Can Smallholder Tree Farmers Help Revive the Timber Industry in Deforested Tropical Countries? A Case Study from Southern Philippines - Smallholder Tree Growing for Rural Development and Environmental Services - page 179

been protected from international competition by high tariffs on imported proc-
essed timber. But presently, in compliance with signed international agreements,
the government is required to substantially reduce tariffs on imported timber. The
wood industry is realizing that farm forestry has the potential to contribute to
import replacement but several constraints remains that limit further development
of the wood industry based on locally produced farm-grown timber. First and fore-
most, the Philippine government should remove policy restrictions curtailing the
use of planted trees and provide incentives appropriate to smallholder farmers. At
the same time, farm forestry extension programs should provide quality germ-
plasm, promote the use of a wider range of tree species, and invest in training pro-
grams aiming at improving management and marketing. The Philippine government
and the wood industry sector must recognize the role of smallholder farmers as land
managers and efficient producers of many important agricultural commodities,
including timber.
Acknowledgements My most sincere gratitude to the Landcare farmers from Claveria and
Lantapan, and the people at VICMAR for their enthusiastic collaboration in this study. To the
Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI) for supporting the development of small-
holder farming systems in the Philippines.
References
ADB (1994) Forestry Sector Study of the Philippines. Asian Development Bank, Manila
Andin NA (2002) Forestry programs and policies in support to Tree Farming. Paper presented at
the Second National Tree Farmers Congress, 11-13 July 2002, Butuan City, The Philippines
Anyonge CH and Roshetko JM (2003) Farm-level timber production: orienting farmers towards
the market. Unasylva 212(54): 48-56
Barr C (2002) Profits on Paper: The Political Economy of Fiber, Finance and Debt in Indonesia's
Pulp and Paper Industries.Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Bogor,
Indonesia
Bertomeu M (2004) Smallholder Timber Production on Sloping Lands in the Philippines: A
Systems Approach. World Agroforestry Centre, Southeast Asia Regional Research
Programme
Bertomeu M (2006) Financial Evaluation of Smallholder Timber-Based Agroforestry Systems in
Claveria, Northern Mindanao, The Philippines. Small-scale Forest Economics, Management
and Policy 5(1): 57-82
Caluza D (2002) Farmers Quit Planting Gmelina in Apayao, Women's Study Says. Philippine
Daily Inquirer , Manila, 1 April 2002
Carandang WM and Lasco RD (1998) Successful reforestation in the Philippines: technical con-
siderations. In: Mega Issues in Philippine Forestry: Key Policies and Programs. Forest
Development Center, UPLB, Laguna, The Philippines, 49-59
DENR (1996a) Additional Guidelines Governing the Issuance of Permits to Establish and Operate
Mini-sawmills. DENR Memorandum Order No. 96-09. DENR, Quezon City, The
Philippines
DENR (1996b) Five Year Mini-Sawmill Rationalization Plan for DENR Region 10. DENR
Region 10, Cagayan de Oro City, The Philippines
DENR (1999) Supplemental Guidelines Governing the Registration, Harvesting, Transport and
Marketing of Timber by Products Coming from Private Plantations Within Private Lands or