eaten (source of carbohydrates)

Forest Restoration using Native Trees

Tibig fruits food for wildlife. Can be propagated thru cuttings and seeds

Forest Restoration using Native Trees

Tabo and wild rambutan fruits= additional source of income for the Indigenous People of Southern Palawan

Nursery operation from mother tree survey to potting, recovery chamber for wildlings and maintenance (FRENDS_Mt. Palali, Nueva Viscaya

Nursery Management

Nursery Management

Dipterocarp nursery in Bohol Biodiversity Complex, Bilar, Bohol partnership among PTFCF, SWCF, BEMO and CVSCAFT (BISU)

Nursery Management

Nursery management in Kanawan, Morong, Bataan

Nursery Management

collection of seeds and use of seedbed to store and propagate available seeds

Nursery Management

use of recovery chamber to increase survival rate of collected wildlings.

Nursery Management
the use of wildlings recovery chamber resulted to 80-90% survival rate (right photo) as compared to without chamber (left photo)

Nursery Management (Mangrove)

Propagation using Sonneratia sp. (Pagatpat) seeds for mass production

Nursery Management (Mangrove)

Production of mangrove seedlings for planting in abandoned fishponds and denuded mangrove forest

Native trees for forest restoration

A 3-year old mayapis planted in RSPL, Bilar, Bohol

Native trees for forest restoration

There are at least 254 trees and plants that are endemic to various provinces of the Philippines (Rojo and Fernando)

Restored forest using native trees

A 15-year old rainforestation farm planted with dipterocarp trees in Ormoc, Leyte (formerly sugarcane field)

Restored forest using native trees

A 15-year old rainforestation farm planted with dipterocarp trees in Baybay, Leyte.

Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation, Inc.

Creation of PTFCF
Established under two bilateral

agreements signed on Sept. 19, 2002, between the governments of the United States and the Philippines under the US Tropical Forest Conservation Act.

Leveraged $5.5 million USG

appropriation to treat $41.5 million in RP-US debt and divert $8.25 million in peso-denominated interest payments over 14 years, to the Tropical Forest Conservation Fund. representatives, 2 each for Philippine and US governments)

9 Trustees (5 NGO

PTFCF role in Forest Conservation

1.Grant giving
2. Knowledge generation and sharing 3. Catalyzing bureaucratic action and civil society action

PTFCF is a member of the Rain Forest Restoration Initiative (RFRI) network. (www.rainforestation.ph)

Thank you very much!!!

Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF) Unit 11-3A Manila Bank Building, 6772 Ayala Avenue Makati City 1223 www.ptfcf.org