Improving financial returns to smallholder tree farmers in the Philippines

The project commenced on 1 January 2005, with the official signing of the documents on April 7, 2005 in Manila. A project launch was held at Leyte State University on February 11, 2005 which was attended by Australian and Filipino Project staff, and representatives from Leyte State University and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. This was followed by a two day project planning workshop. The workshop was attended by 29 participants including researchers from The University of Queensland, Southern Cross University an Leyte State University. The DENR Regional Director along with two Regional Technical Directors and the forestry manager from PCARD also attended. At this workshop, detailed research plans were presented by the lead Filipino and Australian researchers and critically discussed. At the workshop, the DENR Regional Director agreed to second two DENR staff full-time to the project. These staff are to based in the ACIAR office at Leyte State University. A comprehensive planning workshop proceedings with some 231 pages has been subsequently produced and distributed. Copies are available from the project leaders on request.

During the year significant progress has been made towards the project objectives. The first objective of the project is to assist DENR to overcome policy implementation constraints to tree registration and log transport. During 2005 we worked closely with DENR staff to identify key constraints and how to overcome them. As part of this process we held one policy workshop and two action research workshops involving DENR and ACIAR staff. From these workshops, teams of researchers and DENR were formed to address a number of specific issues which were identified as being critical to achieving Objective 1. Significantly, a primer on tree registration, harvesting, transport and marketing policies in private lands has been developed and validated during a series of further workshops and meeting involving DENR staff, including meeting. The primer has now been officially endorsed by DENR Region 8 Executive Director. Distribution of the Primer commenced in January 2006. The second objective of the project is to assist tree growers to satisfy market requirements and improve productivity. An extension program is being developed and trialled which aims to test mechanisms to improve the silvicultural skills of farmers. As part of this program, the use of 'bus tours' taking smallholder treefarmers to demonstration sites in order to delivery key information about silviculture has been developed. During 2005, two pilot tours were undertaken and their effectiveness is currently being assessed. In addition, a pilot program involving cost effective ways of linking buyers and sellers of timber has been commenced. A key part of Objective 2 is to identify the market requirements for timber and a number of interrelated activities have been commenced in this area. A timber enterprise survey has been finalised and interviews have commenced. In addition, a detailed assessment of the current timber resource on Leyte is being conducted by field teams measuring both timber quantity and log quality from existing tree farms. As part of Objective 3 we are identifying and promoting livelihood systems and policies which incorporate forestry and which recognise the socio-economic circumstances of smallholders. During 2005 we designed a socio-economic survey to collect the necessary data. The questionnaire we developed will be administered to all treefarmers who have their tree farms measured as part of activities conducted as part of Objective 2.

During the year significant progress has been made towards the project objectives. The first objective of the project is to assist DENR to overcome policy implementation constraints to tree registration and log transport. During 2006 we worked closely with DENR staff to identify key constraints and how to overcome them. We set up a School of the Air radio program on tree farming policies with active participation of Department of Environment and Natural Resources personnel, municipal mayors, councillors and municipal agricultural officers. Further policy and action research workshops were held during the year with key stakeholders to discuss issues with various policy impediments and to identify strategies to overcome these impediments. One result of these workshops was the finalisation of the "Primer on Tree Registration, Harvesting, Transport and Marketing in Private Lands". The primer has now been reproduced in three languages (English, Waray-Waray, Cebuano). The primer has been widely distributed on Leyte and to key institutions and government departments elsewhere in the Philippines. The World Agroforestry Centre (formerly ICRAF) has provided funding to reproduce additional copies.

The second objective of the project is to assist tree growers to satisfy market requirements and improve productivity. An extension program has been developed and trialled which aims to test mechanisms to improve the silvicultural skills of farmers. As part of this program, the use of 'bus tours' taking smallholder treefarmers to demonstration sites in order to delivery key information about silviculture has been developed. During 2006, two further pilot tours were undertaken and their effectiveness is currently being assessed. In addition, a pilot program involving cost effective ways of linking buyers and sellers of timber was ran throughout the year and a follow-up assessment will be undertaken in 2007. A key part of Objective 2 is to identify the market requirements for timber and a number of interrelated activities have been conducted in this area. During the year 51 owners of timber enterprises were interviewed from Leyte, Cebu and Samar. The survey has provided a wealth of information which is currently being analysed. In addition, a detailed assessment of the current timber resource on Leyte was largely completed by field teams measuring both timber quantity and log quality from existing tree farms. Data has been collected on 5,664 trees from 532 plots established on 119 tree farms. Analysis of this data has commenced. As part of Objective 3 we are identifying and promoting livelihood systems and policies which incorporate forestry and which recognise the socio-economic circumstances of smallholders. During 2006 we conducted a socio-economic survey to collect the necessary data. The questionnaire was administered to all treefarmers who have their tree farms measured as part of activities conducted as part of Objective 2. This data is currently being analysed.