A Paradigm Shift in Forest Restoration - Rainforestation

A Paradigm Shift in ForestRestorationPaciencia P. MilanUniversity ProfessorVisayas State University, Baybay, Leyte

Ridge-to-Reef Approach

Forest loss in Leyte1900 2005Source: Nueberger, 2005

Most reforestation efforts in thePhilippines focus on the development offorestry and agro-forestry system usingtree species which are introducedbecause they are selected for their fastgrowth and easy germination. Thespecies composition of the originalforest that once covered the land priorto logging are rarely taken into account.Milan and Margraf, 1996

Rainforestationas an option for rural development andbiodiversity conservation• uses native/local trees of the area to bereforested (biodiversity)• gives importance on improvement ofstructural habitat to support wildlife(habitat restoration)• restores ecological services (watershed)

Operational Framework ofRainforestation• Habitat restoration• Biodiversity conservation• Provision of ecologicalfunctions/services

Sun demanding local forest tree speciesrecommended for RF on degraded limestonehills.Local NameKalumpitAnislagBagalungaBitangholDaoIpilMntn. AgohoKamagongBahayMolaveMalabayabasLingo-lingoOfficial Scientific NameTerminalia microcarpaSecurinega flexuosaMelia dubiaCalophyllum blancoiDracontomelon daoIntsia bijugaCasuarina nodifloraDiospyros philippenensisOrmosia calavensisVitex parvifloraTristania decorticataVitex turczaninowii

PLANTING SCHEME

Shade loving local forest tree species of LeyteLeyte recommended for RF on volcanic soilsLocal NamePalosapisApitongHairyApitongHagakhakManggachapuiDalingdinganGisok-gisokYakal-kaliotBagtikanWhite LauanAlmonGuijoYakal-malibatoRed lauanTangileMayapisKamagongTalakatakUlaianDungonKulatinganBaloboOfficial Scientific NameAnisoptera thuriferaDipterocarpus grandiflorusDipterocarpus philippinensisDipterocarpus warburgiiHopea acuminataHopea foxworthyiHopea philippinensisHopea malibatoParashorea malaanonanShorea contortaShorea almonShorea guisoShorea malibatoShorea negrosensisShorea polyspermaShorea palosapisDiospyros philippensisCastanopsis philippinensisLithocarpus pruinosaHeritiera sylvaticaPterospermum obliquumDiplodiscus paniculatus

Rainforestation FarmingRainforestation Farming is asustainable farming system used asa strategy for forest restorationusing native or indigenous treespecies in combination withagricultural crops.

A farming system that closelyresembles the structure of a naturalPhilippine rainforest ecosystems orhome gardens that promotes the useof native or local trees commonlygrowing in the area.It considers farming systems tosupport livelihood as aninnovation.

PLANTINGSCHEMELanzones

Objectives: Replace the more destructive formsof slash-and-burn or kainginpracticesForm a buffer-zonearound theprimary forestProtect forestbiodiversityHelp maintainthe water cycleProvide farmerswith a stableand high income

The use of Philippine tree species inreforestation programs have received verysmall support in the past decade becauseof the following reasons:a. native species especially dipterocarps grow slowb. dipterocarps fruit only about every 3-5 yearsdepending on species and localityc. not enough seedling materials can be produced in ashort time because nursery management of nativespecies are not fully studiedd. some dipterocarp seedlings and other native speciesrequire shade and cannot be used to reforest openareas, e.g. grasslands

Here are some effects that the exclusive use ofnon-Philippine species has on the remainingPhil. Forest ecosystems:• The fast growing exotics have lowwood quality; hence, high qualityrainforest trees still need to beharvested in their naturalenvironment, so timber poachingand illegal logging continue;• The monoculture of exotic treesdoes not support the survival ofwildlife species of the Phil.Rainforests some of which areimportant pollinators anddistributors of seeds, which lead tothe erosion of biodiversity andultimately the extinction of species;

Effects of exclusive use of non-Philippinespecies (con’t…)• Local lumber species, as their wood quality is muchhigher, are sought after but not propagated, such thatthe mother trees become very rare and seed material iseven less available;• The fast growing exotics are mostly pioneer species witha short life span which support a management ofrepeated clear cutting and exhaustion of the soilnutrients, making reforestation more and more difficult;• Growing of monoculture stand of forest trees arevulnerable to pest attack that can led to the completefailure of reforestation, sometimes on thousands ofsquare kilometers as documented for Brazil andIndonesia.

Effects of Rainforestation onForest Biodiversity1. Restoring original vegetationstructure of the forest;2. Improvement of physical standto support wildlife; and3. Recruitment of wildlife in RF sites

BiodiversityAssessment

Table 1: Birds identified at the VSU Rainforestation site.Family Name Scientific Name Common NameAlcedinidae Halcyon smyrnesis White-throated kingfisherHalcyon chlorisWhite-collared kingfisherApodidae Collocalia esculenta Glossy swiftletMearnsia picinaHirundapus celebensisCypsiurus balasiensisPhilippine needletailPurple needletailAsian palm-swiftBucerotidae Penelopides samarensis Samar tarictic hornbillCapitonidae Megalaima haemacephala Coppersmith barbetCaprimulgidae Eurostopodus macrotis Great-eared nightjarCuculidae Cacomantis merulinus Plaintive cuckooCentorpus bengalensisLesser coucalColumbidae Treron vernans Pink-necked green pigeonPhapitreron leucotisPtilinopus occipitalisWhite eared brown doveYellow-breasted fruit doveSource: Ceniza et. al., 2004

Table 1: (cont…)Macropygia phasianella Reddish cuckoo doveStreptopelia chinensisSpotted doveChalcophaps indicaCommon emerald doveDicaeidae Dicaeum bicolor Bicoloured flowerpeckerDicaeum australeRekeeled flowerpeckerLaniidae Lanius cristatus Brown shrikeMeropidae Merops philippinus Blue-tailed bee-eaterMuscicapidae Hpothymis azurea Black-naped monarchNectariniidae Anthreptes malacensis Plain-throated sunbirdNectarinia sperataPurple-throated sunbirdNectarinia jugularisOlive-backed sunbirdOriolidae Oriolus chinensis Black napped oriolePsittacidae Loriculus philippensis Philippine hanging parrotPycnonotidae Pycnonotus golaver Yellow-vented bulbulHypsipetes philippinusPhilippine bulbulSturnidae Apionis panayensis Asian glossy starlingSarcops calvusColetoTimaliidae Macronous striaticeps Brown tit babblerSource: Ceniza et. al., 2004

CHRYSOMELID BEETLES

CURCULIONID BEETLES

SPIDERS

Philippine tarsier (Tarsius syrichta)Flying lemur (Cynocephalus volans)

Seeds of valuable trees in the Phil.:

Global Warming

Rainforestationindegraded forest can alsoincrease our carbon sink thusmitigating climate change .

Diagrammatic flow ofstrategies inimplementing aCommunity-BasedWatershedRestoration andBiodiversityConservation throughRainforestation

Registration with DENR

Major Accomplishments• After 16 years of Rainforestationadvocacy and implementation, atotal of 183.34 hectares wereestablished• Issuance of DENR MC 2004-06• Rainforestation is used as astrategy in establishingbiodiversity corridors in existingnational parks and certificates ofancestral domain claim or title• Rainforestation is used as astrategy for the implementationof ROAD 2020• Rainforestation evolved indifferent typologiesGeographical distribution of Rainforestation Farms in the Philippines

Partners in ForestRestoration•Daimler•NatureLife-International• University of Hohenheim•University of Goettingen•DENR•ELTI•Haribon•LGU’s•CHED-SUC’s•EENP•FPE•PTFCF

Daghang Salamat!