Rainforestation: a strategy for forest restoration biodiversity conservation and community development

Bande M., . and Ceniza M.J., . and Pogosa J., . and Neidel D., . and Milan P., . and H. Consunji, . and Mondal H., . (2011) Rainforestation: a strategy for forest restoration biodiversity conservation and community development. [Proceedings Paper]

It is estimated that the Philippines has lost two-thirds of its original forest cover and that primary forests now account for less than 3 of the country;s total land area. This dramatic transformation in the country;s landscapes has been driven by legal and illegal timber extraction mining agriculture and development expansion and migration to the uplands due to overpopulation. Critical environmental goods and services have been lost disasters such as landslides and flash floods have become more common and the livelihoods of many rural and indigenous communities have been compromised. To counter these problems national and local reforestation projects have been implemented throughout the country but most of them have used fast-growing exotic tree species which are not particularly well-suited to the conditions of the country;s ecosystems. In 1992 the Visayas State University formerly Visayas State College of Agriculture and the German Agency for Technical Cooperation GTZ started developing an agro-forestry system known as Rainforestation Farming which uses native species to rehabilitate degraded landscapes restore key ecosystem services and functions while providing forestdependent communities with an alternative source of livelihood. The strategy has since evolved into Rainforestation to address different land management objectives including rehabilitation of landslide areas critical watersheds riverbank stabilization restoration of habitat and urban greening. Pilot sites and model farms have been established throughout the Philippines by partners who adopted the strategy. VSU has worked closely with local adopters to measure and monitor the bio-physical ie. tree performance of different species soil pH and organic matter and faunal biodiversity and socio-economic factors over the years. Results show that both bio-physical and socio-economic conditions of the sites and adopters have improved after implementation of Rainforestation.

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Abstract

It is estimated that the Philippines has lost two-thirds of its original forest cover and that primary forests now account for less than 3 of the country;s total land area. This dramatic transformation in the country;s landscapes has been driven by legal and illegal timber extraction mining agriculture and development expansion and migration to the uplands due to overpopulation. Critical environmental goods and services have been lost disasters such as landslides and flash floods have become more common and the livelihoods of many rural and indigenous communities have been compromised. To counter these problems national and local reforestation projects have been implemented throughout the country but most of them have used fast-growing exotic tree species which are not particularly well-suited to the conditions of the country;s ecosystems. In 1992 the Visayas State University formerly Visayas State College of Agriculture and the German Agency for Technical Cooperation GTZ started developing an agro-forestry system known as Rainforestation Farming which uses native species to rehabilitate degraded landscapes restore key ecosystem services and functions while providing forestdependent communities with an alternative source of livelihood. The strategy has since evolved into Rainforestation to address different land management objectives including rehabilitation of landslide areas critical watersheds riverbank stabilization restoration of habitat and urban greening. Pilot sites and model farms have been established throughout the Philippines by partners who adopted the strategy. VSU has worked closely with local adopters to measure and monitor the bio-physical ie. tree performance of different species soil pH and organic matter and faunal biodiversity and socio-economic factors over the years. Results show that both bio-physical and socio-economic conditions of the sites and adopters have improved after implementation of Rainforestation.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	5 ref. QH 541.5 R27 I61 2011
AGROVOC Term:	Rain forests
AGROVOC Term:	Agroforestry
AGROVOC Term:	Community development
AGROVOC Term:	Biodiversity
AGROVOC Term:	Biological diversity conservation
AGROVOC Term:	Malaysia
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:14
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/11571

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