NO.

34 z JUNE 2009 z ISSN 0859-9742

Featuring
Dear readers We also have two interesting articles
from the Philippines. One discusses a
state college’s initiatives in promoting
The Philippine Agroforestry Education
and Research Network (PAFERN) and its
partner agencies are also set for the 4 th
We welcome 2009 with the 34th issue of vermicomposting and vermimeal Philippine Agroforestry Congress. To be
APANews. In this issue, we have production. Read more on the held 18-20 November 2009, this event
interesting contributions from Nepal, production processes of will gather agroforestry practitioners
the Philippines, and India. vermicomposting and vermimeal, and in the Philippines to share their
the different advocacy initiatives being experiences on agroforestry technology
The article from Nepal explores the done by the Kalinga-Apayao State development, and promotion and
effects of a new Leucaena variety on the College in northern Philippines on page adoption for climate change mitigation
growth of Tarai male goats. It measures 13. The other article presents the and adaptation. Farmers’ experiences
the effects of stall feeding and grazing results of research on the indigenous in agroforestry technology adoption
on the goats’ body weight and daily knowledge and practices of tribal will also be highlighted in the event.
average feed intake. Read more on the groups on community-based forest Find out the details on page 14.
results of this new leucaena variety in management, or CBFM. This article
combination with para grass on page 5. analyzed how two tribal communities We are once again presenting the latest
perceived the forests, and explored how news on the Southeast Asian Network
Meanwhile, an article from India their indigenous knowledge and for Agroforestry Education (SEANAFE) in
presents the results of a study that practices helped promote CBFM in La our featured SEANAFE News. This will be
explored how an indigenous tree can be Union, northern Philippines. the first time that SEANAFE News will be
an alternate source of raw material for publishing updates from all the
pulp and paper. Read about Melia dubia All is set for the 2nd World Congress of national networks. This issue also
and why it is a suitable raw material Agroforestry in Nairobi, Kenya. welcomes Malaysia in SEANAFE’s roster
for pulp and paper on page 2. Knowledge sharing is the focus of this of member-countries.
Congress. Specific topics include
Another article from India discusses agroforestry markets, tree-based As always, find out the latest
Santalum album L.. Sandal is a highly rehabilitation, climate change publications and websites that may be
commercial crop in India because of its adaptation and mitigation, of use in your various agroforestry
scented heartwood and oil. Read more contribution to multifunctional initiatives.
on the policies of producing and agriculture, policy options, and
harvesting the East Indian sandal institutional innovations. Read more on We hope you enjoy reading this issue
wood, how it can be domesticated, and what’s in store for this highly and thank you once again to all the
the results of the financial analysis on anticipated event which will be held contributors. We hope to receive more
page 9. 23-28 August 2009 on page 8. articles from you in the future! –
The Editors

DISCLAIMER. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the
expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO and SEANAFE concerning the legal status of any country, territory,
city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delineation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this
publication are those of the contributing authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the editor(s) of FAO and
SEANAFE.

OUR ADDRESS. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 39 Phra Atit Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand;
Website: www.fao.org and www.fao.or.th; E-mail fao-rap@fao.org; SEANAFE c/o World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)-Southeast
Asia Regional office, PO Box 61, Bogor 16001, Indonesia; Website: www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/networks/Seanafe/
Index.asp; E-mail icraf-indonesia@cgiar.org

PRODUCTION. Patrick B. Durst, Michael Pescott, Lutgarda L. Tolentino and Rowena D. Cabahug (Editorial Consultants); Leah P.
Arboleda (Editor); Perseveranda G. Tubig and Reinelen M. Reyes (Production Assistants)

COVER PHOTO. Mr. Santiago Cepada and his wife established their large-scale integrated agroforestry farm in Nabunturan,
Compostela Valley, southern Philippines with their children more than 10 years ago. The farm boasts a forest planted with
dipterocarp species in the high elevated areas, and high-value fruit trees (durian, cacao, rambutan, and lanzones) in the
lower areas. This family enterprise now grows crops commercially and provides employment to other people in the
community. In recognition of his leadership and efforts, Mr. Cepada has been the recipient of the Outstanding High Value
Commercial Crops Farmer Award, and the Gawad Saka Award for Outstanding Farmer Scientist, both given at the national
level.
(Photo courtesy of the UPLB Institute of Agroforestry)

PRINTER. Thammada Press Co. Ltd., 86 Soi 501/1 Charansanitwong Road, Bangplad, Bangkok 10700 Thailand

2 June 2009 z Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter No. 34

 AGROFORESTRY RESEARCH

Integrating Melia dubia in Among the tree species tested, Melia

dubia emerged as a suitable raw
agroforestry farms as an material because of its increased pulp
recovery and exceptional strength. Pulp

alternate pulpwood species recovery was recorded at 50 percent,

which is higher than that of eucalyptus
(Table 1). Similarly, the Kappa number
K.T. Parthiban (ktparthi2001@yahoo.com), Akilesh Kumar Bharathi, (used to assess bleachability) was less
R. Seenivasan, K. Kamala (thirushivani@yahoo.co.in) and M. Govinda Rao than 20, which is excellent as
compared with the traditional raw
Because of its burgeoning population, Inadequate raw materials and stringent material.
India is under tremendous pressure to forest policies have forced the wood-
meet the growing demand for wood and based industries to become self-reliant Measuring Melia dubia’s strength
wood products, such as pulp and paper. in terms of acquiring their own raw
materials. They established Research results revealed that the
The current production of raw agroforestry farms through contract paper produced from M. dubia
materials for pulp and paper is 2.76 farming. At present, these farms exhibited excellent strength. In fact, the
million tonnes, against the demand of integrate the production of Eucalyptus species recorded a burst index of 5.8
5.04 million tonnes, a shortfall of 45 spp. and Casuarina spp. as major kPa.m2/g and a brightness of nearly 82
percent. The projected demand by 2020 sources of raw materials for pulp and percent (Table 1).
is 13.2 million tonnes, which is still paper. However, these two crops are
more staggering (Palsaniya et al., constrained by poor productivity, long In general, the research showed that M.
2009). rotation periods, and pests and dubia could be used as an alternative
diseases. To address these concerns, pulpwood species (Table 1).
Today, there are about 594 paper mills studies were conducted to explore the
in India, with 34 considered as large potential of indigenous trees as Distribution of Melia Dubia
companies. In the State of Tamil Nadu, alternate sources of raw materials for
there are 39 paper mills, including the pulp and paper. M. dubia occurs in the tropical moist
Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Paper Ltd deciduous forests of the Sikkim
(TNPL) and Shesayee Paper Boards Ltd Suitability of Melia dubia as pulpwood Himalayas, North Bengal and upper
(SPB). The demand for wood-based Assam, the Khasi hills of Orissa, N.
products in Tamil Nadu is 8-10 lakh To screen suitable pulpwood species, Circars, Deccan and the Western Ghats,
tonnes of wood pulp per year, which is eight different fast-growing tree species at altitudes of 1,500-1,800 meters. It is
greater than the 4 lakh tonnes that are were tested for their pulping quality. The known to yield useful timber.
currently available (Parthiban and species were assessed based on their
Govinda Rao, 2008). physical, chemical, and strength This tree is often used as an
characteristics using standard ornamental plant. It is also used as
methodologies (Tappi, 1980). boundary and shade trees in
plantations. Because it grows rapidly,
M. dubia can be used for afforestation.
Table 1. Silvicultural characteristics of Melia dubia suitable for pulp.
Silvicultural characteristics Unrefined Refined Environmental requirements
pulp pulp
M. dubia grows on a variety of soils;
Pulp yield 50.5 50.3
however, it grows well in deep, fertile
Kappa number 19.60 19.60
and sandy loam soils.
Acid insoluble lignin 24.7 24.7
Hollow cellulose 73.7 73.7
This tree species requires high light
bulk (g/cm3) 1.70 1.42
intensity. Seedlings can tolerate frost,
Tensile index (Nm/g) 49.2 86
however, severe frost can result in
Tear index (mN.m2 g) 5.2 10.1
plant death.
Freeness (ml CSF) 540 300
Burst index (kPa.m2/g) 2.4 5.8
Like many other trees, M. dubia is
Brightness (% ISO) 80 82
susceptible to fire, and its saplings are
Opacity (%) 83.4 79.2
at risk from livestock browsing.
Scatterning coefficient (m2/kg) 48.4 38.5
Yellowness (%) 8.9 9.2
Continued on page 4

Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter No. 34 z June 2009 3

AGROFORESTRY RESEARCH

Integrating Melia dubia... Pruning is done yearly to achieve Promoting Melia dubia as an industrial
straight cylindrical boles. wood species through contract farming
Continued from page 3

Irrigation and fertilizer requirements M. dubia is currently being promoted

Propagation as a source of industrial pulpwood
During the dry season, M. dubia grows through contract farming. The
M. dubia can be propagated by seed, well if irrigated every 10-15 days. promotional strategy applies the
cuttings and by tissue culture. Directly quadpartite model, comprising an
planting saplings or stumps is The growth of M. dubia seedlings and institute to supply the genetic
recommended over direct sowing, as trees can be further enhanced with the resources, farmers who cultivate the
the latter method has been recorded to application of a 25-50 gram mixture of seeds and seedlings, industries that
give poor yield. nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium buy the products from the farmers, and
per tree. This mixture is applied two financial institutions that provide
Seed treatment times a year. Fertilizers can be applied credit to farmers.
as needed, depending on the growth
Seeds are collected from ripened fruits and development of the tree. This strategy shows encouraging
during January and February. The seeds results. However, the availability of
are rubbed, washed, and dried before Other uses quality planting materials remains a
being stored in sealed tins. Using this major constraint.
method, seed germination is less than The wood of M. dubia can be used as
25 percent. packing cases, cigar boxes, ceiling The Tamilnadu Agricultural University,
planks, building and construction through the Forest College and
M. dubia seeds may also be raised in materials, agricultural implements, Research Institute, has initiated efforts
nursery beds. The best treatment pencils, matchboxes, splints, to mass multiply quality seedlings
involves soaking seeds in a cow dung kattamarams, musical instruments, tea through clonal propagation and tissue
solution for one day prior to raising in boxes, and plyboard. In Ceylon, the culture. Clonal propagation is being
the nursery beds. With regular wood is used to construct outriggers done through cuttings, while tissue
irrigation, the seeds then take one to for boats. It is also a good fuelwood culture is being done through nodal
two months to germinate. It takes six (calorific value, 5.043 - 5,176 cal.). The cuttings. M. dubia is also being
months for the M. dubia seedlings to fruits of M. dubia are bitter and integrated as a pulpwood species in
complete the nursery stage. considered an anthelmintic. agroforestry systems.

Spacing Market and trade The authors can be contacted at the Forest
College and Research Institute, Tamilnadu
Agricultural University, Mettupalayam, India-
Six to nine month-old seedlings are M. dubia wood can be sold for pulp and
641 301.
planted using a spacing of 3 metres by used in the veneer industry. M. dubia
3 meters, or 3 meters by 4 meters. trees greater than 16 inches in girth Acknowledgment: World Bank-funded
can be sold at a minimum price of Rs National Agricultural Innovation Project.
2,000 ($40 USD) per tonne for the match
References: 1) Srivastava, D. P., P. K. Srivastava,
industry. For the veneer industry, the
A. K. Goel and K. Thangavelu. 1993. Genetic
market rate is a little higher. variability in Terminalia arjuna. Indian J. For.,
16: 223-225; 2) Srivastava, M. B. 2005.Timber
industries and non-timber forest products. CBS
Publication, New Delhi. Pp.518; 3) Tappi, 1980.
Standard and suggested methods. Technical
association of pulp and paper industry, New
York. pp. 200-265; 4) Parthiban, K. T. and M.
Govinda Rao. 2008. Pulpwood based industrial
agroforestry in Tamil Nadu- A case study, The
Indian forester. Vol. 134: 155-163; 5) Palsaniya
D. R., S. K. Dhyani, R. K.Tewari, Ramesh Singh
and R. S.Yadav. 2009. Marketing issues and
constraints in agroforestry. In Agroforestry:
Natural Resource Sustainability, Livelihood
and Climate Moderation (eds) O.P. Chaturvedi,
A.Venkatesh, R.S.Yadav, Badre Alam,
R.P.Dwivedi, Ramesh Singh and S.K. Dhyani).
Satish Serial Publishing House. India.Pp.563 –
577.

Figure 1. Counter clockwise from top: Melia dubia seeds, seedlings, and trees.

4 June 2009 z Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter No. 34

 AGROFORESTRY RESEARCH

Grazing or feeding using the new was calculated based on dry weight.
The fodder left everyday was weighed
and analyzed.
Leucaena variety - which is better The grazing was done in the pasture of

on the growth performance of the IAAS livestock farm. The farm is

where the major grass species were
being grown, such as Cynodon
goats in Nepal? dactylon, Homarthria compressa,
Digitaria abscendens, Oxalis corniculata,
Cyperus spp. and Imperata cylindrica.
T P Barakoti (drtp.barakoti@gmail.com) and M Sapkota
The parameters monitored were
Grasslands and good pastures are rare grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and para changes in the livestock’s live weight,
in the Tarai and mid-hills of Nepal grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis) are the daily average feed intake and feed
where goat farming is common. common forage crops recommended for efficiency. Live weight was recorded at
Nutritious and palatable tree fodder is different livestock. 15-day intervals, while feed efficiency
declining in most parts of these hills was calculated monthly. The daily
due to the over-exploitation of fodder This research explored the effects of the average weight gain was calculated
trees in the farmlands and surrounding new leucaena variety K-29, (Leucaena based on the initial and final weights
natural forests. leucocephla var.K29) on the growth divided by the number of goats and
performance of Tarai male goats. The trial period in days. The treatment
Meanwhile, overgrazing has caused the tests involved feeding and grazing the means were compared to those
deterioration of pastures and farm Tarai male goats with K-29 alone and K- generated by Gomez and Gomez (1981).
productivity. Farmers can not afford 29 in combination with other fodders
concentrated feeding. Instead, the (para grass and napier grass). The daily average weight gain was
farmers traditionally feed their live- calculated using the following formula:
stock with various species of fodder. Materials and methods
The average daily deficit of fodder is Daily average weight gain =
estimated at 0.8 kilogram per animal Twenty-four male goats, of similar age Final weight - Initial weight
(Maharjan, 1987). and weight, were selected from the Tarai No. of days on trial x No. of animals
district (Rautahat) of Nepal. They were
Thus, fodder and feed scarcity have randomly grouped at four goats per Feed efficiency was calculated using
become major problems in the produc- treatment. The experiments were the following formula:
tion of livestock in Nepal. Ipil-ipil conducted at the Institute of Agriculture
(Leucaena spp.), a fast-growing legumi- and Animal Science (IAAS) Rampur, Feed efficiency (weight gain ratio) =
nous fodder containing 27-34 percent Chitwan in 1999. Prior to experimenta- Daily average feed intake
protein (Baidya, 1985), has proved its tion, the goats were surgically castrated Daily average weight gain
suitability for multiple uses including and de-wormed with Banminth at a
fodder, fuelwood and green manure. All dosage of one tablet per 20 kilograms of Results and discussion
parts of the ipil-ipil plant, including the body weight.
small twigs can be eaten by livestock. Live (body) weight increment
However, the mimosine present in the The treatments were laid out in a
foliage is harmful to non-ruminants, completely randomized design. Stall In general, the weight of the goats
causing weight loss and ill health feeding was done individually in a shed increased in the range of 0.25 to 4.84
(Anonymous, 1984). managed for this purpose. The mineral kilograms over the 90-day trial period.
mixture Minamil, containing vitamins A, The treatment that resulted in the
For ruminants, especially cattle, B, D, E, and K, and nutrient elements greatest weight increase was free
buffalo and goats, the fodder is (calcium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, grazing for 4 hours plus ad lib feeding
generally palatable, digestible and iron, nicotinamide, choline chloride) of leucaena (4.84kg). This was followed
nutritious. Rangankar (1980) and Jones was given at a dosage of 10 grams per by free grazing for 8 hours (3.50kg)
(1982) reported that ipil-ipil can be fed goat every 10 days from March to June. (Table 1).
safely to ruminants if their stomach
contains microorganisms that render The fodder species fed to the goats were The increased weight gain in the latter
mimosine harmless. Neupane (1987) ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephla var.K29), group, as compared to the other
concluded that the growth performance para grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis) and treatments, might be due to the good
of the newly introduced variety napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum). grass cover in the pasture land and the
Leucaena leucocephala was much better These were grown at the IAAS freedom of the goats to move in the
compared to other species. Napier agroforestry site. The amount of feed Continued on page 6

Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter No. 34 z June 2009 5

AGROFORESTRY RESEARCH

Feeding or grazing... It was evident that stall feeding of + 50 percent leucaena +50 percent para
Continued from page 5 goats with only leucaena, did not grass (68 grams per day, 1st month).
increase their body weight, rather it
open field. However, there was no resulted in weight loss as observed The minimum weight gain was observed
significant difference found between during the third month. from the 0 grazing + leucaena ad lib
the treatment groups. combination (8 grams per day, 1st
Daily average weight gain month), with weight loss occuring
Similar results were obtained in a during the third month for this treat-
previous experiment (Anonymous Daily average weight gain (grams) was ment (-17 grams per day). This finding
1986). Bhandari and Reshami found to be higher in the first month might indicate an insufficient number
(1987) found that pigs fed with 15 and declined thereafter during the of microorganisms in the goats’
percent leucaena leaf meal gained second and third months. The higher stomachs to fight the harmful effects of
more live weight than the group that temperature in the summer months mimosine.
was fed with 20 percent leaf meal. was attributed as a possible cause. The
Buffaloes that were fed with ipil-ipil greatest weight gain of 72 grams per Daily average feed intake
(25-30%) gained more body weight day (1st month) was found with the
than the group fed with non-ipil-ipil free grazing for 4 hours + leucaena ad The results indicate that dry matter
fodder (Veldhuis 1988). lib combination, followed by 0 grazing intake (feed intake) increased during
the second and third months as
compared to the first month. However,
the live weights did not increase
Average Feed Intake and Live Weight Increment of Tarai Male Goats
proportionately as seen in Table 1. This
6000
lack of change in the live weights may
be due to the warm temperature as
Average feed intake & live weight gain

5000 4840 experimentation was done during the

summer months of Nepal, or possibly
4000 3500 influenced by goat age.
3360
3000 26892500
2260
2590 2475 Average feed intake The feed intake was found to be highest
2082
2000 Average live weight gain in the zero grazing + 50 percent
1374 leucaena + 50 percent napier grass
1000 combination (Figure 1). This was
250
0 followed by the zero grazing + 50
0
percent leucaena + 50 percent para
0 FG + 50% leuc. 

0 FG + 50% leuc. 
FG 4hr + leuc.

0 FG + leuc.
FG 8 hrs

FG 4hr + para

grass combination. The analysis of

+ 50% napier
+ 50% para

variance of the data found the results

were non-significant.

Treatment Grazing 4hr + leucaena ad lib was

Figure 1. Average feed intake and live weight gain of the Tarai male goats (FG - free grazing) found to be better at increasing the
body weight gain of the goats, com-
pared with other treatments.

Table 1. Total weight changes at monthly intervals

Weight (kilograms)
Treatment
Change Change Change Total
Initial Final
1st month 2nd month 3rd month Change
Free grazing (FG) 8 hrs 6.88 1.83 1.00 0.67 10.38 3.50
FG 4 hrs + leucaena ad lib 8.67 2.17 1.84 0.83 13.51 4.84

FG 4 hrs + para ad lib 8.00 1.25 1.00 0.34 10.59 2.59

0 FG + leucaena ad lib 7.25 0.25 0.50 -0.50 7.50 0.25
0 FG + 50% leucaena + 50% para 7.88 2.03 0.83 0.50 11.24 3.36

0 FG + 50% leucaena + 50% napier 8.00 1.33 0.67 0.50 10.50 2.50
F test NS NS NS

SD 2.61 2.76 2.39

CV % 33.00 31.00 27.00

6 June 2009 z Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter No. 34

 AGROFORESTRY RESEARCH

Feeding or grazing... Table 2. Feed efficiency (weight gain ratio) of the goats at monthly intervals.
Continued from page 6 Month
Treatment Mean
Feed efficiency First Second Third
Free grazing (FG) 8 hrs - - - -
The mean feed efficiency varied from FG 4 hrs + leucaena ad lib 6.70 14.40 32.20 17.80
17.8 (free grazing 4 hours + leucaena
FG 4 hrs + para ad lib 8.60 14.90 47.40 23.60
ad lib) to 40.4 (0 grazing + 50%
leucaena + 50% napier grass) (Table 2). 0 FG + leucaena ad lib 71.60 46.30 -42.50 25.10
Feed efficiency declined as the daily 0 FG + 50% leucaena + 50% para 8.70 34.80 53.60 32.40
average weight rose from the first to 0 FG + 50% leucaena + 50% napier 14.80 46.10 60.30 40.40
third month. Feed efficiency varied
with feed intake and daily weight gain
3. The combination of free grazing for
regardless of the type of fodder used.
4 hours + leucaena ad lib was (second edition). National Academy Press,
found to be the most effective Washington D.C. 100 pp.; 2) Anonymous.
In terms of feed efficiency, free grazing 1986. Third Annual Report. Farm Forestry
method at increasing the growth
for 4 hours + leucaena ad lib was found Project IOF-IAAS, Tribhuwan University-IDRC
performance of the Tarai male goats Nepal. pp 56-62; 3) Baidya, H. R. 1985. Ipil-ipil.
to be the best treatment for the male
under Chitwan conditions; and World Neighbors, Kathmandu, Nepal.; 4)
goats (Table 2).
4. Using Leucaena leucocephla var.K29 Bhandari, N. B. and T. B. Reshami, 1987. The
alone is not recommended as it is effect of Leucaena leaf meal on swine.
Conclusions and recommendations Proceedings of Agriculture Resource
not digestible by goats and could
Management Seminar, Rampur 5 pp.; 5)
even be harmful due to the Gomez, K. A. and A. A. Gomez. 1981. Statistical
This study thus presents the following
conclusions: mimosine content. procedures for agricultural research, second
printing, IRRI 294 pp.; 6) Jones, R. J. 1981.
Dr. Barakoti is a Senior Scientist (S-4) at the Wonder tree ipil-ipil for ruminants in tropics.
1. The live weights of four- to six- Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Asian Livestock 6(11): 11; 7) Maharjan, M. R.
month-old Tarai male goats Singhdurbar Plaza, Kathmandu, Nepal. Dr. 1987. Agroforestry in community forestry
increased by 0.25 to 4.84 kilo- Sapkota is a Professor at the Institute of development. Banko Janakari, Vol. 1 No. 4, pp
Agriculture and Animal Science, Rampur, 63-66.; 8) Neupane, S. P. 1987. Fodder tree
grams, depending on the combina- management in Chitwan. Proceedings of
Chitwan, Nepal.
tion of stall feeding and free Agriculture Research Management Seminar,
grazing; Acknowledgment: International Development Rampur 9 pp.; 8) Rangankar, D. V. 1980.
2. The live weight increment, daily Research Centre (IDRC), Canada; Mr. P.M. Dixit, Studies on utilization of subabul as fodder of
average weight gain, daily average Coordinator of the Farm Forestry Project; Mr. G. dairy cattle. Proceedings of seminar on ipil-
P. Kandel and Mr. M. Adhikari; and Mr. U. N. ipil, Gandinagar, Gujarat, pp 74-79; 9)
feed intake and feed efficiency are Veldhuis, M. 1988. Feeding ipil-ipil to
Dabadi.
influenced by fodder species, the buffaloes. Banko Janakari, Vol2, No.1 pp 51-
proportion of the fodder used and References: 1) Anonymous. 1984. Leucaena: 52.
grazing time; promising forage and tree crop for the tropics

Exploring the indigenous priorities, aspirations and constraints.

Such knowledge is dynamic, and the

knowledge and practices of result of a continuous process of

experimentation, innovation, and
adaptation. More importantly, such
Philippine tribal groups on CBFM knowledge has been handed down
verbally from generation to generation.

Lilito D. Gavina (ldgavina@yahoo.com) Indigenous peoples are believed to

have been practicing community
During the past two decades, efforts to also in implementing practical field
forestry from time immemorial.
encourage farmers to grow and manage experiments in response to local
However, it was only recently that the
trees in the Philippines have gradually constraints and opportunities.
idea of community forestry has been
increased. Most of these were
rediscovered and reintroduced in the
externally sponsored interventions More recently, social forestry programs
forestry sector by rural development
based on unconventional forestry have aimed at involving the community
professionals. As in in many parts of
techniques. No attention was given to in forest management efforts, but were
the world, most indigenous community
the idea that local people were capable expected to do better in understanding
forestry practices in the Philippines
of not only developing viable solutions local peoples’ knowledge and practices.
have been lost over time. The majority
to local problems, based on their The peoples’ indigenous forest
understanding of local conditions, but management practices reflect their Continued on page 8

Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter No. 34 z June 2009 7

AGROFORESTRY RESEARCH

Exploring the indigenous Secondary data was obtained from the practices related to forest management,
knowledge... DENR, and primary data was collected especially with regards to the use of
through semi-structured household forest products and growing trees. The
Continued from page 7 interviews, group interviews, and people described their controlled
participant observations. The semi- practices of forest management with the
of practices were not documented, yet
structured interviews were used to terms controlled utilization, protection/
many believe that a lot of these ‘lost’
elicit information on household socio- maintenance activities, and
practices could serve as the basis for
economic characteristics, such as regeneration/propagation activities.
sustainable forest management.
livelihood sources and landholding These were applied in various types of
types. The open interviews described landholdings.
This study analyzed the perceptions of
the perceptions on forest resources and
two tribal communities regarding
their use. Descriptive statistics were Forest values and the responsibility of
forests and indigenous management
used to analyze the data. forest management planning were not
practices. It demonstrated empirical
highly influenced by the differences in
evidence, and documented the
Results age or the land property status.
indigenous knowledge and practices
However, there is a clear gender
related to forest management. It also
Results revealed that values of the differentiation with respect to authority
suggested ways in which indigenous
local people toward the forest and in forest management planning.
knowledge and practices could be used
forest products are multi-dimensional.
in the implementation of the
In the CBFM Agreement, conscious
Community-Based Forest Management
The local use of the forests was not efforts have been undertaken to
(CBFM) Program.
only perceived in terms of wood and establish interfaces between the official
non-timber forest products, but also in and tribal institutions. However, local
Methodology
terms of support provided to staple and values and practices were not reflected
non-staple crop production in various in the Agreement. The CBFM Program
The study was explorative in nature and
landholding types, such as uma focuses on plantation forestry rather
made use of qualitative and
(swidden), bangkag (dryland), and than the integration of forestry into the
quantitative research methods. It was
talon (wetland). These various local land-use system.
carried out in the two barangays
landholding types were supported by
(villages) of Santol, La Union in the
the forest in terms of soil and water Recommendations
Philippines. These barangays were
conservation. The environmental
included in the CBFM Agreement
protective role of forests was also From the results, the study recommends
awarded by the Department of
recognized. that more research is carried out on
Environment and Natural Resources
indigenous knowledge systems,
(DENR) in 1996. They were treated as
The study demonstrated that local especially on the development of
one case in the study because they did
people have several indigenous appropriate methods to incorporate
not differ in respect to forest-related
them into forestry development
values and livelihood sources.
programs.

All set for the 2nd World In terms of policy, it is recommended

that indigenous knowledge systems
must be understood and consideration
Congress of Agroforestry of the interaction of traditional and
modern systems of governance should
be made. Such systems should be
Agroforestry researchers, practitioners, sharing and support the increasing recognized as having specific technical
educators and policy makers around global interest in agroforestry. and institutional features. More
the world are gearing up for the 2nd With the overall theme of ‘Agroforestry stringent government policy and service
World Congress of Agroforestry to be – the future of global land use,’ the agency programs must be formulated for
held 23-28 August 2009 in Nairobi, Congress aims to promote the sharing indigenous communities.
Kenya. of new findings, lessons, experiences
and ideas that impact people’s
The Congress aims to strengthen the livelihoods and the environment as a Prof. Gavina is the Extension Facilitator of the
Institute of Agroforestry and Watershed
impetus that started during the 1st whole. Moreover, opportunities to
Management of the Don Mariano Marcos
World Congress of Agroforestry in 2004 ‘leverage scientific agroforestry’ will be Memorial State University, Bacnotan, La Union
in Florida, USA. It also hopes to highlighted to promote global in the Philippines.
enhance agroforestry knowledge- sustainable land use.

Continued on page 9

8 June 2009 z Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter No. 34

 AGROFORESTRY PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT

All set for the 2nd World

Forestry Congress... Domestication of Sandal
Continued from page 8

Plenary, symposia, concurrent sessions,

(Santalum album L.) in India:
and poster sessions will focus on:
constraints and prospects
Markets as opportunities and
drivers of agroforestry land use; S. Viswanath (sviswanath@ icfre.org), Dhanya B. (krupaias@gmail.com)
and T. S. Rathore (tsrathore@icfre.org)
Tree-based rehabilitation of
degraded lands and watersheds;
Climate change adaptation and Among the 16 species of the km2 of deciduous forests in the Deccan
mitigation; economically important genus region of Peninsular India (Gairola et
Agroforestry’s contribution to a Santalum, Santalum album L. or Indian al., 2007). The south Indian states of
multifunctional agriculture which sandalwood is highly prized for its Karnataka and Tamil Nadu harbor more
combines productivity with scented heartwood. The heartwood than 90 percent of sandal along with
environmental sustainability; and yields the commercially known East some patches in the states of Kerala,
Policy options and institutional Indian sandalwood oil. The oil contains Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and
innovations for agroforestry land 90 percent α and β santalols which Madhya Pradesh.
use. are in high demand by perfume
manufacturers. The oil is also used in Socio-economic policies on sandal
Participants and agroforesters indigenous medicine, while the wood is production and harvesting
worldwide can look forward to the used in the religious rituals of Hindus,
publication of summary documents, a Buddhists and Muslims. The history of sandal conservation in
book of abstracts, refereed journal the southern states is filled with
articles, journal special issues, and The East Indian sandalwood has very instances of protectionist policies
books on the key topics covered in the uniform fibers, and the grain is straight which were promulgated to maintain a
sessions capturing the knowledge and close. These characteristics make state monopoly over the trade of this
shared among the participants. A it one of the finest woods for carving. prized resource. In 1792, Tippu Sultan,
declaration will also be a key output as then ruler of Mysore (presently
it contains the deliberations and As a tree, sandal is medium-sized and Karnataka), declared sandal as a royal
agreements made during the Congress. hemi-parasitic. Its average height is 12- tree (Rai, 1990) and even ordered the
This will be a useful tool for policy 13 m with a maximum girth of 2-2.5 m. hands of sandalwood thieves to be
makers and donor agencies who are The species is distributed from amputated to enforce the royal decree
engaged in efforts to advance Indonesia in the West to the Juan (Shetty, 1977).
agroforestry initiatives worldwide. Fernandez Islands in the East, and from
Hawaii in the North to New Zealand in As recently as 2002, state governments,
For the latest information, visit the South (Srinivasan et al., 1992), especially in Karnataka and Tamil
www.worldagroforestry.org/wca2009 including India. Nadu, had a monopoly over the control
of all sandal resources. State laws
In India, nearly 90 percent of sandal specified that all sandal trees growing
naturally occurs across about 9,600
Continued on page 10

Figure 1. High-grade sandal wood stored for auction in a government depot.

Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter No. 34 z June 2009 9

AGROFORESTRY PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT

Domestication of Sandal... spike disease, proliferation of weeds existing rules and regulations related to
like Lantana camara, and the introduc- sandal in 2001 and 2002. These
Continued from page 9
tion of monoculture eucalyptus planta- modified policies aim to encourage
on any land, including private lands, tions in natural sandal areas. All these private domestication of sandal.
belonged to the government. However, factors significantly contributed to the Landholders now have legal rights over
the landowners were responsible for decline of natural sandal populations. the sandal trees on their properties. It
preserving the trees on their respective Hence, in 1998, the International Union is thus now possible for growers to
lands. Only the government had the for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) receive as much as 100 percent of the
right to sell or trade the wood. listed the East Indian sandal as a value of the tree as determined by the
vulnerable species after its production forest department.
This system neither deterred the illegal fell by at least 80 percent in 10 years
and indiscriminate harvesting of (Awasthi, 2007). Cultivation of sandal on private lands
sandalwood by smugglers, nor did it has since become an attractive option.
help conserve the species in its natural From 4,000 tonnes in the 1950s, Sandal It is a suitable species for integration
habitat (Mahapatra, 2001). Moreover, heartwood production fell to only 500 in agroforestry farms due to its
the monopolistic laws acted as a huge tonnes in 2006 (Gairola et al., 2007). hardiness and resilience to biotic
disincentive for the planting of sandal Meanwhile, demand for sandalwood interferences, including browsing and
on private lands. Farmers even rose to 5,000–6,000 tonnes annually, hacking. It also has the ability to grow
destroyed the saplings that naturally and prices increased to $92,500 USD in a wide variety of soils, and can be
grew on their lands. per tonne in 2007. easily propagated through root suckers.
The long maturation period of a sandal
This situation was aggravated by India was the leading exporter of tree (15-20 years) before it can be
recurring annual fires, lopping of trees sandal oil especially during the 1980s commercially utilized for its
for fodder/grazing, spread of the sandal when it was exporting approximately heartwood, also provides multiple
100 tonnes of oil opportunities for inter-cropping with
annually. At present, other crops.
production levels are
falling due to the decline Analyzing the net present value (NPV),
in the extraction of benefit-cost ratio (B/C ratio), internal
sandalwood and poor rate of return (IRR), land expectation
out-turn of extracted value (LEV), and equivalent annual
wood (Baruah, 1999). income (EAI)

Countries like Australia A financial analysis on sandal as a

and Indonesia have monoculture plantation and sandal
taken steps to reduce the integrated with Indian gooseberry
deficit in Indian (Phyllanthus emblica) in the drylands/
sandalwood production semi-arid areas of India revealed
and are gearing up to promising opportunities (Table 1).
Figure 2. The Marayoor sandal reserve in Kerala state is meet the increasing Indian gooseberry served as a
considered one of the vanishing treasures of India. global demand for secondary host for sandal. Annual
sandalwood. In 2001, crops like horse gram (Dolichos
Australia had 830 ha of uniflorus) could be cultivated in three-
Indian sandalwood to four-year rotations.
plantations. This is
projected to expand to All three options listed are financially
2,300 ha by 2011 feasible since they have NPV values
(Awasthi, 2007). higher than zero and B/C ratios greater
than one at both the discount rates.
Domestication of sandal Sandal block plantations, with a
rotation period of 15 years, had the
To address the declining highest NPV ($67,077 USD at 10% and
share of sandal in $31,317 USD at 15%), B/C ratio (4.4 at
international markets 10% and 3.3 at 15%), IRR (33%), EAI
and conserve it in ($8,819 USD at 10% and $5,356 USD at
natural areas, major 15%) and LEV ($88,189 USD at 10% and
producer states in India $35,705 USD at 15%). These high values
(e.g., Karnataka and
Figure 3. A seven-year old sandal plantation on farm land. Tamil Nadu) relaxed the
Continued on page 11

10 June 2009 z Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter No. 34

 AGROFORESTRY PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT

Domestication of Sandal... economical than 20 years for all the Overcoming technical constraints in
Continued from page 10 models. However, these results are only sandal domestication
possible in a liberalized policy
reflect the high returns of selling environment with open markets where To make sandal cultivation a viable
sandalwood, and relatively low costs. the owner is entitled to receive the full proposition, policy changes have to be
Inter-cropping of sandal with market value of the wood upon supplemented with measures to
gooseberry and horse gram (sandal + extraction. The present policies, overcome current technical constraints
gooseberry, sandal + gooseberry + however, declare the state (the Forest in cultivation. These constraints
horse gram) showed slightly lower Department and other public sector include lack of knowledge of proper
financial returns compared to the agencies) as the sole buyer and seller, cultivation practices and inadequate
monoculture plantations of sandal. thereby denying farmers the full market supply of quality planting stock.
value for their produce and even
However, the possibility of yielding compelling them to go through To address these constraints, sufficient
annual returns from inter-cropping elaborate bureaucratic procedures to germplasm, with a wide genetic base,
makes sandal inter-cropping models receive the benefits. should be established as clonal seed
comparatively more attractive to orchards (CSO). Sandal, being a
farmers who prefer intermediate Hence, a revamp of the legal provisions predominantly outbreeding species,
returns as compared to sandal on sandal is needed to facilitate free has enormous natural variability in
monoculture plantations where returns trade and ensure higher and speedy terms of leaf size, shape, flowering
are delayed. returns to farmers. This revamp will pattern (period), fruit/seed size,
likewise encourage the private heartwood, and oil content (Srinivasan
The analysis also demonstrated that a domestication of sandal. et al., 1992; Srimathi et al., 1995). These
rotation period of 15 years is more
Continued on page 12

Figure 4. A young sandal plantation with mango trees as host. Figure 5. Seven-year old sandal plantation with Indian gooseberry
trees as host.

Table 1. Financial analysis of various sandal cultivation models in 1 hectare of land at different discount rates.
Sl. Model Rotation NPV ($*) B/C ratio IRR EAI ($*) LEV($*) Rank
No period 10% 15% 10% 15% (%) 10% 15% 10% 15%
(years)

15 63 932 29 411 3.8 2.8 29 8 405 5 030 84 054 33 531

1 Sandal+gooseberry 3
20 39 638 11 832 2.7 1.7 21 4 656 1 890 46 559 12 602

Sandal+gooseberry+ 15 64 308 29 764 3.8 2.8 30 8 455 5 090 84 548 33 934

2 2
horsegram
20 40 013 12 186 2.7 1.7 21 4 700 1 947 46 999 12 979

Sandal block 15 67 077 31 317 4.4 3.3 33 8 819 5 356 88 189 35 705
3 1
plantation
20 41 290 12 371 3.0 1.9 22 4 850 1 976 48 499 13 176

*1 US$$= Approx. 40 Indian Rupees. Source: Viswanath et. al. 2007

Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter No. 34 z June 2009 11

AGROFORESTRY PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT

Domestication of Sandal... In addition, the Institute has developed entrepreneurship may bring in
modern nursery practices to produce investments to critical research and
Continued from page 11
quality planting stock of sandal in root development areas.
differences provide a vast scope for trainers and polybags. At present, the
genetic improvement and immediate Institute supplies nearly 65,000 of If cost-effective solutions to technical
use of superior genotypes/clones to sandal seedlings annually. It also constraints are developed, together
improve productivity. encourages private entrepreneurship in with initiatives to increase proper
sandal nursery technology to meet the public awareness on the economic
Raising sandal seedlings from seeds growing demand for sandal seedlings prospects of sandal cultivation, and to
would result in variations in growth, all over India. promote policy changes, India may
heartwood, and oil content since these witness an increase in the
traits are at least partially genetically Identifying gaps and actions domestication of sandal in the coming
controlled. To yield clones, grafting is years.
common practice, however it is not The growth data for sandal has so far
viable for fast and large-scale been systematically recorded only in S. Viswanath and T. S. Rathore are Senior
propagation of sandal. In vitro forest reserves. Research gaps exist Scientists, and Dhanya B. is a Senior Research
propagation, through tissue culture, is with respect to the optimum age of Fellow at the Tree Improvement and
Propagation Division of the Institute of Wood
the only feasible option to achieve sandal for harvesting, heartwood yield,
Science and Technology, Malleswaram,
uniform quality planting stock. factors affecting yield, age of Bangalore-560003, India
However, in vitro propagation heartwood initiation, and relationship
procedures have only been between tree girth and heartwood References: 1) Awasthi, K. 2007. Oz beats India.
standardized under laboratory content under managed conditions. Down to Earth, 15 July 2007. Published by
Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi.
conditions at the Institute of Wood
p32.; 2) Baruah, A. D. 1999. The economics of
Science and Technology (IWST), and Cultivation packages also need to be sandal oil. Indian Forester.125 (6):640-643.; 3)
have yet to be tested under field standardized according to the area’s Gairola, S. C., P. S. Aggarwal, G. S. Ravikumar.
conditions. agroclimatic situation, existing 2007. Status of production and marketing of
cropping pattern, and compatibility of sandalwood. Paper presented in National
Seminar on Conservation, Improvement,
sandal with other herbaceous
Cultivation and Management of Sandal,
understorey crops. Data on Institute of Wood Science and Technology,
suitable host species for Bangalore. 12-13 December 2007.; 4)
sandal have so far been Mahapatra R. 2001. King without a Jungle.
limited to forest tree species. Down to Earth. URL: www.cseindia.org/html/
dte/dte20000831/dte_news.htm (Retrieved 19
Research is hence needed on
November 2007).; 5) Rai, S. N. 1990. Status and
horticultural species which cultivation of sandal in India, Proceedings of
can be integrated in the Symposium on Sandalwood in the Pacific.
agroforestry systems, like Hamilton, L. and Conrad, C. E. (editors). USDA
Indian gooseberry and mango Forest service General Technical Paper, PSW-
122, Honolulu, 66-71.; 6) Shetty, J. B. 1977.
(Mangifera indica), which are
Proposals for the adoption of adequate legal
high in demand and yield measures for the protection of sandalwood.
regular returns. Proceedings of All India Sandal Seminar, 7-8
February, Bangalore: 198-204.; 7) Srinivasan V.
Figure 6. Sandal seedlings raised at the Institute of At present, a large share of V., V. R. Sivaramakrishnan, C. R. Rangaswamy,
Wood Science and Technology nursery for private H. S. Ananthapadmanabha, K. H.
investment on sandal
domestication. Shankaranarayana. 1992. Sandal (Santalum
domestication goes into album L.). Published by the Director, Institute
protection costs as the trees of Wood Science and Technology (ICFRE),
are highly prone to theft and Bangalore, pp 233.; 8) Srimathi, R. A., H. D.
smuggling. Kulkarni and K. R. Venkatesan. 1995. Recent
advances in research and management of
sandal (Santalum album L.) in India. Srimathi,
To address this problem, cost- R. A., H. D. Kulkarni and K. R. Venkatesan
effective electronic (editors), India: Associated Publishing
surveillance systems can be Company. p 416.; 9) Viswanath, S., B. Dhanya,
established to make sandal and T. S. Rathore. 2008. Financial viability of
sandal cultivation practices. Proceedings of
cultivation more
National seminar on conservation,
economically attractive. improvement, cultivation and management of
Relaxation of policies can sandal, Institute of Wood Science and
boost the domestication of Technology, Bangalore. 12-13 December 2007.
sandal. It will also help solve Gairola, S., T. S. Rathore, A. N. Geeta Joshi,
Arun Kumar and P. K. Aggarwal. (editors).
Figure 7. Smugglers check for the presence of heart associated technical
Published by IWST (ICFRE) pp 158-165.
wood by cutting the base of the sandal tree. constraints, as private

12 June 2009 z Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter No. 34

 AGROFORESTRY PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT

KASC advocates 3. Demonstrate the commercial

feasibility of producing
vermicompost and vermimeal as
vermicomposting opportunities an economical and environment-
friendly option for recycling
Perfelia R. Buen (fe_buen65@yahoo.com) biodegradable materials;
4. Mass produce the appropriate
earthworm species (African
Vermicomposting is the process of feed will be reduced, thereby
Nightcrawlers) to be sold at a
using earthworms to facilitate the maximizing their net income from
minimal cost; and
decomposition of organic matter to integrated animal-crop production.
5. Foster a closer relationship among
create high quality compost. The
community-based organizations,
process involves mixing dried rice KASC as a regional center for
the participating families/commu-
straws/grass clippings and farm vermitechnology
nities and KASC.
manure in correct proportions. This
allows pre-decomposition to occur, Kalinga-Apayao State College (KASC)
Achievements
producing heat and allowing suitable became involved in vermitechnology
conditions for seeding earthworms when it established the Regional
Since its establishment, the Center has
such as African Nightcrawlers (Eudrillus Vermicompost and Vermimeal
forged a Memorandum of Agreement
euginae). The decomposition process Production Center in May 2007. This
between Heifer International and other
then continues until vermicompost is was the offshoot of the National
private individuals to promote
produced. Vermicompost and Vermimeal
vermicompost and biogas production.
Production Program (NV2P2) through
It has conducted seminar-workshops
Vermimeal production is the process of the initiative of Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero
on agri-waste management among
drying and pulverizing the earthworms III, the Executive Director of the
local partners, and the self-help
used in vermicomposting, which is rich Philippine Council for Marine and
groups of Heifer International based at
in protein and other essential elements Aquatic Resources Development
Kalinga, Mountain Province, and
needed by animals and aquaculture (PCAMRD) of the Department of Science
Isabela.
species. In vermimeal production, the and Technology (DOST). This initiative
moisture level of the dried earthworms was supported by the Philippine-Japan
In terms of production, the Center
must be just right to avoid rancidity Support Fund for Underprivileged
generated an income of PhP 28,150
and growth of fungi (molds). Farmers and coursed through the
($596 USD) from the sales of
National Economic Development
vermicompost from May 2007 to
Vermicomposting and vermimeal Authority. It was implemented by KASC
January 2008.
production provide a lot of benefits in collaboration with state colleges and
when integrated in agroforestry. universities and local government units
Advocacy initiative
According to Dr. Herbert Imatong, in the region.
Vermiculture Project Leader, the use of
The implementation of techno-transfer
vermicompost can reduce the Among the 16 regional vermicomposting
demonstrations resulted in the
commercial fertilizer requirements for centers throughout the Philippines,
establishment of 15 vermicomposting
farmers. This will increase their KASC was chosen as the regional center
centers in the province of Kalinga,
reliance on the wastes of their agro- for vermicomposting in the Cordillera
livestock farms, promoting prolonged Administrative Region (CAR). Continued on page 14
soil fertility. Farmers are likewise
encouraged to develop their self- With Dr. Eduardo T. Bagtang at the helm,
reliance to reduce the incidence of the KASC regional vermicomposting
poverty. He added that instead of center aims to:
burning agricultural wastes, the
farmers would be decomposing and 1. Implement techno-transfer demon-
feeding these wastes to the earthworms. strations on vermicomposting and
This process creates an environment- vermimeal production;
friendly approach by getting rid of 2. Encourage the active involvement of
agricultural wastes. all participating families in the
provinces of CAR to produce their
Dr. Imatong also shared that vermimeal own fertilizers from farm wastes to
is a potential feed ingredient in the be used in their home gardens/
local formulation of feeds for livestock farms and for commercial pur-
and fish growers. If farmers are able to poses; Figure 1. African Nightcrawlers (Eudrillus
compound their local feeds, the cost of euginae) are weighed before being seeded
to the pre-decomposed breeding beds.

Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter No. 34 z June 2009 13

AGROFORESTRY EDUCATION AND TRAINING

KASC advocates of agricultural

vermicomposting... wastes and farm
manure.
Continued from page 13
These products
produce methane,
three centers in the province of Apayao,
which is a
one center in the province of Abra, and
greenhouse gas,
one center in Kabayan, province of
and therefore
Benguet. These centers were established
contribute to
from October 2007 to May 2008.
climate change.
Likewise, rice
This initiative was a continuation of
straws and other
the PCAMRD-DOST and NEDA project.
farm by-products
The services of these centers have been
produce carbon
modified to fit the existing rural
dioxide in large
situation of the provinces.
quantities when
burned. Figure 2. Participants of the 2007 Regional Training-Workshop on
This advocacy initiative exemplifies Vermicomposting and Vermimeal Production with Dr. Rafael
KASC’s belief that farmers should be Guerrero III (center, in striped shirt) of PCAMRD and Dr. Eduardo T.
Vermicomposting
empowered to increase the capacity of Bagtang, KASC President (center, in white shirt).
and biogas
their land resources in a sustained
production are
manner. They must be taught initiatives realize the potential of agroforestry to
alternative ways to better utilize these
to enhance human and animal health, achieve zero waste and proper waste
agricultural wastes, farm manure, rice
without adversely affecting the management.
straws, and other farm by-products.
environment. Vermicomposting, the
Aside from providing livelihood
production of vermimeal as a feed For more information about vermi
opportunities and addressing poverty in
supplement, and biogas production, are technology, contact Dr. Herbert
the countryside, vermicomposting and
timely opportunities for farmers at this Imatong, Project Leader, at
biogas production could also help
time.
mitigate climate change. Moreover, if bert_imatong @yahoo.com
integrated in agroforestry systems,
The importance of recycling The author is the Board Secretary and RMIS
vermicomposting, biogas production,
According to Dr. Imatong, there is a Coordinator of Kalinga – Apayao State College,
and vermimeal production could
need to manage and divert the disposal Buanao, Tabuk, Kalinga, Philippines.

The 4th Philippine Agroforestry Congress slated

for November 2009
Leila Landicho (leila_landicho@yahoo.com)

The Philippine Agroforestry Education technology development, promotion development and promotion. The Best
and Research Network (PAFERN), and adoption for climate change Concurrent Paper and Best Poster Paper
University of the Philippines Los Baños- mitigation and adaptation; b) intensify Awards will be given during the
Institute of Agroforestry (UPLB-IAF), and agroforestry promotion through Conference.
the Misamis Oriental State College of agroforestry road shows; and, c)
Agriculture and Technology (MOSCAT) highlight farmers’ experiences in Registration forms may be submitted to
are jointly organizing the 4th National agroforestry technology adoption. the Congress Secretariat (Email
Agroforestry Congress, with the theme agro_cfnr@yahoo.com and/or
“Agroforestry promotion for climate Interested paper or poster presenters secretariat@pafern.org.ph or by fax
change mitigation and adaptation: may submit abstracts on: the role of +63 49 536 3809) not later than 20
building lessons from the field.” To be agroforestry in climate change September 2009. Registration fees must
held 18-20 November 2009 at the Chali mitigation and adaptation; agroforestry be remitted on or before 30 September
Beach Resort and Conference Center in towards food security and biodiversity 2009, either via bank transfer or money
Cagayan de Oro City, the Congress aims conservation; agroforestry enterprise order. For more information, log on to
to: a) enable the various stakeholders development; and innovative www.pafern.org.ph
to share experiences in agroforestry approaches in agroforestry

14 June 2009 z Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter No. 34

 AGROFORESTRY INFORMATION RESOURCES

PAR invites contributions to the New

The Overstory E-Journal information
Permanent Agricultural Resources
(PAR) is inviting interested agroforestry
perennial vegetables in temperate
climate;
resources
researchers, scientists, educators, protection of indigenous rights;
extension agents, consultants, students soil food web in multistory The following publications are new
and practitioners to submit articles for agroforestry systems; releases from Springer Publications,
The Overstory E-Journal. This is a free temperate edibles for use in a CABI International, IIED, World
agroforestry e-mail journal with over perennial homegarden; Agroforestry Centre, and International
8,000 subscribers in 184 countries. year-round fruit production; Development Research Center.
value-added products from
Since March 1988, The Overstory E-
agroforestry; Agroforestry Abstracts
Journal has been featuring articles that
medicinal plants in agroforestry;
present broad rather than local
and This is a fully searchable database of
perspectives that are of general
agroforestry and watershed internationally published research on
interest to its target readers. Articles
protection. agroforestry journal articles, bulletins,
may focus on agroforestry; non-timber
conferences, and books about
forest products; indigenous knowledge; For those interested, article
agroforestry. Topics cover agroforestry
land-use management approaches that contributions must adhere to the
systems and other types of land use,
integrate silvicultural, pastoral and/or following guidlines:
trees and shrubs for agroforestry,
aquaculture systems; economics of
be written for a general and horticultural and plantation crops for
agroforestry; small-scale forestry;
worldwide audience of educators, agroforestry, pasture and field crops
training and education. Survey articles
extension agents, researchers, for agroforestry, animals, agroforestry
that focus on trees and their roles in
consultants, students and products, environmental and service
agriculture, natural ecosystems, and
practitioners; aspects, sociological, cultural and
human culture and economy are
be well-written in English; economic aspects, and research and
likewise encouraged.
be written in the third person; development, including techniques and
Other topics that PAR is eager to present brief examples of systems methodologies. For more information,
publish in future editions are the and species from various visit www.cabi.org
following: environments;
be between 2,000 and 3,000 words, Green water management handbook:
agrodiversity’s ecological and excluding references; rainwater harvesting for agricultural
economic benefits; include full references; and production and ecological sustainability
agroforestry to meet the possess high standards of integrity
Millennium Development Goals; (e.g. proper citation of other works Edited by M. Malesu, A. R. Oduor and O.
agroforestry for poverty and results, proper substantiation J. Odhiambo, this publication presents
alleviation; of scientific claims with data, the concept of greenwater partition for
agroforestry in saline soils; proper acknowledgment of agricultural production and ecosystem
bamboo in agroforestry systems; contributions, etc.). sustenance. To download this resource,
biodiversity benefits of visit www.worldagroforestry.org
Articles may also be a summary of a
agroforestry;
longer publication as long as written
comparing pests and diseases in Indigenous fruit trees in the tropics:
permission has been obtained from the
mono- and polycultures; domestication, utilization and
original publisher for its publication.
food insects with tree connections; commercialization
highly useful multipurpose species Submit the articles in Word format or e-
of bamboo; mail text to Craig Elevitch, Editor, The Written by F. K. Akinnifesi, R. R. B.
human waste for fertility in Overstory, Permanent Agriculture Leakey, O. C. Ajavi, G. Sileshi, Z.
perennial cropping systems; Resources, P.O. Box 428, Holualoa, HI Tchoundjeu, P. Matakala, and F. R.
interactive learning environments; 96725 USA at Kwesiga, this book discusses the
mangrove agroforestry; overstory@agroforestry.net relationship between husbandry and
the benefits and drawbacks of the domestication of indigenous fruit
monocultures and polycultures; For more information, visit trees with markets, and the growth and
multistory tree gardening in www.agroforestry.net/overstory/ poverty reduction among rural farmers.
temperate climate; ovsubm.html
perennial leaf vegetables;
Continued on page 16

Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter No. 34 z June 2009 15

AGROFORESTRY INFORMATION SOURCES

New information resources... Rainfed agriculture: unlocking the Sustainable development and
potential environmental management
Continued from page 15

This is a pioneering attempt to Edited by S. Wani, J. Rockstorm and T. Edited by Corrado Clini, Ignazio Musu,
synthesize the state-of-the art for Oweis, this book discusses the results and Maria Lodovica Gullino, this book
indigenous fruit trees in the tropics. It of researche undertaken in Asia and discusses the new approach of the
presents the latest concepts, Africa by leading scientists from 10 European Union to environmental
approaches, case studies and results of global organizations. The discussions management, viewed from the
researches conducted by ICRAF on the focus on the potential of rain-fed perspective of sustainable
domestication of indigenous fruit trees. agriculture in achieving food security development. Discussions focus on
For more information, visit and reducing poverty. The results how the European experience can help
www.worldagroforestry.org highlight the yield gaps of major countries, like China, in dealing with
rainfed crops, and the possible both economic growth and
technological, social and institutional environmental protection, through
Knowledge to policy: making the options to bridge these yield gaps. For better environmental governance. For
most of development research more information, visit www.cabi.org more information, visit
www.springerpub.com
Written by Fred Carden, this book
explains the extent of influence of Supporting small forest enterprises: a Sustainable farmland management
research on public policy and decision cross-sectoral review of best practice
making. It discusses the role of Edited by R. Fish, S. Seymour, and M.
research in achieving better governance Written by Duncan McQueen, this Steven, this book examines the
– by encouraging open inquiry and report discusses the ‘market system relationship between farmland
debate, empowering people with the development’ framework which unites management and sustainability.
knowledge to hold the government initiatives to strengthen enterprise Discussions include information and
accountable, and widening the policy associations, facilitate the provision of knowledge for sustainable farmland
options and solutions to the policy financial and business development management, ethical production and
process. For more information, visit services, and improve the business protection, multifunctionality and
www.idrc.ca environment. It reviews the best sustainable farmland management,
practices in small enterprise support, systems for sustainable farmland
while providing specific management, and scales of sustainable
recommendations. For more farmland management. For more
information, visit www.iied.org information, visit www.cabi.org

Journals for agroforestry

of bamboo, genetics and biotechnology,
knowledge sharing harvesting and production systems,
environmental applications, marketing
and policy restraints are also
The following journals can be referred law, forest sciences, geology, presented. For more information, visit
to for information and knowledge information science, public affairs, www.springerpub.com
sharing on original agroforestry zoology, and others. Articles are also
research and other relevant initiatives: contributed by professionals from the Small-scale forestry
business, government, research, and the
Environmental management public sectors. For more information, Edited by J. Herbohn, this journal is
visit www.springerpub.com produced by the International Union of
Edited by Virginia H. Dale, this journal Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO)
offers research and opinions on the Journal of bamboo and rattan to help exchange information on
use and conservation of natural research problems, ongoing research
resources, the protection of habitats, This is a peer-reviewed scientific efforts, and research results on the
and the control of hazards that span journal which presents articles on management of small-scale and non-
the field of ecology. Contributions are bamboo and rattan’s potentials for industrial private forest woodlots.
sourced from the fields of biology, income security, craft industry, small- Contributions also include economic
botany, climatology, ecology, to medium-sized enterprises, industrial and policy issues. For more
ecological economics, environmental fiber, and fuel. Contributions on the information, visit
engineering, fisheries, environmental natural distribution and conservation www.springerpub.com

16 June 2009 z Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter No. 34

 AGROFORESTRY INFORMATION SOURCES

New FAO Publications Make money by growing mushrooms

Written by E. Marshall and N. G. Nair

The United Nations Food and Forests and energy: key issues (Tan), this FAO Diversification Booklet
Agriculture Organization (FAO) has discusses the strategies in promoting
produced the following information This FAO Forestry Paper (No. 154) mushroom cultivation. Mushroom
resource materials that may be relevant focuses on the role of forests in energy cultivation can help the poor strengthen
to agroforestry practitioners: production. This publication is very their livelihood initiatives, and at the
timely as forests and energy are same time establish a reliable source of
Conservation agriculture: when considered the center of climate change income.
agriculture is profitable and sustainable debates today. The high energy
consumption and prices, and Non-farm income from non-wood forest
This CD-ROM is part of FAO’s Land and increasing greenhouse gas emission products
Digital Media Series. It details provide major challenges and
information and literature on opportunities for the forestry sector to Written by E. Marshall and C.
conservation agriculture to improve the find a new role in energy supply, Chandrasekharam, this FAO
knowledge base of those interested in climate change, and sustainable Diversification Booklet discusses the
sustainable agriculture. It also aims to development. This publication is also ability of non-wood forest products to
provide technical staff and policy available in Chinese, French, Russian meet the basic needs for forest goods,
makers with information and and Spanish. food, fodder, fertilizer, fiber, medicine,
arguments to support, promote and organic construction materials,
introduce conservation agriculture. Good practice for the small-scale cultural products and raw industrial
production of bottled coconut water materials. It also presents the role that
Efficiency of soil and fertilizer non-wood forest products play in
phosphorus use: reconciling changing This guide describes the application of generating income from local, regional
concepts of soil phosphorus behavior the cold preservation process which and international trade.
with agronomic information can slow the rapid deterioration of
coconut water, while preserving its Opportunities to mainstream land
Written by J. K. Syers, A. E. Johnston, flavor. Coconut water has been consolidation in rural development
and D. Curtin, this FAO Fertilizer and traditionally consumed as a refreshing programmes of the European Union
Plant Nutrition Bulletin (No. 18) beverage. This has paved the way for
presents a review, analysis and the growing consumer market for Published in 2008, this FAO Land Tenure
synthesis of information on the bottled coconut water as a refreshing Policy Series paper (No. 2) addresses
efficient use of soil and fertilizer beverage and a sports drink. However, the policy implication of using new
Phosphorous (P). The bulletin discusses its delicate flavor and freshness can instruments to support land
plant availability of soil and fertilizer only be experienced by cutting through consolidation. The instruments have
P, with focus on soil-plant interactions. a coconut. With the cold preservation been introduced by the European Union
It details the changing concepts on the process, coconut water will be stored (EU) especially for its member- and
behavior of both soil and fertilizer P, at 0-4º C and achieve a shelf-life of 10 neighboring countries. Land
and the need to define and assess their days to 3 weeks. consolidation may be an important tool
recovery for P to be used efficiently. in increasing agricultural
Written by R. Rolle, this guide is very competitiveness and improving rural
Farm ponds for water, useful for those who wish to venture conditions. This publication describes
fish and livelihoods into bottled coconut water as a micro the various funding opportunities
and small-scale enterprise. It is also available, and provides
Written by James W. Miller, this FAO useful as a training resource for recommendations to include land
Diversification Booklet presents basic extension agents and trainers. consolidation within a rural
and practical information on multiple- development program.
use smallholder farm ponds. Growing vegetables for home and
Discussion covers how ponds add market Organically produced food
value to farming activities in terms of:
a source of domestic and livelihood Written by M. Nichols and M. Hilmi, This publication presents the
water supply, a source of irrigation for this FAO Diversification Booklet international standards on organically
crops, and opportunities to improve discusses the opportunities available produced foods to facilitate trade and
livelihood. for producing and marketing high prevent misleading claims. By following
quality vegetables and their the international standards, the
capabilities to provide economic, requirements for producing organic
social and nutritional advantages to products at the international level will
smallholder livelihoods.
Continued on page 18

Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter No. 34 z June 2009 17

WEBSITES

New FAO publications... and poverty alleviation concerns. This impacts of high food prices.
Continued from page 17
book discusses the analytical tools Information presented concludes that
used in evaluating the optimal design chronic hunger in the world has rapidly
be harmonized. At the same time, the and implications of PES on the rural increased, and is now affecting 900
standards will assist governments in poor. It also discusses how PES million people. Considering this
their initiatives to establish national programs are integrated in situation, this report discusses
regulations on the production and international treaties on global opportunities to relaunch smallholder
trade of organic foods at the warming and biodiversity loss. agriculture.
international level. Discussions focus on the role of PES in
The publication is in its third edition agricultural landscapes which provide Water and the rural poor: interventions
and part of the new FAO/World Health for the survival of many poor families for improving livelihoods in sub-Saharan
Organization (WHO) Codex in developing countries. Africa.
Alimentarius series. The Codex
Alimentarius is a result of the works The state of food and agriculture 2008 – Edited by Jean-Marc Faurès and Guido
done by the Codex Alimentarius Biofuels: prospects, risks and Santini, this e-book focuses on small-
Commission, an intergovernmental opportunities scale on-farm improvements,
body with over 170 members, particularly on structures that can help
functioning within the framework of the This annual publication discusses how improve water management in rainfed
FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. biofuel helps achieve energy, security, agriculture. These structures are easy
The Codex Alimentarius series is a reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and to operate and maintain locally by both
collection of internationally adopted promotes rural development. It also female and male smallholders. Aside
food standards, guidelines, codes of presents the current status of the from these structures, the report
practice and other recommendation to biofuel debate, and explores the presents other local interventions on
protect consumers’ health and ensure implications of biofuel for food water management that aim to cope
fair practices in the food trade. security, the environment and with the effects of climate variability.
agricultural development in developing Produced by FAO and the International
Payment for environmental services in countries. The risks to land, water, Fund for Agriculture Development
agricultural landscapes: economic biodiversity and food security are also (IFAD), the report’s findings aim to
policies and poverty reduction in discussed. contribute to the rapid improvement in
developing countries the livelihoods of the rural poor in
The state of food insecurity in the small-scale agriculture in Sub-Saharan
Payment mechanisms for world 2008 – High food prices, and food Africa.
environmental services or PES security: threats and opportunities
programs have been set up in For more information on these and
developing countries. They make use of The latest statistics on global other publications, visit www.fao.org
market and institutional incentives to undernourishment are presented in this
address environmental conservation publication while discussing the

Useful Websites
Forests Monitor

This website provides information on

the results of research on forestry
companies to raise public awareness
and assist forest-dependent
communities and sectors in their
decision-making processes. The site
offers project information, forest
company information, news and press
releases, photos and relevant links. For
more information, visit
www.forestsmonitor.org

18 June 2009 z Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter No. 34

 WEBSITES

Useful websites...
Continued from page 18

Pacific Bamboo Resource Group

The website offers publications,

research findings, resource links, and
other opportunities for collaboration
to promote sustainable bamboo
resources. Information focuses on the
resources and methods used by the
Group on bamboo utilization, including
market perspectives. For more
information, visit
www.pacificbamboo.com

World Forest Institute

This website serves as the information

services division of the World Forestry
Center. The website offers information
on its international fellowship
program, conferences, publications,
and information resources.
Publications cover forest resource
statistics, wood products data, and
market opportunities. For more
information, visit http://
wfi.worldforestrycenter.org

Continued on page 20

Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter No. 34 z June 2009 19

Useful websites...
Continued from page 19

ProNatura
Call for
The website offers information on the services of ProNatura - providing
contributions
community and local government development, training programs on community We are inviting contributions for the
development, sustainable farming, agroforestry and sustainable forestry 36th and 37th issues of the Asia-Pacific
techniques, fighting against malnutrition, small and medium-sized enterprises, Agroforestry Newsletter (APANews) on
cross-border conservation area planning and implementation, environmental, or before 9 January and 15 May 2010,
social and human impact assessment for investments, forest canopies and respectively.
biodiversity preservation, and biomass energy assessment (green charcoal). For
more information, visit www.pronatura.org Contributions may focus on activities
that highlight agroforestry research,
promotion and development, and
education and training.

Topics of particular interest are on

agroforestry and:

poverty alleviation;
livelihood;
farmers’ income;
mining area rehabilitation;
climate change;
biodiversity conservation;
desertification; and
other key development issues.

Announcements on new information

materials, online resources, and useful
websites are also welcome.

Interested contributors must adopt the

simple, straightforward and popular
style in writing the articles instead of
Society for Conservation and Protection of the Environment (SCOPE)
that used in journals. This way, your
articles can help farmers, development
The website offers information resources that focus on the involvement of local
agents, researchers, and practitioners
communities in mitigation measures including, maintaining forest areas and
in coping with the challenges of
rangelands, promoting sustainable agriculture, and conserving water. Programs
promoting and developing agroforestry
include: combating drought and desertification in drylands, protection of natural
in their respective countries.
resources and biodiversity, environmental health, clean drinking water and
sanitation and promotion of environmental law. For more information, visit
Limit your contributions to 1,000 to
www.scope.org.pk 1,500 words. Include good-quality
photographs (scanned at 300 dpi) that
are properly labeled and referred to in
the text. Indicate your complete contact
details, especially your E-mail address
in the article, for readers to contact you
should they have further inquiries
about your article.

Send your contributions through

E-mail to the UPLB Institute of
Agroforestry, 2/F Tamesis Hall, College
of Forestry and Natural Resources, UP
Los Baños, PO Box 35023, College, 4031
Laguna, Philippines; Fax +63 49
5363809; E-mail
fao_apanews@yahoo.com,
apanews0718@gmail.com,
agro_cfnr@yahoo.com.