Agriculture.ph Blog

Cutting trees is not bad?

Cutting trees is not really a bad thing. That’s what our friend Dave Deppner, the founder of Trees for the Future, says. Trees, he said, are an important resource for everyone on earth. What is bad is when people cut trees but do not replant them. Trees are cut for many reasons. Valuable wood is needed in construction, furniture making and so many other uses. Wood, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization is the major source of cooking fuel for over half of the world.

For more than 25 years, Trees for the Future, a non-government organization, has been planting trees in more than 50 countries and has been responsible for establishing no less than 90 million trees. What the NGO has been planting are a wide range of multi-purpose fast-growing trees. These include species for timber, fuel wood, forage, erosion control, etc.

What they don’t plant are eucalyptus and pine trees which don’t make for sustainable land management for the long term. Eucalyptus trees are fast growing in a wide range of elevations, soils and climatic conditions. While they produce fuelwood and timber for many uses, eucalyptus do not lend themselves to sustainable land management systems.

Dave cites many communities in Central America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia which are suffering from the long-term damage caused by invasive eucalyptus plantings. The roots are so widespreading, they absorb most of the moisture at the expense of other vegetation. Eucalyptus trees inhibit the growth of other vegetation, exposing soils to erosion, and causing lakes and ground water to disappear with their aggressive roots.

Pine trees, on the other hand, do have some benefits, but like eucalyptus trees, they do not lend themselves to sustainable land management. Pine trees can leave soils in much worse condition than when they were first planted. The blanket of pine needles make the soil acidic and they are a great fuel for forest fires.

Deppner says that in their program at Trees for the Future, they encourage communities to plant multipurpose fast growing trees that not only produce useful products within a short time but also encourage the growth of field crops, vegetables, and other vegetation around them.

Written by Zac Sarian

Source: Manila Bulletin

A novel tree planting scheme

Our long time friend Dave DeppnA novel tree planting schemeer always has an interesting story to tell whenever he comes to the Philippines and gives us a visit. Dave was a former Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines, got a wife from Pangasinan, and then put up Trees for the Future, an NGO which is promoting planting of trees, both forest and not forest, for sustainable agriculture development in no less than 65 countries now.

When we met him last week, he was excited to tell us about the very successful tree planting scheme in Ethiopia. In 2005, he sold the idea to the Ethiopian Airlines that the company sponsor a tree planting project in that country.

He proposed that his organization will do the planting for the company. Under the scheme, Ethiopian Airlines sponsors the planting of one tree for every passenger it carries at a cost of only 10 US cents per tree. The airline was also excited about the novel idea and since then has been supporting the project. According to Dave, no less than 7.5 million trees have been planted so far under the project.

Under the program, they plant a wide range of trees. The only tree they don’t plant is eucalyptus which Dave says is bad for the environment. It depletes the soil moisture and kills other vegetation around. They plant trees that are sources of food, fuel wood, livestock feed, organic fertilizer and construction material.

He says that they are also planting a lot of malunggay in Ethiopia. They have a variety with short pods but bigger leaves than those in the Philippines.

Globally, Trees for the Future has planted so far no less than 90 million trees in 65 countries in the last 20 years.

Written by Zac Sarian

Source: Manila Bulletin

RP urged to conserve native medicinal plants

THE Philippines should undertake initiatives to conserve native medicinal plants amid the increasing global trade in herbals now estimated at $120 billion.

In a statement released by the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., BiomartAsia-Philippines noted that the increasing demand for local medicinal plants could result in over-harvesting.

“Recognizing that our medicinal plants are so important, we must protect them, especially the endemic plants. The commercial demand for local medicinal plants may cause over harvesting from the wild,” said Gina Mangalindan  of BiomartAsia-Philippines.

Biomart, a firm specializing in herbal skin-care products, makes use of locally grown natural herbs known for their unique properties.

Mangalindan said the creation of a Medicinal Plant Working Group, which may include representatives from industry, government, academia, tribes and environmental organizations is needed. Its goal should be to create a framework action on behalf of medicinal plants.

She said the group must raise awareness of native medicinal plant issues and needs among partner agencies and cooperating organizations to also promote the sustainable production of native medicinal plant products.

Mangalindan said those who want to go into the medicinal plant industry could also take note of a number of trends that include the rising demand for certified “organic” raw material and value-added products such as teas, soaps, juices, cosmetics and extracts.

“The health food sector is also increasing, so natural alternatives to artificial flavors, sugar and salt are being looked at,” she said.

Mangalindan said the global herbal market comprises pharmaceuticals, spices and herbs and cosmetics.

The global market today is mainly divided among Germany (28 percent), Asia (19 percent), Japan (17 percent), France (13 percent), rest of Europe (12 percent) and North America (11 percent).

The major suppliers of crude medicinal products to European markets are China, United States, Germany, Singapore, India, Chile, Egypt, Albania, Bulgaria, Morocco, Mexico and Pakistan.

Written by Jennifer A. Ng

Source: Business Mirror

EDC plants native trees in Nuvali

MANILA, Philippines – Buoyed by the success of its earlier tie-up with Ayala-supported Bonifacio Estate Services Corporation (BESC) and Ayala Foundation, renewable energy company Energy Development Corporation (EDC) has linked up anew with the conglomerate to bring its “Binhi: Tree for the Future” program inside the Nuvali eco-community in Laguna.

The 1,700-hectare residential estate is the newest host of premium but threatened Philippine trees like dao, ipil, kamagong, malaipil, molave, palosapis, supa, and yakal-saplungan, through the Ayala Property Management Corporation (APMC), which received the seedlings from EDC. The seedlings were planted at Nuvali’s Treveia neighborhood during a recent tree planting activity participated in by EDC and APMC employees.

Rei Medrano, manager for corporate social responsibility of EDC, thanked APMC and the Ayala group for agreeing to adopt and nurture the seedlings in Nuvali.

“We share Ayala’s philosophy on environmental sustainability. Our Binhi program is firmly rooted on that philosophy because it intends to rescue and secure our native but high-value timber species, which have dwindled in number because of deforestation,” Medrano explained.

Source: Philippine Star

Ayala Land incorporates bamboo planting in P10-B Nuvali development

The humble bamboo is getting a lift at Philippines’ first large-scale, ecology-friendly residential and central business district development in Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna where Ayala Land will pour in a P10 billion-investment.

A total of 100,000 trees will be planted at Nuvali which will mainly use tree species that are endemic to this once sugarcane field of the Yulos.

And bamboos, native to the Philippine soil, will take center stage in this real estate development as it is a specie that can help reverse the effects of climate change.

“We’re planting bamboo trees which contributes 10 times more oxygen than normal trees. A bamboo tree can last 100 years and is self-generating. Once you harvest it, it grows again,” said Ayala Land Inc. Vice President and Nuvali General Manager Aniceto V. Bisnar Jr. to reporters on field tour.

Already P2.5 billion has been invested in Nuvali since 2007. Over the next five years, 460 hectares will be developed.

The bamboo tree may have been ignored in the country, but its economic benefit is definitely immense.

“It can generate a lot of income for Filipinos specially in the barangays. Aside from the wood for constructing houses and for furniture, there are many products from bamboo – the sticks for barbecue, the chopsticks in restaurants. Unfortunately, we are importing these from other countries, said Bisnar.

“It produces very useful products. It’s even used for food. The bamboo shoot can be used as a vegetable salad or as food for people in the barangay. Just like the coconut, I consider it a miracle tree. And if we encourage its propagation, it can generate income and employment.”

Ayala Land is investing an estimated P10 billion for Nuvali which is a vast development spanning 1,700 hectares. From the present development of residential sites, Nuvali will be host to a central business district conceived to become the “next Makati.”

A total of 46 hectares has been designated as a PEZA (Philippine Economic Zone Authority)-registered zone. Locators will benefit from tax incentives.

The Nuvali development uses a low-intensity land design which involves balancing of open and built spaces at a 50-50 percent rate. This aligns with “green” guidelines benchmarked by the US Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards.

The guidelines involve best practices in water conservation and reuse, energy efficiency, and waste management.

Water conservation is practiced through recycling; mandatory double-piping that enables water reuse where potable or drinking water is not a necessity; storm water management; bio-swales; and permeable surfacing such as rammed earth pavers and porous concrete pavers in pedestrian lanes and parking areas to recharge the natural underground water supply.

It has a four-hectare man-made lake that serves as a rainwater harvester which continuously recharges the water table.

On solid waste management, it will reduce Nuvali’s estimated landfill input through a waste segregation and material recovery facility.

Nuvali also has a 17-kilometer buffer area that has a wildlife and bird sanctuary. This area, home to 75 faunal species and 55 flora species, is developed in partnership with Haribon Foundation.

In waste water management, Ayala Land partners with also Ayala-owned Manila Water which runs the Laguna water system.

“We’re partnering with Manila Water which plans to modernize the water system and sewerage system in other towns in Laguna so that people can enjoy the environment without hurting it,” said Bisnar.

FEU receives award for ‘save tamaraw’ project

FAR Eastern University’s (FEU) “Save the Tamaraw” project was recently awarded a special citation by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP).

The award was given on July 8 during the awarding ceremony for the MAP CSR leadership challenge at the Inter-Continental Manila. The ceremony recognized companies with established programs that support corporate social responsibility.

The special citation recognizes the contribution of the university in helping the conservation and protection efforts to save the tamaraw and its environment. It started in 2005 as the “FEU Tamaraws Save the Tamaraws,” an undertaking of the Tamaraw Volunteers, the university student arm of the Bisig Tamaraw which helps the university in its various outreach programs.

Activities of the Save the Tamaraw project are coordinated by the university’s Office of Student Affairs and Community Services. The main goals of the program are to raise awareness and concern and involve the whole community in the preservation of the tamaraw and to secure the continuous and stable existence of the tamaraw in Mindoro.

“We thank the MAP for the citation.  It will certainly fuel our faith in the cause as it validates the commitment of the entire FEU community in saving a global treasure that is the tamaraw,” said Dr. Lydia Echauz, FEU chairman.

Other than the annual tamaraw count that FEU participates in, the university has conducted several projects in support of the program’s goals. It coordinates with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the officials of Mindoro on projects for the local people. It has undertaken studies such as an ecological research of the tamaraw’s habitat, which aims to help in the development of a program to improve vegetation in the area. As part of their ecological and environmental studies, FEU faculty and students also analyzed how the Mangyans planted, collected, processed and used plants.

Recognizing the important relationship between the indigenous Mangyans, the tamaraw, and their habitats, FEU also works with several Mangyan communities to help improve the latter’s livelihood and learning opportunities. FEU’s Mindoro expeditions are capped with visits to the Mangyan communities and includes the distribution of rice, salt, canned goods and other items for the children.

Source: Business Mirror

Davao agri store goes greener

WITH the environment taking multiple blows from all other industries worldwide and the country’s carbon footprint getting bigger by the minute, one agricultural dealer in Davao holds its ground and decides to even the odds a little bit and go organic all the way.

Tilson Trade, to date, is the only 100 percent agri-organic store in Davao City. Its wide array of fungicide, pesticide, foliar and composted fertilizers is purely organic delivering the same growth quality as its chemical-based counterparts but definitely without the harmful effects to humans, animals and to the general environment — a plus factor the world surely needs in these trying times.

“All our products are sourced out from nature itself, processed and then introduced back to nature as plant boosters among others,” Tilson Trade operations manager Paul Lumbre explained.

Its banner product Pag-Asa Organic Fertilizer, for one, is a product of fish and cow droppings processed under very strict and advanced technology. Once introduced back into the soil, it restores and maintains soil richness to provide necessary nutrients to plants without the environmental trade-offs usually associated with chemical-based fertilizers.

“It’s the microorganisms in our fertilizers that keep the soil as rich as ever. This means lesser re-fertilization within each cycle that translates to bigger profit/yield to our local farmers,” Lumbre said.

Tilson Trade is also the first to innovate its packaging into smaller 2-kg. packs which makes handling easier and the cost more affordable by the local market. These smaller packages are becoming a hit among household fertilizer users who find the standard 50 kg. sacks cumbersome and too costly for gardening use.

It is this marketing savvy that brought its products closer to the city farmers and businessmen alike.

Their products are sold at NCCC Mall Supermarket, Chua’s Orchid Garden inside NCCC Mall, Garden Classic, SM City Mall, Davao Flower Garden and Tiange Village across SM City Mall in Matina.

Tilson Trade holds store at Omnor Building on Buhangin Diversion Road. It is a small, unassuming structure with big dreams of one day making it big in the industry. They take pride in starting local initiatives to promote affordable, sustainable and environment-friendly farming methods. For interested parties Tilson Trade communication lines are open beyond store hours: (082) 302-6563 or 0908-677-9111. (BOT)

Source: Sun Star

SE Asia pushes sustainable fishing pact

DAVAO CITY — Member countries of the East ASEAN Growth Area (EAGA) are deliberating on a draft framework designed to ensure sustainable management of tuna spawning grounds in the Coral Triangle.

A statement yesterday of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) said that the sub-ASEAN grouping, composed of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, is now finalizing the draft memorandum of agreement (MoA) crafted by the Philippine EAGA Working Group on Fisheries with the help of the German Technical Cooperation.

Among others, the proposed framework will form a forum that will facilitate discussion of issues on fisheries development as well as opportunities such as access to market, funding and technology; capacity-building of fishermen, and public-private partnerships.

Moreover, the MoA proposed that each county will designate specific areas within their respective territorial waters where fishers of member countries can be allowed to operate, subject to the laws of the host country.

Strategic seas

The World Wildlife Fund has said the Coral Triangle covers about 2.3 million square miles of sea bounded by six countries, namely: Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.

The area hosts up to 75% of all known coral species in the world, 50% of reefs, 40% of the coral reef fish species and six of the seven species of marine turtle.

EAGA members signed the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security at the World Ocean Conference in Manado last May.

“The time to get our acts together for the conservation and sustainable management of our marine biodiversity is of timely importance now, more than ever, because the future generations will largely benefit from this abundance,” the statement quoted MEDCo Chairman Virgilio L. Leyretana, Sr. as saying. — with a report from CQF

Source: www.bworldonline.com

Farmers given ‘anahaw’ technology to halt its dwindling number

LEGAZPI CITY—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has been providing farmers in Bicol with a technology to help them grow anahaw (Levistona rotundifolia) on plantation scale to preserve its dwindling species and offer livelihood opportunities.

“Anahaw, being our national leaf, reflects the indigenous Filipino culture.  We want to unravel its potentials as materials for handicraft, roofing and other important uses, once tapped and given sustained care and maintenance,” DENR regional information officer for Bicol Alfredo Araya said.

Products derived from anahaw include braided fans from raffias, mature leaves for thatching materials and young plants for decorative purposes. Returns derived from supporting anahaw production radiate from economic values to aesthetic importance and to ecological restoration, Araya said.

Earnings can be sustained for at least half a century as the growing cottage industry on anahaw’s Japanese braided fans and thatching materials had given way to new products such as Christmas lanterns and various decorative items, he said.

At present, processors of these products are highly dependent on suppliers having natural stands in their backyards, Araya said.

Supportive of the government’s keen concern to uplift the industry and to preserve the species, as well, the DENR in its techno transfer program had included growing anahaw in plantation scale. The department, through its research services, provided technology adoptors (the planting materials, the technologies and the necessary technical assistance) in establishing plantations in various provinces of Bicol.

The regreening program, when taken in a large scale, certainly plays a significant contribution to national development, Araya said.

The technology includes the use of fresh depulped seeds as planting materials and sowing them on sand or paper media.

This technology, he said, enhances germination in two to three days with an average germination capacity of 95 percent. Without seed treatment, germination takes one month from sowing.

Mixture of sawdust and sand soil on 4” x 6” polyethylene bags is used for germination, applied with organic fertilizer and watered sufficiently. The planting materials mature and become ready for transplanting after four months.

Young shoots or raffias are harvested after two to three years from planting. A maximum of two raffias can be harvested per palm, while mature leaves for roofing are harvested at the age of three to 50 years.

Araya said there are already some successful anahaw growing technology adoptors in some parts of Albay, Catanduanes and Sorsogon whose plantation-scale growing has been proving profitable.

Among them are Daniel Lesniana of Tabaco, Albay, who earns P90,000 per year from his 90 anahaw stands planted under coconut trees in his 2-hectare farm; and Jaime Torrente of Baras, Catanduanes, who earns P105,000 yearly from his 60 stands planted along with narra and molave trees within his 3-hectare land, Araya said.

Today, the DENR research service has 15 adoptors of anahaw technology in the region and profiting from their plantations, he added.

Written by Danny O. Calleja

Source: Business Mirror

DENR to stop issuing tree-cutting permits

The Environment department said in a statement today that it will no longer issue tree-cutting permits to projects nationwide.

“We are making it clear that we will not allow any cutting down of trees to give way to any development project anywhere in the country, even those covered by environmental compliance certificates (ECCs), mining permits or any other construction and development permits for that matter,” Environment Secretary Jose L. Atienza, Jr. said.

Hence, companies will no longer be required to secure tree-cutting permits, so as not to delay the issuance of their ECCs.

However, firms will be issued with tree balling permit, allowing them to transplant the trees to other areas.

“From now on, project developers and proponents must design their projects in accordance with the position of the trees in the area,” he said.

Written by Neil Jerome C. Morales

Source: Business World Online