Joepet

• Agroforestry has been in existence for hundreds of years not only in the Philippines but also in other parts of the world
• The recognition of agroforestry as a land-use management system for enhancing socioeconomic productivity and ecological stability heightened the interest of agriculture and forestry schools in offering various agroforestry curricular programs
• The potential of agroforestry as a land-use management system contributed to the paradigm shift in agriculture, forestry, natural resources, and upland development
• Non-government organizations and government agencies are implementing agroforestry-related projects
• Introduction to Agroforestry

  Create awareness among students about agroforestry---its concepts, principles, and potentials in upland development
• Upland areas cover 5.6 M hectares or 38% of alienable and disposable lands and approximately 11-12 M hectares of areas classified as forest land
• Upland areas in the Philippines constitute about 17.6 M hectares or 59% of the total land area
• Objectives of Introduction to Agroforestry course

  • Recognize the upland situation in the Philippines
  • Discuss the relevant forestry laws on agroforestry
  • Explain the basic concepts of agroforestry
  • Discuss the roles of trees in agroforestry
  • Describe the agroforestry systems in the Philippines and the humid tropics
  • Explain the different approaches and methodologies in agroforestry systems design
  • Recognize the importance of soil and water conservation strategies in agroforestry
• Potentials of upland areas in the Philippines

  • Vital support system of the whole watershed continuum
  • Serve as a habitat for a large number of people
  • House multiple life forms and untapped mineral resources
• Uplands store diverse human culture, with indigenous people having a wealth of culture and knowledge systems in natural resources management and conservation
• The El Niño phenomenon is an abnormal weather pattern caused by the warming of the Pacific Ocean, characterized by climatic aberrations and drought in Southeast Asia and Australia
• The recent estimate of upland population in the Philippines is 17.8 million or 3.18 million households, including indigenous peoples and lowland migrants
• Untapped mineral resources in uplands are potentials for the country's market industry
• Problems and issues in the upland areas include loss of vegetation cover, excessive runoff, soil erosion, and declining agricultural productivity
• El Niño occurs every two to seven years in the Philippine uplands, bringing temperature increases of as much as 10°C above normal, causing droughts, water shortage, and forest fires
• Uplands house multiple life forms and untapped mineral resources, including tropical rainforests that provide products, goods, and services to humans and wildlife
• The proliferation of subdivisions and golf courses near uplands poses environmental impacts and pressure on water and forest resources
• The continuing thrust in mineral exploitation in uplands affects forests, indigenous people's lands, rivers, and downstream communities
• The increasing upland population is estimated at 17.8 million Filipinos or 3.18 households, attracted by the potentials of the upland areas for migration
• At a population growth rate of 2.6%, it is projected that by the year 2025, 5.24 M hectares will be cleared to accommodate the increasing population (Cruz and Zora-Foranil, 1988 as cited by Sajise and Ganapin, 1990)
• Under the section 21, Article II of the Philippine Constitution, the State is mandated to promote comprehensive rural development and agrarian reform
• Increasing upland population means more upland areas being opened, cultivated and/or degraded for livelihood activities
• The potentials of the upland areas make it more attractive for migration
• There is an estimate of 17.8 M Filipinos or 3.18 households living in the uplands – brought about by the natural process and migration from the lowlands
• One of the strategies identified to improve the life of the poor upland population is the implementation of agroforestry programs in the uplands
• The practice of agroforestry seeks to address the goals of the national economy as provided in Section 1, Article XII of the Constitution
• Agroforestry programs help in establishing social equity in the country by opening opportunities to the poor upland farmers to generate more income
• The sustainable character of agroforestry, if properly practiced by the upland population, would increase the supply of forest goods and services not only for the present population but also for future generations
• Pres. Decree 705 as Amended (Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines) governs the administration, development, use, and protection of the country’s public forest lands
• By devoting a given farm to many compatible uses, the productivity of these upland farms would necessarily expand, thereby improving the quality of life of the upland farmers
• Pres. Decree 705 defines agroforestry as a sustainable management of land which increases overall production, combines agricultural crops, tree crops, and forest plants and/or animals simultaneously or sequentially
• Pres. Decree 705 seeks to facilitate reforestation by incorporating a business dimension to it and motivating the private sector to engage in tree planting
• Pres. Decree 705 encourages the establishment of industrial tree plantations, tree farms, and agroforest farms as reforestation strategies
• Republic Act No. 7586 (National Integrated Protected Areas System Act)


  June 1, 1992
• DENR vision: '“THE PHILIPPINES – a country of lush forests, clear skies and waters, and bountiful land, a strong dynamic nation of empowered people living in dignity, at peace with each other and in harmony with nature”'
• NIPAS Act established the classification and administration of designated protected areas in the Philippines
• Devolution of specific DENR functions to local government units under the Local Government Code of 1991
• Devolved responsibilities

  • Municipalities: Community-Based Forest Management projects, communal forests, tree parks, solid waste disposal system, conservation of mangroves
  • Provinces: Enforcement of forestry laws, pollution control laws, small scale mining
  • Cities: Responsibilities devolved to municipalities and provinces
• Sustainable development


  Defined as a process to meet the needs of the people without lessening the potential for meeting their future needs, the needs of other societies, and those of future generations
• Republic Act No. 7186 (Local Government Code of 1991)


  Oct. 10, 1991