no. 27 z december 2005 z issn 0859-9742 · and teak (tectona grandis), among other trees, are grown...

NO. 27 DECEMBER 2005 ISSN 0859-9742

December 2005 APANews No. 272

DISCLAIMER. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply theexpression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or ofits authorities, or concerning the delineation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication are thoseof the contributing authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the editor(s) of FAO.

OUR ADDRESS. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 39 Phra Atit Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand;Website: http://www.fao.org and http://www.fao.or.th; E-mail [email protected].

PRODUCTION. Patrick B. Durst, Philip J. McKenzie, Kenichi Shono and Wilfredo M. Carandang (Editorial Consultants); LeahP. Arboleda and Eileen Calaycay-Cardona (Editors); Rowena D. Cabahug (Editorial Assistant); Perseveranda G. Tubig andReinelen M. Reyes (Production Assistants)

COVER PHOTO. Preliminary studies have shown that agroforestry can indeed contribute to biodiversity conservation as theintegration of various trees, crops and animals provide potential habitats and niches of many species of birds andmammals. Although the close proximity of agroforestry landscapes to human settlements pose risks to the mortality ofanimals and may involve crop loss, studies have shown that human and mammal residents in agroforestry landscapescan indeed co-exist successfully. (See story on p. 9)

PRINTER. Craftsman Press Co., 487/42 Soi Wattanasilp, Rajprarob Road, Maddasan, Rajthevee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

dear readers As we are closing the first five

years of the new millennium, weare pleased to present to you the27th issue of APANews! In this issue,we have quite a number of articlesfrom our fellow agroforestrypractitioners in India. We are surethat you will enjoy reading about thecrop diversification efforts in Punjaband how understorey crop growthcan be maximized by regulatingphotosynthetic active radiation(PAR) as studied by the IndianGrassland and Fodder Institute. Inaddition, the successful integrationof bamboo in the same Indian state,has provided yet again additionalknowledge on the capability ofagroforestry for crop diversification.

Research efforts of the WorldAgroforestry Centre and its partnersalso revealed the need forcollaboration among farmers’groups, nongovernmentalorganizations, local governmentinstitutions and national governmentagencies to enhance localgermplasm exchange in Indonesiaand help sustain the supply andaccess to improved and high-qualitytree seeds and seedlings.

In addition, the impacts ofagroforestry practices on wildlifediversity, habitats and niches andmammal diversity will surely

contribute to the much neededknowledge on the link betweenagroforestry and biodiversityconservation.

Another interesting article sharesthe experiences of farmers inMyanmar in adopting the “taungya”system of agroforestry to reforestsome of their degraded teak forests.But, as the article emphasizes,proper management should stillsupport this reforestation strategy tosustain Myanmar’s teak forests andensure the country’s supply ofnatural teak timber.

Valuable lessons and insights intothe successful practice ofagroforestry in Western Ghats, India,include the integration of uplandpaddies, foliage hillocks andmultistoried horticulture. It is indeedan example of an ecologicallysustainable agroecosystem as youwill learn from the article. Thecollective efforts of privateindividuals and farmers made anagroforestry farm successful enoughto serve as a learning fieldlaboratory for students, researchersand other farmers in Haryana, India.

We have included interestingtraining opportunities andconferences in this issue as they are,as always, still good venues for

agroforestry practitioners to updateand share agroforestry informationwith one another.

You may also choose from a varietyof information sources and websites,including some interestingpublications from FAO-RAP, thatwould surely help you in your variousagroforestry undertakings.

Indeed, we have a good lineup ofarticles for this issue. We would liketo thank all the contributors whohave shared their variousagroforestry research and extensionprojects to make this issue possible.We look forward to more of whatyou can share about agroforestry innext year’s issues of APANews. Enjoyyour reading! The Editors

APANews No. 27 December 2005 3

agroforestry research

TTTTTooooowwwwwararararard ad ad ad ad agggggrrrrroecolooecolooecolooecolooecological health:gical health:gical health:gical health:gical health: di di di di divvvvvererererersifyingsifyingsifyingsifyingsifyingtraditional crop rotation throughtraditional crop rotation throughtraditional crop rotation throughtraditional crop rotation throughtraditional crop rotation throughaaaaagggggrrrrrofofofofoforororororestrestrestrestrestry in Punjay in Punjay in Punjay in Punjay in Punjabbbbb,,,,, India India India India IndiaSanjeev K. Chauhan ([email protected]; [email protected])and Ritu ([email protected])

Fig. 1.Poplar-basedagroforestrysystem.

Experiments across the countryhave shown significant soil

improvements under agroforestrysystems. Carbon sequestration andrecycling of nutrients throughlitterfall help restore some of thenatural ecologial processes, makingagroforestry a sustainable system.

In the Punjab state of India, farmersgrow a very limited spectrum ofcrops, leading to some seriousproblems. The most common croprotation (rice-wheat) is over-exploiting the water resources, withthe water table receding at anaverage rate of over 42 cm yearly.Excessive resource exploitation,unbalanced withdrawal of minerals,widespread application ofpesticides and environmentaldegradation are some of theconsequences of the existing landmanagement strategies.

There is a need to plan and makeintelligent investments in farmingand diversify the traditional croprotations. Adopting managementpractices that increase biomassproduction and/or reduce soildisturbance can increase theamount of soil carbon. A self-madeor self-sustainable system has to bedeveloped by the farmer as anindividual or as a member of acooperative.

Limited availability of land, lowreturns from traditional crops andthe ever-increasing demand forfuelwood, fodder and timber are themain reasons compeling farmers tointegrate multipurpose tree speciesinto the farmland. As a result,agroforestry is emerging as apromising diversification option forPunjab farmers.

Continued on page 4

Fig. 2.Dek-basedagroforestrysystem.

In the future, the timber needs willlargely be met from farm forestry oragroforestry. At present, poplar(Populus deltoides), eucalyptus(Eucalyptus tereticornis), dek (Meliaazederach and M. composita),leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala),kadam (Anthocephalaus cadamba)and teak (Tectona grandis), amongother trees, are grown by Punjabfarmers on a commercial scale.

Poplar has become the mostpreferred tree for farmlands inPunjab and its adjoining states.Almost any crop (cereals, pulses,vegetables, forage, fruit crops, etc.)can be grown with it during the dryseason. It is one of the world’s

fastest-growing industrial softwoodsand it can be harvested within areasonably short period of 5–7 years.Poplar intercropping is a highlyprofitable venture as there are goodmarkets for poplar.

Eucalyptus, another fast-growingspecies, has also gained popularitybecause of the falling prices ofpoplar. Farmers prefer it over othertrees because it has a self-pruninghabit, light canopy cover, fastgrowth, multiple uses and straightbole. It is quite hardy in nature, butbeing evergreen, intercropping isnot profitable.



Toward agroecologicalhealth...

Fig. 3. Teak-basedagroforestry system.

Continued from page 3

Punjab farmers have recentlyrealized the benefits of growingindigenous, fast-growing dek andkadam under agroforestry systems.Both species can yield higheconomic returns within a10–12-year rotation and can partlyprovide the raw materialrequirements of the industry. Dek ismainly used in making furniture andpanels while kadam is used in makingplywood. However, under Punjabconditions, the economic returnsfrom kadam systems are lower thanpoplar because of its slow growth,evergreen nature and lower price inthe market.

Leucaena, a fast-growing, thornless,evergreen, leguminous woodyperennial, has been found veryuseful on sloping lands. It is

specifically raised in silvipastoralsystems on the lower shiwalik hills ofthe state. A number of newleucaena varieties have beenintroduced for their fodder value.

Teak/sagwan and Australian acacia(Acacia spp.), though encouragedby private nurseries for use inagroforestry systems (agri-silvicultural and horti-silviculturalmodels) in Punjab, has a longrotation period.

Punjab farmersareexperimentingwith variousagroforestrymodels. Theiragroforestrysystems aim to

It has been said that the woodsupply for domestic consumption

or export in the future will comefrom farms. Thus, farmers inIndonesia, especially those in Javaand Nusa Tenggara, grow trees ontheir farms through agroforestry.

On-farm tree planting has beenincreasing for the last five years.Trees growing on farms providefuelwood, building materials, foodand fodder. They also provide shade,shelter, erosion control, watershedprotection and soil enrichment.Hence, access to quality treeplanting material is important.

Unfortunately, smallholder andindividual farmers do not haveaccess to improved seed sources orgermplasm. Those who do haveaccess simply cannot afford the high

GerGerGerGerGermplasm emplasm emplasm emplasm emplasm exxxxxccccchanghanghanghanghange among fe among fe among fe among fe among farararararmer gmer gmer gmer gmer grrrrroups:oups:oups:oups:oups:a wa wa wa wa waaaaay to impry to impry to impry to impry to improoooovvvvve the ge the ge the ge the ge the genetic quality andenetic quality andenetic quality andenetic quality andenetic quality andmarmarmarmarmarkkkkket cet cet cet cet chainhainhainhainhainFransiskus Harum ([email protected])

cost. Good-quality plantingmaterials are only distributed amongresearch agencies, big privatecompanies and donor agencies. Thisis where germplasm exchangecomes in as an easy and effectiveway for smallholder farmers to gainaccess to tree germplasm.

Germplasm exchange amongfarmers or farmer groups

Germplasm exchange helps improvethe quality of genetic materials forsmallholder farmers. This has beendone since the time of the bartertrade of agricultural crops and othergoods. The exchange can takeplace within the farmer groups in avillage, between villages in a sub-district or between sub-districtswithin an island or across the islands.It is important, however, that

germplasm exchange be done inareas that have similar geographicand ecological conditions(elevation, soil type, rainfall, etc.),i.e. farmers in the highlands shouldnot exchange germplasm withfarmers in the lowlands.

What are the benefits of treegermplasm exchange?

Tree seed needs are fulfilled. Tree seeds collected from

different land races will broadenthe genetic base, therebyensuring prodution of good-quality seeds.

Points of exchanges can alsoserve as market channels.

Points of exchanges can alsoserve as channels forinformation exchange.

Continued on page 5

conserve and optimize theutilization of land and water forproduction of food, fodder,fuelwood, and timber. Scientists atthe Punjab Agricultural Universityare working to provide farmers withthe latest technologies for differentagroforestry systems. They havebeen concentrating more on woodtechnology, and the biophysical andsocioeconomic processes of thesystem. Continued on page 6



In Indonesia, successful models oftree germplasm exchange exist insome farmer groups in West Javaand Nusa Tenggara:

Farmer groups in Cibugel, Sumedang,West Java. These farmers grow suren(Toona sureni), a popular treespecies whose timber is in highdemand for building houses, makingfurniture and other products.However, existing plantations arenot performing well due to poor treemanagement and low-qualitygenetic material. The farmersnormally collect seeds locally from asingle tree or collect wildlingssurrounding the trees.

To improve the growth andperformance of suren trees in thisvillage, the BPTH (Regional TreeSeed Centre) in Bandung, incollaboration with the IndonesiaForest Seed Project (IFSP), financedby DANIDA (the Danish InternationalDevelopment Agency), providedtechnical assistance throughtrainings on seed technology, nurserytechniques and seed sourceestablishment and management.

The project helped address the lackof improved seed sources of surenand manglid (Magnolia spp.) in thegreater Sumedang area. Thefarmers were provided with seedsand seedlings of suren, manglid,sawo (Manilkara zapota) and sengon(Paraserianthes falcataria).

As a result of this project, the ArisanBenih, or seed exchange, wasestablished between two farmergroups from Tasikmalaya, two farmergroups from Cianjur and four farmergroups from Sumedang.

Based on the mother tree selectionand seed collection plan preparedby IFSP and supervised by the BPTHstaff, each farmer group collectedseeds from 10 or more trees growingon their land, with each groupcollecting an average of2 kg of seeds. The BPTH staff

Germplasm exchange between...Continued from page 4

assembled the seed lots from eachfarmer group and mixed them toform a bulk seed lot. Three-fourths ofthe bulk seed lot was equallydivided and redistributed to eachfarmer group. The remaining one-fourth was used to establish a one-hectare seed orchard.

The bulk seed lot, containing seedsfrom six provenances (land races)has a broader genetic base thanseed collected by farmers throughtraditional methods. The use of seedcollection guidelines and visualcomparison by the farmer groupsindicated that the bulk seed lot wasgenetically and physiologicallysuperior to previous collections. Theseed orchard is expected toproduce good-quality seeds tosupply local seed needs andincrease tree productivity and landproductivity.

Seed exchange in Nusa Tenggara.Since the early 1990s, WinrockInternational, a US-baseddevelopment organization, hasbeen providing small grants,information materials and training tohelp non-governmentalorganizations (NGOs) and farmergroups in developing agroforestryinnovations in Nusa Tenggara andJava. In 2000, the World AgroforestryCentre (ICRAF) joined Winrock andits partner government agencies toraise tree seed awareness andtechnical capacity of NGOs andfarmer groups in Southern Sumatra,West Java and Nusa Tenggara.

ICRAF and its partners providedtrainings, distributed high-qualityseeds of selected species andsupported the establishment offarmer seed orchards and NGO/farmer-operated tree seed supplyenterprises. More than 100 NGO staffare now well-trained in seedtechnology and seed sourcemanagement, and more than1 000 farmers are nowknowledgeable in seed technology

and are receiving small amounts ofhigh-quality seeds.

Moreover, the number of farmers(individual or group) collecting treeseeds for their own use or for sale isincreasing. Most farmer groupsannually collect about 100 kg of treeseeds of various species. Some ofthe groups sell seeds locally whilemost entrust the seeds to NGOs,which in turn find markets for them.A network, called KMPNT(Consortium of Farmer Community inNusa Tenggara), enables NGOs toexchange information, products,tree seeds and seedlings betweenthe farmer groups.

The NGO-based tree seed exchangehas been very effective in East NusaTenggara. For example, the YayasanMitra Tani Mandiri (YMTM) in Kefa hassix farmer groups in five villages whoare actively collecting andsupplying species such as gamal(Gliricidia sepium), lamtoro(Leucaena leucocephala),sandalwood (Santalum album),jambu mete (Anacardiumoccidentale), kayu merah(Pterocarpus spp.) and teak(Tectona grandis).

Two farmer groups serve as seedlingsuppliers for species such asmahogany (Swietenia macrophylla),teak, kayu merah, Gmelina arborea,jambu mete and orange. Smallquantities of seedlings are plantedon their own lands, while theremaining seedlings are sold tovarious buyers from localgovernment agencies, projects,NGOs and government institutionsfrom Timor Leste.

Farmer groups exchange seeds orseedlings with other villages or sub-districts. The NGO usually distributesinformation on the seeds andseedling stocks to other NGOs orgovernment agencies by distributingbrochures and letters and serving asthe facilitator between buyers andthe sellers (farmers).

There is a big potential to market

Continued on page 6



Tree-crop intercropping has the potential to increase biomassproduction per unit area, but treeshade can inhibit crop growth. TheIndian Grassland and FodderResearch Institute (IGFRI) conducteda study to help improve farmingtechniques by studying the effects ofavailability of photosyntheticallyactive radiation (PAR) diffusedthrough different tree canopies intree-crop intercropping.

The study was carried out in Jhansi(25O272’ N, 78O352’ E and 271 m asl),central India. The area is semi-aridwith an mean annual rainfall of900 mm, most of which falls fromJuly-September. It has adverseagroclimatic conditions andundulating soil with poor fertility.

In the study, chickpea (Cicerarietinum) and barley (Hordeumvulgare) were grown under the treecanopy of siris (Albizzia lebbek),neem (Azaderachta indica), sisam

PhotosyntheticallPhotosyntheticallPhotosyntheticallPhotosyntheticallPhotosynthetically actiy actiy actiy actiy activvvvveeeeerrrrradiaadiaadiaadiaadiation aftion aftion aftion aftion affffffects trects trects trects trects tree-cree-cree-cree-cree-cropopopopopgrowth and productivitygrowth and productivitygrowth and productivitygrowth and productivitygrowth and productivityin semi-arid, rainfedin semi-arid, rainfedin semi-arid, rainfedin semi-arid, rainfedin semi-arid, rainfedaaaaagggggrrrrrofofofofoforororororestrestrestrestrestryyyyyM.J. Baig ([email protected]) and A.S. Gill ([email protected])

(Dalbergia sissoo) and babul(Acacia nilotica) during the winterseasons of 2004 and 2005.A succeeding crop of cowpea(Vigna ungiculata L.) was raisedduring the monsoon season.

Height, collar diameter, diameter atbreast height (DBH) and crowndiameter were recorded for thecanopy trees prior to the sowing ofcowpea (Table 1). Observationswere recorded on green and drybiomass production and crudeprotein yield of the understoreycowpea (Table 2). Under-canopyPAR and specific leaf weight (SLW)of cowpea were recorded.

The trees’ growth parameters suchas tree height, collar diameter, DBHand crown area were influenced bythe preceding winter crop (barleyand chickpea). Albizzia showed asignificant increase in height whenchickpea was grown under the treecanopy. The collar diameter was

tree seeds to Indonesia’s neighbor,Timor Leste (East Timor). Another bigmarket for tree seedlings is the localgovernment agencies who use treeseeds in their national landrehabilitation and reforestationprograms.

Meanwhile, the YMTM in Bajawa,Flores, is operating a similar systemfor its farmer groups. It links closelywith YMTM Kefa, especially whenthere is a need for seed stocks.YMTM Bajawa, for instance,exchanges its surplus gamal seedswith the surplus mahogani seeds ofYMTM Kefa. A similar system is usedby Yayasan Tananua operating inTimor, Sumba and Flores. The author isa tree germplasm specialist at the WorldAgroforestry Centre-Southeast Asia.

Toward agroecologicalhealth...Continued from page 4

The state will witness the real “greenrevolution” when it is covered withgreenery consisting of trees.Punjab’s new socioeconomicpolicies have brought forestry andagriculture closer than ever.

Moreover, support from differentdonor agencies to strengthen theresearch and extension base isencouraging farmers to tryagroforestry. The Punjab State ForestDepartment has been givingfinancial support to agroforestryadopters (an incentive of US$225per hectare for the first three years)to diversify the present land usesystem and to conserve the state’snatural resources. The authors can becontacted at the Department of Forestry andNatural Resources, Punjab AgriculturalUniversity, Ludhiana-141 004, India.

Germplasm exchangebetween...Continued from page 5

Table 1. Growth data of trees prior to the sowing of cowpea (June 2004).

Continued on page 7

Treatments Tree height (m )

Collar diameter (cm)

DBH (cm ) Crow n

area (m 2)

Siris (s olo) 6.33 22.85 18.5 41.93

Siris + barley 7.35 18.4 14.25 43.74

Siris + chickpea 8.6 22.95 17.5 51.24

Neem (s olo) 7.05 17.45 13.6 19.14

Neem + barley 7.1 17.95 15.3 20.99

Neem + chickpea 6.1 17.65 15.35 25.91

Sis am (s olo) 9.35 25.3 18.95 37.02

Sis am + barley 8.2 20.1 15.95 26.14

Sis am + chickpea 8.85 21.15 18 28.94

Babul (s olo) 7.9 22.35 18.45 41.16

Babul + barley 8.05 21.6 18.4 41.9

Babul+ chickpea 7.95 21.8 17.7 41.59

CD (5%) 2.33 4.66 3 9.09



Table 2. Plant population count and forage yield of cowpea under various treatments.

(Barley and gram are the preceding rabi crops.)

also influenced positively in Albizzia,with chickpea indicating itsbeneficial effect (Table 1).

The cowpea green and dry matteryield increased under the precedingcrop of chickpea, with thecombination of Albizzia andchickpea having the highest yield ofgreen and dry matter. The crudeprotein (CP) yield data did notexhibit any specific trend; however,the highest CP yield of cowpea wasrecorded in the Dalbergia + barleycombination, followed by the A.indica + barley combination (Table2).

Fig.1. Dalbergia sissoointercropped with cowpea(Vigna unguiculta L.).

Photosyntheticallyactive radiation...Continued from page 6

The highest cumulative PAR valuewas recorded under Dalbergiacanopy throughout the day,followed by A. indica, Acacia andAlbizzia canopies.

SLW was influenced by the totalavailability of PAR under the canopy.The SLW of cowpea showed amaximum value under Dalbergia,followed by that of A. indica. Undershaded environment, the leaveswere thinner due to an expansion insize to capture the limited PAR.

The study showed that undercanopyPAR availability varies with the treespecies, and this in turn affects theunderstorey crop growth andproductivity. The author can becontacted at the Indian Grassland and FodderResearch Institute (IGFRI), Jhansi-GwaliorRoad, Jhansi (UP) 284 003, India.

The New Forests Project (NFP) isoffering free packets of tree

seeds, technical information andtraining materials to groups of smallfarmers and civil societyorganizations who are interested instarting reforestation projects withfast-growing, multi-purpose treesthat can be used for firewood,charcoal, furniture and shipbuilding.

These trees can also provide fodder,and are used as living barriersagainst shifting soil.

Among these trees are nitrogen-fixing legumes which are bettersuited for temperate climates andhigher elevations. These propertiesmake them extremely useful foralley cropping. The high-qualityseeds available for distribution areas follows:

1. Acacia auriculiformis2. Acacia mearnsii (Black

waddle, tan waddle)3. Acacia nilotica (Egyptian

thorn, red-heat, barbar)4. Acacia tortilis (umbrella

thorn, Israeli babool, seyal)5. Albizzia lebbek (East India

walnut, kokko, woman’stongue)

6. Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea,gandul)

7. Cassia siamea (Bombayblackwood, yellow cassia)

8. Dalbergia sissoo (sisu,nelkar, shewa, yette)

9. Grevillea robusta (silky oak,Silver Oak)

10. Gliricidia sepium (madre decacao)

11. Gleditsia tricanthos inermis(honey locust)

12. Leucaena leucocephala(ipil-ipil, leadtree)

13. Prosopis juliflora (mesquite)

NeNeNeNeNew Fw Fw Fw Fw ForororororestsestsestsestsestsProject (NFP)Project (NFP)Project (NFP)Project (NFP)Project (NFP)ofofofofoffffffererererersssssreforestationreforestationreforestationreforestationreforestationpacpacpacpacpackkkkketsetsetsetsets

Continued on page 8

Treatments Plant population count/m row

Green matter

Dry matter

Crude protein

Siris (solo) 7.63 8745 1321 171

Siris + barley 10.38 9575 1526 244

Siris + chickpea 9.25 9990 1463 198

Neem (solo) 7.38 9160 1322 193

Neem + barley 7.75 10405 1657 281

Neem + chickpea 7.5 12090 1735 221

Sisam (solo) 8.88 10405 1577 209

Sisam + barley 7.13 12490 1911 314

Sisam + chickpea 7.13 13325 1970 260

Babul (solo) 8.88 10405 1537 196

Babul + barley 8.13 11660 1586 218

Babul+ chickpea 8.13 11655 1698 209

Barley (solo) 8.6 16235 2526 314

Gram (solo) 8.75 14990 2398 415

CD (5%) NS 3254 559 90

Yield (kg/ha)



AgAgAgAgAgrrrrrofofofofoforororororestrestrestrestrestry landscay landscay landscay landscay landscapes:pes:pes:pes:pes:their potential fortheir potential fortheir potential fortheir potential fortheir potential forconserconserconserconserconserving biodiving biodiving biodiving biodiving biodivvvvvererererersitysitysitysitysityVeronika Areskoug ([email protected])

Biodiversity may be a bonusbenefit provided by agroforestry

systems. Preliminary studies haveshown that they are able to supporta complex and rich community ofwildlife. But just how significant arole do these agricultural practicesplay in biodiversity maintenance?Are the very practices that providethese benefits to conservationunder just as much threat as thewildlife populations they harbor?

The importance of protected areasin wildlife conservation isunquestioned. But let’s face it, themajority of wild animal populationsexist outside of protected areassystems. Even the largest protectedarea systems may not be able tosustain wildlife populations overlonger time periods. This is whyresearchers are increasingly focusingattention on the importance of whatis happening to animal and plantpopulations outside ofprotected areas.

Agroforestry landscapes inparticular, have attractedattention for their biodiversityconservation potential. Theinclusion of trees in thelandscape adds an extradimension of potential habitatthat many species may be ableto take advantage of.

The potential to providehabitat for birds and primatesby adding shade or fruit trees toagricultural lands has long beenrecognized. The SmithsonianInstitute has launched its bird-friendly coffee certificationprogram in recognition of thebenefits provided for birdspecies by shade coffee, anagroforestry practice.

Several projects around the worldhave targeted the use ofagroforestry to increase the mobilityof primate populations.

Non-arboreal species can alsobenefit from agroforestry. In fact,ongoing researches in SoutheastAsia are showing the potentialbenefits for most mammal species ifland is managed at a less intensivelevel which leaves room for somenatural forest cover and fallowareas.

The current study undertaken by theWorld Agroforestry Centre innorthern Thailand (Fig. 1) is focusingon traditional shifting cultivationand its ability to maintain mammalbiodiversity. Of the 117 speciesnaturally present in the area, 79have been found to co-exist withthe agricultural practices, including

Fig.1. Traditional agricultural landscape showingmosaic of crop and forest patches in Mae ChaemDistrict of northern Thailand.

Continued on page 9

14. Robinia pseudoacacia(black locust)

15. Sesbania sesban (Sesban,Egyptian rattle pod,suriminta)

16. Moringa oleifera

NFP is a people-to-people, direct-action program established in 1982by the International Center to helpcurb deforestation in developingcountries. Since then, it has assistedmore than 4 400 villages in over 120countries.

For more information, contact: TheNew Forests Project, 731 EighthStreet, SE Washington, DC 20003,USA, TEL: 1-202-547-3800 ext 110,FAX: 1-202-546-4784E-mail [email protected],Website:http://www.newforestsproject.com.

For those who wish to receive areforestation packet, kindly provideinformation on the environmentaldescription of the area, includingelevation, average annual rainfall,length of dry and wet seasons,average temperatures, and how thetrees would be used (fuelwood,lumber, forage, soil conservation,soil enhancement, etc).

NFP Press Release

New Forests Project...Continued from page 7

Continued on page 9



22 IUCN red-listed species1. Not onlyare these animals living in the restingfallows and fragments of communityforests, but also in less expected landuse areas such as crop fields,orchards and rice paddies. Althoughthese species could not survive in anextensive stretch of intensiveagriculture, when these land uses arecombined with forest patches, themosaic of an agroforestry landscapemay actually enrich the habitatvalue for many mammal species byproviding resource heterogeneity.

However, such land uses are not allpositive for the mammal residents.The close proximity to humansettlements also brings higher risks ofmortality. The lure of resource-richenvironments may attract animalsout of natural forest habitats andexpose them to the dangers posedby hunters, domesticated animalsand their accompanying diseases;and perhaps even higher predationrates by natural predators. The effectmay be a drain of individuals fromprotected areas who wouldotherwise have contributed to astable or increasing populationwithin protected park areas. Severalspecies2 have already been lost fromthe studied agroforestry landscape.

Interviews with local farmers andhunters (Fig. 2) have revealed thatalmost all species are currentlybelieved to be declining and severalspecies have suffered extinctionfrom village agricultural lands. If

Agroforestrylandscapes...Continued from page 8

these populations die out, theindividuals left in protected areaswill be isolated with much reducedchances for population survival. Thefate of animals in on-farm settingswill have significant implications forthe long-term survival of thespecies and health of theecosystem as a whole. Theimplications are too important tobe ignored by conservationists.

Although the cohabitation offarmers and native fauna doesinvolve conflicts and crop loss topests, there are also significantbenefits which the people workingin the fields of northern Thailand feelgreatly outweigh anydisadvantages. Namely, the animalsare able to provide a source offood that is considered to be bothmore nutritious and delicious thanmeat from domesticated animals,and are an important component ofthe cultural identity. However, themotivation for land usemanagement, which encouragesthe continued presence of animalpopulations, is under threat.Traditional lifestyles are becomingincreasingly difficult to continuewith restrictions on hunting and thegovernment policy pushing for non-shifting, intensive agriculturalpractices. But the reality is thatmost local people have not yetabandoned the traditional diet,which incorporates wild plants andanimals.

Although the laws are intended toslow the decline of animalpopulations, they take away thebenefits provided by traditional low

intensity agriculture and mayinadvertently contribute to thedisappearance of habitat andprevent locals from contributing tosustainable wild animal populationmanagement.The situation is complicated with allstakeholders feeling that their handsare tied. The dialogue betweengovernment officials and localtraditional hunters and farmerscannot begin as long as the existinglaws ban traditional livelihoodactivities practiced by thecommunities.

The contribution of agriculturalareas in maintaining wildlifebiodiversity is still not wellunderstood. We know there ispotential for both local people andconservationists to benefit fromgood agricultural practices,including agroforestry. We also knowthat the fate of wildlife populationson agricultural lands will havesignificant implications on long-termpopulation survival and biodiversitymaintenance on both local andglobal scales. But we do not knowwhere the critical threshold frompositive effect to negative impactlies along the continuum of naturallandscape to intesive agriculture.Continued interest from researchersand land managers is a must. Formore information, the author can becontacted at the World Agroforestry Centre.P.O.Box 267, CMU Post Office, Chiang Mai50202, Thailand

Fig.2. Locals being interviewed ontheir knowledge of wildlifedistribution.

1 Asian golden cat (Catopuma temminckii), Asian wild dog (Cuon alpinus), Asiatic black bear(Ursus thibetanus), Assamese macaque (Macaca assamensis), Chinese pangolin (Manispentadactyla), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), common otter (Lutra lutra), Fea’s mintjac(Muntiacus munjtjak ssp. feae), fishing cat (Prionailuruss viverrinus), goral (Naemorheduscaudatus), hair-footed flying squirrel (Belomys pearsoni), Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica),Malayan porcupine (Hystrix branchyura), Malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus), marbledcat (Pardofelis marmorata), northern slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis), northern pig-tailedmacaque (Macaca leonine), serow (Capricornis sumatrensis), smooth-coated otter(Lutrogale perspicillata), stump-tailed macaque (Macaca arctoides), tiger (Panthera tigris),white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar)

2 Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), banteng (Bos javanicus), gaur (Bos frontalis), Javanrhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus), wild water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).


agroforestry promotion and development

the Kabaung and Bondaungreserved forests (18O42’–18O57’ N,95O51’–96O21’ E) in Oktwin Township,Myanmar. According to fieldobservations and soil analysis,accretion of SOM in teak plantationsdid not occur even 96 years afterthe reforestation.

One of the main factors thatprevented the buildup of SOM wasthe combustion of forest floor litter,the main source of SOM, by forestfires. The fire-hazardous period inMyanmar usually lasts from mid-January to mid-May. Fires frequentlybreak out at the end of the dryseason, which coincides with themain defoliation period for teak,January to March, whenapproximately 80 percent of theannual teak litter is produced. Sincethe forest fire period overlaps withteak’s defoliation period, much ofthe teak litter that accumulated onthe forest floor is lost to fires (Fig. 1).

Meanwhile, the SOM in adjacentnatural teak forests was observed tobe significantly higher than that inteak plantations, despite the forestfires being just as frequent as in theplantations.

Due to the species richness of thenatural forests, where thedefoliation period of other speciesdoes not overlap entirely with theforest fire period, additional litter issupplied to the soil. Therefore, theimpact of forest fires on thedynamics of SOM is less significant in

Fig.2. Severe soil erosion observed in21-year-old teak plantations have exposedthe lateral roots.

TTTTTooooowwwwwararararard sustainad sustainad sustainad sustainad sustainabbbbble le le le le taungtaungtaungtaungtaungyyyyyaaaaateak reforestationteak reforestationteak reforestationteak reforestationteak reforestationin Myanmarin Myanmarin Myanmarin Myanmarin Myanmar

In Myanmar, teak (Tectona grandisLinn.) is an important timber

species. Since the 1980s, teakplantations have increaseddramatically with more than 10 000ha per year planted throughreforestation projects financed bythe Asian Development Bank andthe World Bank. Less than a decadeearlier, before the mid-1970s, onlyabout 1 000 ha were planted peryear with teak.

History of taungya teakreforestation in Myanmar

The taungya method has been usedfor teak reforestation for more thana century in Myanmar. In taungya,one of the most well-knownagroforestry systems, farmers planttrees and are allowed to cultivateintercrops for the first few yearsafter the establishment of a newplantation.

The first attempt at taungya teakreforestation in Myanmar was in1856. From 1918 onwards, taungyareforestation became the standardpractice in teak plantation forestryin Myanmar. These plantations wereestablished to complement naturalforests and not to replace them.

Second rotation problemin taungya reforestation

Compared to shifting cultivation,where the nutrients in vegetationrecovered during the fallow periodare returned to the soil for the nextcultivation, the taungya teakreforestation eliminates a largevolume of biomass from the forestecosystem when teak is harvestedat the end of each rotation. Thus,the soil deteriorates aftersuccessive rotations, due to nutrientloss. The potential decrease in soilproductivity is often termed as the

Suzuki Reiji ([email protected])

“second rotation problem,” whichaffects not only teak growth, butalso the yields of intercrops.

Due to the fact that most of theoriginal teak plantations have beenmanaged as natural teak forestsafter the final thinning at 40 years,the “second rotation problem” hasnot yet become an issue. However,extensive teak plantationsestablished after the 1980s will beharvested by clear-felling.Consequently, a large-scale secondrotation of taungya teakreforestation will be undertaken.

To mitigate the second rotationproblem, it is important to preservesoil productivity during the teak-tending period. Conservation of soilorganic matter (SOM) isfundamental to sustainable forestsoil management as it contributes toimproving the chemical, physicaland biological properties of soil.

Present situation ofteak plantations in Myanmar

To assess the long-term dynamics ofSOM, experimental plots wereestablished in teak plantations ofdifferent stand ages (0–96 years) in

Fig. 1. Litter in the forest floor of a 35-year-old teak plantation was burned during aforest fire incident.

Continued on page 11



depletion in the last few decadesand their future yield will likelydecline. Thus, a taungya teakreforestation, with propermanagement especially withregards to forest fires, can ensure asustainable teak timber supply inMyanmar.

In addition, taungya teakreforestation provides localemployment opportunities amid theuncertain economic situation inMyanmar.

More investment in sustainableforest management and socialwelfare is essential for the futuredevelopment of taungya teakplantation. This method ofreforestation will then serve as ameans to achieve sustainablecoexistence of the forest and thepeople. The author can be contacted atthe Graduate School of Asian and AfricanArea Studies, Kyoto University, 46Shimoadachi-cho Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto606-8501, Japan.

Toward sustainabletaungya...Continued from page 10

natural teak forests than in teakplantations.

Moreover, in teak plantations, soilerosion is another importantecological problem. In someexperimental plots, severe soilerosion was observed (Fig. 2). Sinceearly in the 20th century, soil erosionhas been the most important causeof soil deterioration under teakmonoculture in Myanmar. Although itis difficult to explain the mechanismof soil erosion in teak plantations,some researchers believe that forestfires burn the litter layer and exposethe soil to heavy drips from the largeteak leaves. However, in the case offire-protected areas, the thickcarpet of leaves breaks the force ofdirect drips and provides a mattedcover that helps in holding the soilparticles together.

Forest fires also destroy theundergrowth. Although sufficientquantitative data are not available,it appears probable that the lack ofundergrowth and litter layer in teakplantations, as a result of forest fires,accelerates soil erosion.

These results indicate that forestfires have a detrimental effect onthe preservation of soil productivityduring the teak-tending period andthe sustainability of the taungyateak reforestation.

The future of taungya teakreforestation in Myanmar

Teak forests in Myanmar, almost theonly country that can producenatural teak timber, have beenmanaged well using a selectionfelling system referred to as theMyanmar Selection System.

Studies have shown that thesenatural teak forests haveexperienced some degradation and

Upland paddies, foliage hillocks andUpland paddies, foliage hillocks andUpland paddies, foliage hillocks andUpland paddies, foliage hillocks andUpland paddies, foliage hillocks andmmmmmultistoried horultistoried horultistoried horultistoried horultistoried horticulturticulturticulturticulturticulture:e:e:e:e: an ecolo an ecolo an ecolo an ecolo an ecologicallgicallgicallgicallgicallyyyyysustainable agroecosystemsustainable agroecosystemsustainable agroecosystemsustainable agroecosystemsustainable agroecosystem

The malnad area (Fig. 1) (Western Ghats area) of Karnataka inSouthern India is a mosaic of reserveforests, foliage hillocks (Soppinabetta or SB) (Fig. 2), paddy fields andcash crop plantations. Itstopography ranges from very steepto gently undulating, with peaks,ridges and outcroppings. Altituderanges from 623 m above sea level(masl) at the Sringeri Township to1 458 masl at Gangamoola of theKudremukh National Park. Thevegetation is mainly tropicalevergreen and semi-evergreen. Itshilltops harbor grasslands and sholaforests or tropical montane forests.

Rice is the major food crop in thisarea, where a good number offarmers still follow traditional

Seema Purushothaman ([email protected])and Priyadarsanan Dharmarajan ([email protected])

agricultural methods. These paddyfields (Fig. 2) are located in rainfeduplands. When necessary, farmersmake small dams with bamboos,twigs and mud in the streams forirrigation.

Land is prepared in May, and theseedlings are transplanted to thefields in June after the onset of themonsoon. Many traditional varietiesare cultivated. Harvest takes placein December, with an average yieldfrom 2-3 mt/acre.

Cultivation in this area largelydepends on organic materialscollected from adjacent SB forests:green foliage and leaf litter forcompost production, and certainherbs for pesticides.

The compost made of foliage andleaf litter are mixed with cow dungto produce an organic fertilizer. Thisfertilizer is used extensively in thefarms (Fig. 3).

Traditional farmers still largelydepend on botanicals collectedfrom homegardens and SBs. Butrecently, owing to the inadequatesupply from SBs, many farmers havestarted using chemical fertilizers as anutrient supplement. Farmers nowhave to either gather leaf litter fromdistant places or plant greenmanure crops like Gliricidia.

Around 1864, Areca growers in thecentral Western Ghats of Karnatakastate were granted tenures over




uncultivated public lands (UPLs).This gave the farmers user rights tothe foliage hillocks, which providemanure, fuelwood, fodder, medicine,timber for minor constructions andsome cash income to thecommunities.

In most parts of Western Ghats,anthropogenic disturbance offorests is the rule rather than theexception. After the prehistoricsystem of shifting cultivation gaveway to more sophisticatedmulticropping systems involvinghigh-value plantation crops likebetel nut (Areca catechu), coffee,pepper and cardamom in the lasttwo centuries, human use of theforests intensified.

Extraction of dry and green leaves,in addition to fuelwood, fodder,small timber and nontimber forest

Upland paddies...Continued from page 11

Fig. 2. Paddy fields withfoliage hillocks in thebackground.

products led to the creation of apatchwork of dense secondaryregrowth, savannas with sparse treecover and degraded forests aroundcultivated areas. Yet, the plantspecies found in these intensivelyutilized and managed village forestsare a subset of those found in nearbynatural forests.

The SBs are examples of slightlymanaged, socioeconomicallyvaluable, high-yielding forests. Theyare distinct land use systems thatcan neither be categorized asforests, plantations nor farmlands.The SBs are characterized by arelatively diverse plant community,the agricultural and communityneeds they meet, and ambiguousproperty rights.

The SBs are a treasure trove ofmedicinal plants on which thefarmers living in this part of WesternGhats rely for various ailments. Theseforests and their floral diversity playa pivotal role in determining thehealth and productivity of the

agroecosystems and in sustainingthe livelihood patterns of ruralpopulations.

Vegetation of the SBs falls incontinuum with the less disturbedprotected areas of this region, andare typical of old-field successionalcommunities. A study observed thatalthough subjected to severeanthropogenic stresses by farmers,the SBs support floristic diversity andmaintain regeneration patternssimilar to that of the natural forests.

While valuable organic matter flowsto the agricultural lands andplantations, the organic system ofpaddy cultivation, in turn, helpssustain the forests of SBs andsubsequently the soil-water regimefor the horticultural crops. Theperennial stand of trees adds to thecarbon sequestration benefits aswell.

Threats and challenges

Economically efficient, self-sustaining SB-based systems are nowfast-declining due to ambiguousproperty rights, impropermanagement, overexploitation andlack of awareness.

While free access to SBs isbeneficial to the villagecommunities, such accessaccelerates their depletion. Due tooverexploitation, the SBs are beingdegraded and changed to openscrub forests, which are thenconverted to agricultural lands,

When SBs were originally allotted, itwas only for meeting the greenmanure requirement of limited betelnut areas. Farmers were supposed tofollow a rotation of two years forlitter collection and lopping. Whenthe betel nut area increased,individual growers started enclosingthe SBs and exploiting themintensively. Recently, some villagershave started commercial, large-scale composting which has led tocontinuous clearing and isthreatening the SBs.

Fig.1. A malnad landscape.




More and more SBs are also beingconverted to rice paddies orhorticultural gardens that requiremore leaf litter and extraction fromthe remaining SBs. These areas alsosuffer when rice paddies areconverted into plantations, as soil isextracted from SBs to fill thepaddies. SBs are also the source offuelwood used for the processing ofbetel nuts. The increase of betel nutplantations is putting additionalstress on the SBs.

State forest policy during thecolonial and post-independenceperiod in the last century (1950–2000) replaced natural or degradedforests with timber plantations ofteak, eucalyptus and Acaciaauriculiformis. While forestersdenigrate forest use by communitiesas “degrading,” local communitiescriticize forest plantations as being“useless” and “monocultural.”

Policy and development relevance

The practice of amending soil withleaves of various wild trees in this

Upland paddies...Continued from page 12

Fig. 3. Leaf litter mixed with cow dung beingremoved from cattle sheds for composting.

area has been recorded in 19th

century travelogues by FrancisBuchanan. The purpose was to arrestthe loss of topsoil, suppress weedsand conserve soil moisture. Oncethe East India Company took overthe country’s forest administration,farmers could no longer depend onforests for litter and green manure.

Upon hearing their grievances, thegovernment, in 1864, adopted thepolicy of allocating forest area tothe farmers in order to save the restof the forests in Uttara Kannadadistrict. Cash crops like Arecarequiring organic matter from SBswere taxed at a higher rate thanrice and the farmers’ privileges overthe SBs were regularized in 1924. Thestate initially allowed the farmers touse an SB area of 4-8 times the sizeof the Areca holdings for foliagecollection.

Later, this allowance was extendedto other districts of Western Ghatslike Shimoga, Chikmagalur andDakshina Kannada, where Areca isgrown.

Subsequent debate on this policyincluded whether to keep theextraction rights of SBs strictly toindividuals or to have themmanaged by the community, andhow to restrict conversion of SBs andpaddy lands to other land uses. Thedevelopment objective of such

0 5

1 0 1 5 2 0 2 5 3 0 3 5 4 0 4 5 5 0

Fig. 4. Percentage of land use in Sringeri Taluk.

Total soppinabetta area

Total forestarea

Total grazingland and

grassland

Dry land Paddyfields

Horticulturalcrops

Plantations Other land use

policies was to sustain theproductivity of the staple crop ofrice in the region while assuring thesustainability of the multistoriedcoffee-betel nut-pepper system.

How to develop regulations onextractions and how to implementparticipatory methods in enforcingthese regulations are importantissues to be addressed. Thechallenge is to involve the localcommunities in monitoring andprotecting the health of the forestlands and to develop an innovativeinstitution with appropriateinformation, capacity and authoritythat caters to the needs of the poorpeople who are dependent on theSBs.

A management plan consisting of:1) institutionalized community rightsover management, protection ofand harvest from reserve forest land;2) land regulations to preventconversion of paddy lands and SBs;3) regulation preventing extractionof forest soil; and 4) incentives forthe use of nonconventional energysources instead of fuelwood,especially in Areca processing, cango a long way in protecting theremaining parts of a unique andcritical ecosystem. The authors can becontacted at the Ashoka Trust for Research inEcology and the Environment, 659 5th AMain, Hebbal, Bangalore 560024, India.



India is second only to China in terms of bamboo production anddiversity in the world. Since ancienttimes, Indian farmers have beengrowing bamboo on their fields, farmboundaries and in other locations.Because its roots have a bindingeffect and it can tolerate droughtconditions, bamboo is a promisingspecies for rehabilitating degradedlands, including lower shiwalik hillyareas. It thrives in semi-aridconditions characterized by low soilfertility and low water-holdingcapacity.

Dendrocalamus strictus could be anideal alternative to other crops.Farmers need to be motivated togrow bamboo in agroforestrysystems, in addition to wastelands,on saline-alkaline soils, along fieldand farm bunds, rivers and choebanks.

Bamboo has various uses. Recently,bamboo charcoal has opened upnew avenues for its utilization andplantation establishment. Bamboocharcoal purifies and deodorizeswater and keeps food fresh. Inaddition, bamboo charcoal controlsfungus growth, absorbs odors andprevents diseases. It also absorbsresidues of pesticides and fertilizers,improves the water permeabilityand the nutrient status of the soil.

Bamboo is mainly propagatedthrough seeds or vegetativemethods. Propagation by seeds,however, is limited by the longinterval between flowering, clumpmortality and short viability of seeds.Vegetative means of propagation isthrough rhizomes, usually with one-year-old culms excavated alongwith the root system.

D. strictus can be planted as double-noded shoot cuttings, poles and

Bamboo: an ideal species forBamboo: an ideal species forBamboo: an ideal species forBamboo: an ideal species forBamboo: an ideal species foraaaaagggggrrrrrofofofofoforororororestrestrestrestrestry in Indiay in Indiay in Indiay in Indiay in IndiaSanjeev K. Chauhan ([email protected])and Lalit Kumar ([email protected])

double-noded segments of poles.Tissue culture is also an optionavailable for mass multiplication,but the practice is not possiblewithout a sophisticated laboratory,which is not feasible for farmers.

In a study, encouraging results wereobserved in the vertical planting ofdouble-noded shoot cuttingstreated with 300 ppm of indole-3-butyric acid for 18 hours or 1 500ppm of indole-3-butyric acid for 30seconds. For pole planting in Marchand August, no foliage and brancheswere retained and the internodeswere filled with growth hormones.The maximum success for rootingand growth was in the poles treatedwith 100 ppm of indole-3-butyric

acid +100 ppm boric acid duringboth seasons. The comparativegrowth of plants was higher in polesplanted in March than in August.

The double-noded segments of poleswere filled with different hormonalconcentrations. When plantedduring August, the maximum rootingand shoot growth was recorded inthe poles treated with 100 ppm ofindole-3-butyric acid plus 100 ppmboric acid.

It is necessary for nursery beds to betreated properly against termite orgrub attack. Insect pests and soil-borne diseases are a threat to thesoil-grown cuttings. Thus,precautionary measures must betaken. Termites, which are majorbamboo pests, can be controlled bythe application of Dursban 20 EC(Chlorpyriphos) at 0.5 percentconcentration to the nursery bedarea. The authors can be contacted at theDepartment of Forestry and NaturalResources, Punjab Agricultural University,Ludhiana-141 004, India.

Fig. 1. Six-month-old D.strictus raised fromdouble-noded shoot cuttings.

Fig. 2. Rooting in the D. strictus poles.

Fig. 3. Root growth of five-month-old D. strictusraised from poles.

Fig. 4. Five-month-old D. strictus raisedfrom double noded segments of poles.



Agroforestry in northern Indiaconstitutes the commercial

production of fast-growing timberspecies that can be harvested afteronly 6–10 years. Small-scale farmerstend these plantations withirrigation, manure and treemanagement technology. Thispractice has flourished in thenorthern Indian states of Haryana,western Utter Pradesh and Punjab.

Agroforestry has changed the woodindustry in India. Today, over15 000 tons of timber logs aremarketed daily to supply over600 wood-processing factories thathave been established since 1990 inthese three states, mostlyconcentrated in Jagadhri/YamunaNagar area. The wood industryoperates at a market currently worthUS$800 million a year and which isexpected to reach billions in thenear future.

Although Hara Farms is a privateentity, it has provided hands-onlearning experience for people whocome to learn how to replicateagroforestry practices in their ownfarms. Hara Farms has taken on thechallenge of efficiently producingmore wood of better quality. Itconsistently produces timber yieldsin excess of 50 mt/ha/yr on a harvestcycle of 10 years.

Two tree species, poplar andeucalyptus, are successfully beingproduced at Hara Farms for plyboards, wood boards, flush doors,high-density boards for cementconcrete shuttering, packing casesand crates. These products are soldthroughout India and exported tosome Middle Eastern countries.

Agroforestry essentials

Genetic superiority. The importantgenetic qualities of poplar, besides

AgAgAgAgAgrrrrrofofofofoforororororestrestrestrestrestry fy fy fy fy farararararm in norm in norm in norm in norm in northertherthertherthern Indian Indian Indian Indian Indiaserserserserservvvvves as a leares as a leares as a leares as a leares as a learning fning fning fning fning field laield laield laield laield laborborborborboraaaaatortortortortoryyyyySurindar Singh Hara ([email protected])

wood quality, is its adaptability toIndia’s soils and local climate wherethe minimum temperature is around4°C. This gives the selected poplarclones the required dormancyperiod.

Another quality is tree architecture.Trees should accumulate maximumwood in the main tree trunks withsmall, thin branches. Long, fatbranches rob the trunk of wood andform undesirable knots that lowerlog value.

Poplar trees that grow straight up to30 m in height with the least spreadallows for greater density of trees.They are pruned every year to ensureone leader at the top, with a fewpotential fat branches prunedbefore they rob the trunk of thewood. Lower branches that do notget sunlight are pruned before theyform undesirable knots.

Eucalyptus clones are self-pruning,with the main trunk having about3 m of straight canopy, allowing aneven higher density of trees. Mostimportantly, selected clonesrespond favorably to increasingamounts of irrigation, manuring andtree management.

Seed-reproduced plants are rarelytrue to their parent treecharacteristics and are unsuitablefor agroforestry. Therefore, selectedtree clones are multipliedvegetatively. Poplar is reproducedthrough cuttings, but eucalyptusmust be cloned and produced byplant breeding specialists andrequires expensive infrastructure.

Plant nutrition. Over 50 tons of timberand 60-75 tons of biomass perhectare per year are produced,which requires substantial plantnutrition. NPK and micronutrientrequirements must therefore becarefully determined. Organic

fertilizer in the form of dairy manure,cultured sugar mill pressed mud,vermiculture and other biomanuresare preferred for the long-termhealth of the soils. The soils at HaraFarms are more fertile now than theywere 25 years ago.

Sunlight. Sunlight can not beincreased, so optimal use of sunlightis vital. Five hundred poplars and1 000 eucalyptus trees per hectarewere found to be ideal. Thedistance was increased betweentree lines and reduced betweentrees, with the rows running north tosouth to give maximum sunlight toeach tree.

It can be said that this type of high-input-high-output agroforestry issustainable, agronomicallycompatible, ecologically safe,environmentally useful andeconomically attractive for all.Visitors are impressed with thetimber quality, yields and uniformityin growth. Moreover, the productionof high-value intercropping adds tothe appeal of Hara Farms’agroforestry system.

The timber needs of the 21st centurywill increasingly have to be metfrom agroforestry systems and lessfrom natural forests. In developingand developed countries and inregions with tropical or temperateclimates, timber production innatural forests varies between 4 to10 t/ha/yr with a cycle of up to 100years. Hara Farms produces 50 t/ha/yr of timber on a 10-year cycle.

Agroforestry can even besuccessfully established aroundpollution-creating centers of urbandevelopment and industrialcomplexes. Environmentaldegradation, pollution, and climatechange, among other things, arerecognized as being the result of




Agroforestry farm in...

two factors: unprecedented fossilfuel burning and forest destructionthat has occurred in the last fewdecades. Neither factor can bestopped, because of compellingeconomic reasons.

Continued from page 15

Sri Lanka is now the 30th member-country of the World Agroforestry

Centre (ICRAF). The membership wasformally launched when the ICRAF SriLanka Office was inaugurated on7 March 2005 at the Council forAgricultural Research Policy (CARP)Secretariat.

As part of the cooperation, theICRAF Sri Lanka Office hosts theCARP-ICRAF Tree DomesticationProject. The project aims to networkdomestication research anddevelopment activities on fruit andtimber trees and medicinal plants inSri Lanka. It will identify stakeholdersand their research activities,

Sri Lanka is 30th memberSri Lanka is 30th memberSri Lanka is 30th memberSri Lanka is 30th memberSri Lanka is 30th member-countr-countr-countr-countr-country ofy ofy ofy ofy of ICRAF: ICRAF: ICRAF: ICRAF: ICRAF:embarembarembarembarembarks on trks on trks on trks on trks on tree domesticaee domesticaee domesticaee domesticaee domestication prtion prtion prtion prtion projectojectojectojectojectDKNG Pushpakumara ([email protected])

Fig.1. Launching of ICRAF Sri Lanka Office and CARP-ICRAFTree Domestication Project. (From left to right) Dr. Tony Simons,principal tree scientist, ICRAF; Mr. Tissa Warnasuriya, secretaryof the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigationand chairman, CARP; Prof. HPM Gunasena, executive director,CARP; Dr. VP Singh, South Asia Regional representative ofICRAF; Dr. DKNG Pushpakumara, ICRAF country liaisonscientist.

prioritize species for domesticationand identify gaps that hinder theacceleration of domestication forboth commercial and small-scaleutilization.

This project will be a part of theSouth Asia Network of TreeDomestication with India, Nepal andBangladesh. The project will helppartners use, enhance and adoptthese systems, and to identify andremove policy constraints. It will alsodevelop models for germplasmmanagement as well as systems toconserve genetic resources,

allowing small farmers to benefitfrom these resources.

The details of the project can beobtained from Dr. DKNGPushpakumara, ICRAF country liaisonscientist, ICRAF Sri Lanka Office/CARP-ICRAF Tree DomesticationProject, Sri Lanka Council forAgricultural Research Policy, 114/9,Wjerama Mawatha, Colombo 7, SriLanka; phone: 0112 2697103,2698001; Mobile: 0714 933591; fax: +0112 682951; and E-mail:[email protected],[email protected].

Therefore, economically attractiveand environmentally desirableagroforestry is a positivecontribution for coping withecological and climatic disasters inthe world. The agroforestry practicesat Hara Farms can be replicatedusing other timber tree species of

diversified wood quality for diverseclimates of the world. The author canbe contacted at Hara Farms, P.O. Amadalpur,Jagadhri, Haryana 135101, India or throughhis blog http://thefarmstory.blogspot.com.

Fig. 2. (left to right)Dr. Pal Singh,Prof. HPM Gunasenaand Mr. TissaWarnasuriyainaugurates theICRAF Office atCARP Secretariat.

Fig. 3. (left to right)Dr. Tony Simonspresents the ICRAFinformationpackage to MrTissa Warnasuriya,withProf. HPMGunasena.


agroforestry education and training

of national forest research institutes.The forum clearly showed that manyinstitutions were experiencing timesof radical change with regard totheir tasks and frame conditions.Thus, the importance of strongercooperation in the future wasexplicitly emphasized, and it was nosurprise that the directors agreed onconvening the forum regularly in thefuture.

Congress outcomes

The congress participants releasedtwo congress resolutions where theyanalyzed their own roles in a quitecritical manner.

The first Brisbane Resolution, entitled“Promoting global cooperation inforest-related research,” is primarilydirected to the forest sciencecommunity and IUFRO itself. Thescientists declared their readiness tofocus their research work morestrongly on the key issues of societyand the global environment and torespond to the information needs ofthe different stakeholders. Forestscience is also needed to strengthencooperation with other scientificdisciplines.

The second Brisbane Resolution on“Promoting science for decision-making” is clearly directed to theworld outside the forest sciencecommunity. In this resolution,scientists declared their desire toprovide relevant scientific findingsmore often as a basis for politicaldecision making and translatepresent research results into alanguage that is readily understoodby policy makers and other

IUFRO World Congress...Continued from page 18

stakeholders. However, theresolution also noted that sciencecould only live up to its role inresearch and education if sufficientresources were available, which isnot always the case in view of thebudget cuts affecting forest sciencein many countries.

The new IUFRO leaders

It is IUFRO’s tradition that a newPresident is elected during the worldcongress. The Brisbane congressparticipants elected Prof. Don KooLee from South Korea as IUFROPresident from 2006 to 2010,succeeding Professor Risto Seppäläfrom Finland. Prof. Lee will play adecisive role in the development ofIUFRO over the next five years. Hewill be joined by Dr. Niels Elers Kochfrom Denmark as Vice-PresidentScience and Dr. John Innes fromCanada as Vice-President Policy.South Korea also won the bidding forhosting the next IUFRO WorldCongress in 2010 which will takeplace in the capital city of Seoul.

Addressing issues and concerns

In the course of congress discussions,many answers surfaced, but manyquestions were also raised. Inresponse, several new IUFRO workingparties were created during thecongress to directly address thesequestions. Furthermore, all issuesreferred to in the BrisbaneResolutions will be duly considered inthe new IUFRO strategy for the years2006 to 2010. Thus, IUFRO is certainlywell prepared to tackle the tasks ofthe future.

IUFRO celebrates its worldcongresses in different parts of theworld every five years. This year’sBrisbane congress was the first timethat IUFRO held the world congressin the southern hemisphere. IUFROpress release provided by Gerda Wolfru

([email protected])

Fig.3. The Yuggera Aboriginal Dance Troupeat the opening ceremoney of the Brisbanecongress.

workshop sessions that enabled theparticipants to identify thechallenges, issues, concerns andgaps in the areas of agroforestryeducation, policy advocacy,extension for rural and enterprisedevelopment, and research andtechnology development. Short-,medium- and long-term plans wereformulated in order to address thechallenges and contribute to theefforts of institutionalizing theNAFDP.

The resolution calls for theconcerted efforts of various sectorsto address the immediate and long-term concerns in agroforestrydevelopment which include theneed to:

1. fast-track the approval of theproposed “House Bill on theCreation of the AgroforestryBoard,” and the policy standardsand guidelines for the Bachelorof Science in Agroforestry;

2. recognize the agroforestryprograms of the member-institutions of the PhilippineAgroforestry Education andResearch Network (PAFERN) aspart of the National Agricultureand Fisheries Education System(NAFES);

3. facilitate the promotion ofinvestments and enterprisedevelopments of agroforestryproducts;

4. include agroforestry as one ofthe prescribed land uses underthe National Land UseClassification Act;

5. exempt critical watersheds,protected areas, ancestraldomains and agroforestry areasfrom mining explorations andoperations;

Agroforestrystakeholders...Continued from page 18



agroforestry education and training

IAF ofIAF ofIAF ofIAF ofIAF offffffererererers as as as as agggggrrrrrofofofofoforororororestrestrestrestrestryyyyytrtrtrtrtraining couraining couraining couraining couraining courses fses fses fses fses for 2006or 2006or 2006or 2006or 2006Leah P. Arboleda ([email protected])

The UPLB Institute of Agroforestry(IAF) is announcing the following

agroforestry training courses for2006:

Planning and managing agroforestryprojects (PMAP)To be held 16-29 April, this course willdiscuss participatory rural appraisal,agroforestry land capabilityassessment and mapping scheme,feasibility study preparation/development and monitoring andevaluation techniques.

Sustainable agriculture throughagroforestry initiatives of people inthe uplands (SAGIP)To be held 21 May - 3 June, thiscourse will primarily discuss theconcepts and significance ofagroforestry and sustainableagriculture development in relationto natural and managedecosystems. Participants willdevelop and apply key indicators ofsustainable agroforestry systems,while discussing techniques indiagnosing problems, needs,constraints, practices andopportunities.

Agroforestry production practicesand management (AG-PRO)To be held 25 June - 8 July, thiscourse will discuss agroforestry’svarious production technologiesand their corresponding

management strategies, seedtechnology and nurserymanagement, soil and waterconservation and management, andother technologies that supportagroforestry farms.

Agroforestry postproduction systems(AG-POST)To be held 13-26 August, this coursewill discuss the principles andprocesses of the differentpostproduction technologies ofagricultural crops, perennial cropsand animal and dairy products.Topics on marketing, financing,credit and other support services foragroforestry postproduction will beincluded.

Participatory technologydevelopment for agroforestry (PT-DAF)To be held 24 September - 7October, this course will discuss theprocesses involved in promotingagroforestry for extension andresearch and developmentactivities. Topics will includeparticipatoryappraisal,on-farmtrials,farmers’fieldschoolsand otherparticipatoryapproaches.

6. simplify the requirements for theissuance of permits to harvestand transport timber andnontimber products fromagroforestry farms;

7. pass local resolutions andordinances that will support the

Agroforestrystakeholders...Continued from page 19

institutionalization ofagroforestry developmentprograms;

8. conduct appropriate scienceand technology programs inagroforestry;

9. conduct regular multisectoralagroforestry stakeholders’meeting; and

10. formulate NAFDP to facilitatethe institutionalization ofagroforestry development in thePhilippines.

The agroforestry congress was co-organized by the Institute ofAgroforestry of the University of thePhilippines Los Baños, PAFERN andthe Camarines Sur State AgriculturalCollege. The author is a researcher at theUPLB Institute of Agroforestry.

Promoting sustainable agroforestrylivelihood and other enterprises(SALE)To be held 5-18 November, thiscourse will provide the knowledgeand skills that will enable farmers todecide, plan and carry outlivelihood enterprises that willprovide them with income whilewaiting for their agroforestry farmsto mature and be productive. Topicswill include the policies affectingagroforestry and livelihoodenterprise development, enterprisedevelopment in the uplands, SALEplanning and management,extension concepts, methods andapproaches and marketing/tradingof livelihood products.

These courses are offered to projectmanagers, researchers, fieldtechnicians, farmer/communityleaders and other developmentworkers from local and internationalnongovernmental organizations,government agencies, academicand research institutions, people’sorganizations and other concernedinstitutions.

For more information, pleasecontact the Director, Institute ofAgroforestry, College of Forestry andNatural Resources, University of thePhilippines Los Baños, PO Box 35023,College, 4031 Laguna. Tel +63 495362657/5363657, Fax +63 495363809 and E-mail [email protected] [email protected]. The authorworks at the Department of ScienceCommunication, UPLB College of

Development Communication.


information sources

The following information sourceswere compiled from Springer

Publications, the User’s Perspectiveswith Agricultural Research andDevelopment (UPWARD), Canada’sInternational DevelopmentResearch Centre (IDRC), research,contributions and some withpermission from the Low-ExternalInput Sustainable Agriculture (LEISA):

Agroforestry e-news. Published bi-monthly by the School of ForestResources and Conservation,University of Florida, this onlinenewsletter informs readers ofrelevant conferences, meetings andpublications on agroforestry. Formore information or to submit newsitems, contact Prof. Shibu Jose by e-mail [email protected],or visit thewebsite: http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/

Beyond intellectual property: towardtraditional resource rights forindigenous peoples and localcommunities. Written by Darrel A.Posey and Graham Dutfield, this 1996publication provides practicalsuggestions on how indigenouspeoples and local communitiesworldwide should approach anddeal with issues in intellectualproperty and traditional resourcerights. It provides invaluable andeye-opening information on themost provocative and explosiveissue of the “patenting of life.” Formore information, please visit http://www.idrc.ca.

Counting on the environment: forestincomes and the rural poor. Writtenby P. Vedeld, et al., this is a WorldBank Environment DepartmentPaper No. 98, published in 2004,which presents the results of ananalysis of 54 case studies showingthat forests are significant sources ofincome for rural households. Thecase studies recommend some bestpractices in studying incomesderived from forests with focus onresearch protocols, field methods,and simple analytical models. Youcan download a PDF file of this

Useful infUseful infUseful infUseful infUseful infororororormamamamamation sourtion sourtion sourtion sourtion sourcescescescescesdocument at http://Inweb18.worldbank.org/ESSD/envext.nsf/44ByDocName/Publications. For more information,please [email protected].

Cultivating peace: conflict andcollaboration in natural resourcemanagement. Edited by DanielBuckles, this 1999 IDRC and WorldBank publication presents originalcase studies and essays highlightingexperiences in Africa, Asia and LatinAmerica on cultural dimensions ofconflict, the concept of stakeholderanalysis, the impact of developmentinterventions on peace and conflict,and the policy dimensions of conflictmanagement. These case studiespresent the evolving trend fromconflict to collaboration in naturalresource management. Moreimportantly, the book highlightslessons learned and identifiesstrategic gaps in natural resourcemanagement. For more information,please visit http://www.idrc.ca.

Developing smallholder agriculture:a global perspective. Written by R.L.Tinsley, this book published in 2004presents lessons learned fromfarming systems research with afocus on the factors and issuesconstraining smallholder agriculturaldevelopment. By looking beyondtechnology development andfocusing instead on service deliverysystems, the author emphasizes theimportance of village-level, privatemicro-enterprises as a means toassist smallholders and studies theeffectiveness of the public sector.For more information, please [email protected].

Forest ecosystems and environments:scaling up from shoot module towatershed. Written by T. Kohyama, J.Canadell, D.S. Ojima and L.F. Pitelka,this 2005 publication presents theresults of the Global ChangeImpacts on Terrestrial Ecosystems inMonsoon Asia (TEMA) project thatwas implemented to contribute to

the international project on GlobalChange and Terrestrial Ecosystems.The book presents theaccomplishments of the project interms of the integration of forestecosystem and watershedprocesses. Specific topics includeleaf physiology, meteorologicalbudget, prediction of long-termchange of vegetation compositionand architecture throughdemographic processes, the effectsof forest ecosystem metabolism onthe properties and biogeochemicalbudgets of freshwater ecosystems,and the direct and indirect effectsof environmental change on rivers,wetlands and lakes. The resultsfocused on the experiences incoastal east and Southeast Asiancountries that are characterized bywet growing seasons and species-rich forest ecosystems. For moreinformation, please visit http://www.springerpub.com/

Genes in the field: on-farmconservation of crop diversity. Editedby Stephen B. Brush, this 2000publication provides acomprehensive overview of theissues and challenges of on-farmconservation of genetic resourcesshared by experts in the fields ofbiology, agronomy, anthropology,economics, law and agriculturaldevelopment. For more information,please visit http://www.idrc.ca.

In focus: seeds that give –participatory plant breeding. Writtenby Ronnie Vernooy, this 2003 bookpresents the results of IDRC’sresearch projects on agriculturalbiodiversity and participatory plantbreeding research that are aimed atconserving agricultural diversity,improving crops and producingquality food. It discusses issues,procedures in developing researchquestions, and steps in designing on-farm research considering farmers’and breeders’ rights. It alsohighlights the need to develop newand supportive policies andlegislation while presenting cases ofsuccessful partnerships of farmersand plant breeders in these fields.



information sources

For more information, please visithttp://www.idrc.ca.

Managing natural resources forsustainable livelihoods: unitingscience and participationEdited by Barry Pound, SieglindeSnapp, Cynthia McDougall and AnnBraun, this 2003 book presents fieldexperiences on Participatory NaturalResource Management (NRM)research, with focus on smallholderagricultural systems in thedeveloping world.

It presents an analysis of the issuesand lessons gained from thepractical application ofparticipatory principles to complexlandscapes and social situationsfrom 23 relevant case studies. Italso considers strategies in meetingthe challenges of improving thelivelihoods of local natural resourcemanagers, as well as conserving thenatural resources for futuregenerations. The case studiescovered Asia, Africa and LatinAmerica. For more information,contact the IDRC at [email protected] or please visit http://www.idrc.ca and EarthscanPublications [email protected].

Forest restoration in landscapes:beyong planting trees. Edited byStephanie Mansourian, DanielVallauri and Nigel Dudley, this 2005book presents the experiences ofWorld Wildlife Fund (WWF)International and its partners inintegrating the restoration of forestfunctions into landscapeconservation plans.

Aside from the practical information,the book also discusses specificsystems and issues, and identifies keyareas for further research. For moreinformation, please visit http://www.springerpub.com/.

Nitrogen fixation in agriculture,forestry, ecology and theenvironment. Edited by DietrichWerner and William E. Newton, this2005 book is the fourth of the seven-volume comprehensive series onnitrogen fixation. This volumediscusses the integration of basicand applied work on biologicalnitrogen fixation in the fields ofagriculture, forestry and ecology.

Highlights of the book includediscussions of crops of major globalimportance (soybeans, rice andsugar cane), agroforestry,specifically on the use and legumetrees with their rhizobial symbiontsand other nitrogen-fixing trees withtheir actinorhizal colonization andthe interaction of plants and trees.

It also describes thebiogeochemically importantnitrogen cycle and its keyrelationships among nitrogenfixation, nitrification anddenitrification. Moreover, readerswill be provided with updates on theproduction of microbial inocula,especially for legume crops. Formore information, please visit http://www.idrc.ca.

Organic agriculture: a handbook.Written by A. Rosenberg and T.Linders, this 2004 handbook presentsthe authors’ 30-year experience inorganic agriculture, mainlypracticed in South Africa. The bookprovides a background on organicagriculture, and practicalinformation on soils (texture,structure, organic matter, etc.),composting, soil conservation,vegetable cultivation, animalhusbandry (poultry, cattle, rabbits,bees), farm planning and organiccertification with theoreticaldiscussions. The experiencespresented can also be applied inother countries worldwide. For moreinformation, please visithttp://www.lindros.co.za or [email protected].

Participatory research anddevelopment for sustainableagriculture and natural resourcemanagement: a sourcebook. Thisthree-volume sourcebook compiles79 articles highlighting experiencesin participatory research anddevelopment of more than 30countries inthe fields ofsustainablecrop andanimalproduction,forest andwatershedmanagement,soil and waterconservationandpostharvestand utilization.

Published in 2005 by UPWARD, IDRC,and the International Fund forAgricultural Development, thissourcebook focuses on the growinginterest in developing approachesfor joint research and developmentwith the participation of the localpeople and other concernedstakeholders. These diverse and yetinterrelated approaches compriseparticipatory research anddevelopment concepts andpractices for trainers, policy makers,donors and professionals in otherdevelopment sectors. For moreinformation, contact CIP-UPWARD,c/or IRRI DAPO Box 7777, MetroManila, Philippines, or please visithttp://www.cip-upward.org/.

Traditional foods: processing forprofit. Edited by P. Fellows, this 1997publication is a comprehensiveguide to the processing oftraditional foods which are madeand sold at small commercial scalesof operation from Asia, Africa andLatin America. For more information,send e-mail inquiries to [email protected].

Compiled by Leah P. Arboleda

Useful informationsources...Continued from page 21


information sources

AgAgAgAgAgrrrrrofofofofoforororororestrestrestrestrestry and fy and fy and fy and fy and forororororestrestrestrestrestryyyyyinfinfinfinfinfo souro souro souro souro sources frces frces frces frces from Fom Fom Fom Fom FAAAAAOOOOO

The United Nations Food andAgriculture Organization (FAO)

Regional Office for Asia and thePacific (RAP) is promoting thefollowing publications which theyhave produced in collaboration withseveral institutions. Print and PDFversions of these publications areavailable at http://www.fao.org/.

Advancing assisted naturalregeneration (ANR) in Asia and thePacific (RAP Publication 2003/19).Compiled and edited by Patrick C.Dugan, Patrick B. Durst, David J.Ganz and Philip J. McKenzie, thisreport discusses the key conceptsand aspects of ANR, including itstechnical and social dimensions. Italso compiles the experiences of thePhilippines, China, Indonesia,Thailand and Viet Nam inimplementing ANR. For the HTMLversion of this document, pleasevisit http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/004/AD642E/AD642EE00.HTM.

Agroforestry: a way to better farming– a manual for trainers, teachers andextension workers. Written by InokaRatukalou et al., this two-volume,spiral-bound 1999 publicationprovides a clear introduction toagroforestry. The two volumesintroduce the rationale anddefinition of agroforestry, variousforms of agroforestry, managementtechniques and plant species. Thismanual was produced by the FijiMinistry of Agriculture, Fisheries andForests (MAFF) and the SPC/GTZPacific German Regional ForestryProject. For the HTML version of thisdocument, please visit http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/004/AD466E/AD466E00.HTM.

Forests and floods: drowning in fictionor thriving on facts? (RAP Publication2005/03, Forest Perspectives 2). Thisbooklet examines the scientificevidence that links floods andforests, as man is often blamed forthe consequences of natural

disasters on the environment. Thisbooklet will inform policy makers,development agencies and themedia of the distinction betweenfacts and fiction on the relationshipbetween forests and floods. It alsorecommends alternativeapproaches for effective watershedand flood plain management. ThePDF version of this publication isavailable at http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/ae929e/ae929e00.htm

In search of excellence: exemplaryforest management in Asia and thePacific (RAP Publication 2005/03).Edited by Patrick B. Durst, ChrisBrown, Henrylito D. Tacio and MiyukiIshikawa, this publication presentsthe successful experiences of forestmanagers, farmers and localcommunities in balancing thevarious socioeconomic andenvironmental demands made onthe forest. The book providesinspiring accounts of innovation,perseverance, and dedication offarmers across the region that shouldmotivate others to intensify theirefforts in protecting and managingthe region’s forest resources. A PDFversion of the document is availableat http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/007/ae542e/ae542e00.htm

Proceedings of the workshop onforests for poverty reduction:opportunities for clean developmentmechanism, environmental servicesand biodiversity (RAP Publication2004/22). Edited by H.C. Sim, S.Appanah and Y.C. Youn, thispublication presents the highlightsof the workshop of the same titlethat was held 27-29 August 2003 inSeoul, Korea. The proceedingscomprise the workshop discussionsand presentations on povertyreduction by tropical forests,markets for forest communities,policy and market supportmechanisms, strategies inimplementing the Clean

Development Mechanism,partnerships, forestry andbiodiversity conservation, carbonsequestration, watershed protectionand other opportunities. For theHTML version of this document, visithttp://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/007/ae537e/ae537e00.htm.

Proceedings of the workshop onforests for poverty reduction: cancommunity forestry make money?(RAP Publication 2004/04). Edited byH.C. Sim, S. Appanah and W. M. Lu,these proceedings present thehighlights of the workshop of thesame title held 1-2 September 2003in Beijing, China. The proceedingscomprise the presentations oncommunity forestry and agroforestryexperiences in Viet Nam, thePhilippines, Pakistan, Cambodia,Indonesia, Mongolia, Bangladesh,Bhutan, China and Thailand. Thepresentations focus on thedependency of communities on non-timber forest products, sustainableharvesting, the role of gender andthe establishment of a nontimberforest products development body.For the HTML version of thisdocument, please visit http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/008/ae537e/ae537e00.htm.

State of forestry in Asia and thePacific: 2003 status, changes andtrends (RAP Publication 2003/22).Edited by Chris Brown and Patrick B.Durst, this book assesses the state ofnatural resources, forest plantations,forest policy, legislation andplanning, and the economics, socialand environmental aspects offorestry utilization. It identifies thevarious forestry institutions, andprovides an overview of theinternational conventions andagreements as it calls forinternational cooperation toaddress critical issues and concerns.For the HTML version of thisdocument, please visit http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/006/AD642E/AD642E00.HTM. Compiled by

Leah P. Arboleda and Philip J. McKenzie

Call for contributionsCall for contributionsCall for contributionsCall for contributionsCall for contributions

We are inviting contributions to the28th and 29th issues of the Asia-

Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter(APANews) on or before 31 March and30 June 2006, respectively. Let us helpyou share the relevant programs andprojects that you are working on in theareas of agroforestry research,promotion and development, andeducation and training.

Contributions for agroforestry researchmay contain results of short- and long-term studies that will update readers onhow agroforestry is being developed asa distinct science separate fromagriculture and forestry.

Contributions for agroforestrypromotion and development maycontain information on variousextension services aimed at promotingand developing agroforestry amongcommunities. This section helpsupdate readers on how agroforestry isbeing promoted in the field as a distinctpractice.

Contributions for agroforestry educationand training, meanwhile, may containannouncements on conferences,symposiums, training opportunitiesand other news on the various effortsbeing made toward generating moreagroforestry professionals andpractitioners, and providing venues forinterpersonal sharing of agroforestryinformation, and networkingopportunities. We will also help youannounce new information sources anduseful websites.

For several years now, APANews hascontinued to reach out to people fromvarious sectors. Hence, we would liketo request interested contributors toadopt the simple, straightforward andpopular style in writing the articlesinstead of that used in journals. Byadopting the popular writing style, yourarticles can help farmers, developmentagents, researchers, practitioners andother interested individuals in copingwith the challenges of promoting anddeveloping agroforestry in theirrespective countries, and at any level ofproject or research implementation.

Inaddition,the FAOand IAFeditorswould like to accommodate as manyarticles as possible in every issue.Hence, kindly limit your contributions to1 000 words, and include good-qualityphotographs (scanned at 300 dpi) thatare properly labeled and referred to inthe text. Please don’t forget to includeyour complete contact details,especially your E-mail address, shouldthe readers have questions,clarifications or requests for furtherinformation.

Please send contributions throughE-mail as attachments or via snail mailin diskettes/CD-ROM or printed form tothe FAO/RAP Office or to the UPLBInstitute of Agroforestry, 2/F TamesisHall, College of Forestry and NaturalResources, UP Los Baños, PO Box35023, College, 4031 Laguna,Philippines; Fax +63 49 5363809;E-mail [email protected].

The following web sites and linkswere obtained from the World

Agroforestry Centre, the PermanentAgriculture Resources, through its e-newsletter “The Overstory,” researchand contributions:

Web Sites

Center for Indigenous Knowledge ForAgriculture and Rural Development(CIKARD) focuses on preserving andusing the local knowledge of farmersand other rural people around theglobe. For more information, pleasevisit http://www.ciesin.org/IC/cikard/CIKARD.html

Centro Internacional de InformaciónSobre Cultivos de Cobertura(CIDICCO) has green manure/covercrop information for small farmers.For more information, please visithttp://www.cidicco.hn/

CONTOUR is a newsletter dedicatedto the exchange of information onsoil and water conservation in SouthEast Asia. For more information,please visit http://www.asocon.org/main.htm

Useful websites and linksUseful websites and linksUseful websites and linksUseful websites and linksUseful websites and linksGarden Organic providesinformation on organic gardening athttp://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/

Indigenous Knowledge andDevelopment Monitor (IKDM) servesthose with an interest in the role ofindigenous knowledge inparticipatory approaches tosustainable development. For moreinformation, please visit http://www.nuffic.nl/ciran/ikdm/index.html

International Soil Reference andInformation Centre providesinformation on soils and promotessustainable use of the land at http://www.lime.isric.nl/

Livelihoods Connect providesinformation on how to eliminatepoverty through sustainablelivelihoods. For more information,please visit http://www.livelihoods.org/

The Soil and Water ConservationSociety fosters the science and theart of soil, water and related naturalresource management to achieve

sustainability. For more information,please visit http://www.swcs.org/

User’s Perspectives with AgriculturalResearch and Development(UPWARD) provides news andinformation resources onparticipatory research anddevelopment (PR&D) andinnovations for sustainable rootcroplivelihood. For more information,please visit http://www.cip-upward.org/

Links

Agroforestry Database: http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/Sites/TreeDBS/aft.asp

Biodiversity Support Programme:http://www.BSPonline.org/

Eldis Food Security Resource Guide:http://www.eldis.org/food/

International Fund for AgriculturalDevelopment (IFAD): http://www.ifad.org/ Compiled by Leah P.Arboleda, Rowena D. Cabahug andReinelen M. Reyes

no. 27 z december 2005 z issn 0859-9742 · and teak (tectona grandis), among other trees, are grown...

Documents