The Reforestation Value Chain for the Philippines - Smallholder Tree Growing for Rural Development and Environmental Services - page 189

Philippines, technology for seed production is more commonly available for exotic
species than for indigenous species (Tolentino, Chapter 15, this volume). The estab-
lishment of seed production areas (SPAs) is still in its infancy in the Philippines.
There is no nationwide system of seed certification. In many cases, the seeds are
simply collected from any seed-bearing trees without regards to phenotypic or gen-
otypic characteristics.
Globally, restricted availability of good quality tree germplasm at the farm, vil-
lage and municipal level has been identified as a major constraint to the develop-
ment and scaling-up of improved agroforestry systems in many tropical countries
(Cooper and Denning 1999). This is especially true in the Philippines (Gunasena
and Roshetko 2000). In view of this, seed production is one of the weak links in the
ReV Chain that needs to be addressed to enhance the chances of success of refor-
estation in the country.

9.3.3 Seedling Production

With the rise of government reforestation projects in the Philippines, there is also a
corresponding increase in small nursery operations throughout the country. There are
no statistics available on the number and distribution of these nurseries. The govern-
ment primarily the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) also maintains a net-
work of forest nurseries. The quality of seedlings coming out of private and
government nurseries is largely unknown, partly because the seed sources are also of
uncertain quality. Low quality planting materials lead to poor survival in the field.

9.3.4 Tree Planting and Maintenance

Reforestation projects in the Philippines use more or less similar methods of site
preparation, planting and maintenance. The site is typically prepared for planting
by ring clearing or strip clearing which are standard procedures for grassland areas
(Weidelt 1975). In the former, grasses are cut in about 0.5 m radius patch.
Afterwards, patches are cultivated and all rhizomes removed. Seedlings are planted
in the center of these patches. In strip clearing, 1-2 m wide strips are cleared.
Patches where seedlings will be planted could be cultivated before planting.

9.3.5 Harvesting

For natural forests, the Philippine government prescribes the Philippine Selective
Logging Method which includes very specific guidelines for each activity (Bureau
of Forestry 1970 a and b; Weidelt and Banaag 1982). For community-based tree