canopy

Volume 28 No. 1 January - February 2002 ISSN-0115-0960

INTERNATIONAL

All articles are incumbent to the current period.

Published by the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources

What’s inside . . . Editorial

Growing tiger Hidden menace: Air

pollution
grass under
Benguet pine
stand 2

Powdery mildew
disease of dapdap
and its control
F or decades, several scientists have warned that cars and factories are
spewing more than enough gases into the atmosphere to heat up the
earth in a greenhouse effect that could eventually produce disastrous
climate changes.

measures 3 At first, people would not pay attention to the greenhouse issue. But when
James Hansen (head of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies), in 1989,
turned global warming into front-page news, he declared that “the evidence is
What’s this pretty strong that the greenhouse effect is here.” Then people recognized that the
reality of the greenhouse effect stares them in the face.
“rainforestation
farming” Hansen thus became perhaps the most prominent scientist willing to say
strategy? 4 straight out that the earth-warming effect of excess carbon dioxide (CO2) and
other gases generated by industry and agriculture has crossed the line from
theory into fact.
Tree
With the advent of the Industrial Revolution in the early 1800s, man with its
domestication: activities, suddenly threw a new factor into the climatic equation. Carbon dioxide is
The experience of released in large quantities when wood and such fossil fuels as coal, oil, and
ERDB cum VGL natural gas are burned. As society industrialized, coal-burning factories began
releasing CO2 faster than plants and oceans, which absorb the gas, could handle
Farms 5 it. In the early 1900s people began burning oil and gas at enormous rates. And
increasing population led to the widespread cutting of trees in less developed
Growth behavior countries.

of selected rattan But carbon dioxide has caused only half the problem. Other gases are likewise
species 6 responsible for the greenhouse effect. Chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, are powerful
greenhouse gases, too. So are nitrogen oxides, which are pollutants spewed out
of automobile exhausts and power-plant smokestacks. Methane, the primary
Sustainable component of natural gas, is another greenhouse gas. This is also generated by
management of bacteria living in the guts of cattle and termites, the muck of rice paddies, and the
rotting garbage in landfills. Each of these sources is fostered by human activity—
Sampalok Lake: even the termites which thrive in the clearings left after tropical rain forests are cut
Some policy issues 8 down. Humanity’s contribution to the greenhouse effect comes from so many
basic activities that man cannot realistically expect to stop the process. Man can
only slow it.
Earthwatch 12
Off the Press January 2005 ) page 11
 Growing tiger grass under Benguet pine stand
Tony S. Baldino Jr.
T iger grass (Thysanolaena
maxima), locally called “boi-boi”
in Ilocano, or “tambo” in Tagalog,
belongs to the family Graminae. It is a
rono-like semiperennial plant that grows
as high as 2.5 m. It thrives in low to
medium elevations but grows faster in
higher elevations (Noble, 1991). It is a
nontimber species that is widely used for
the manufacture of soft brooms. An
eight-month-old tiger grass which starts
producing panicles could immediately
generate cash when harvested and sold
as raw materials to broom
manufacturers. These are directly made
into soft brooms. This species could
reach a life span of 10 years or more
when properly managed.
The study
Tiger-grass growing is considered by
many farmers as a profitable and viable
venture. This can be an additional
livelihood to upland dwellers. Since the
harvest of tiger grass is seasonal, tiger-
grass farming needs a small capital and
can be managed easily. Thus, in far-
flung areas in Benguet, many farmers
opt to shift to tiger-grass farming, or
integrate tiger-grass growing into their
mainstay.
The interest in the development of tiger-
grass plantation is attributed to the
current high cost of vegetable farm
inputs. However, since the landholdings
of farmers in the province of Benguet
are very limited and are just enough for
vegetable production, the integration of
tiger grass under Benguet pine stand
has been tried. This was specifically
studied under a second-growth Benguet
pine stand at the Ecosystems Research
and Development Services compound in
Baguio City.
The objectives
The study aimed to compare the growth
performance, survival, and yield of tiger
grass in open area and under Benguet
pine stand at a spacing of 2 m x 2 m for
both sites. The study also aimed to
generate technology on the right time for
harvesting tiger grass and come up
2 CANOPY International
with weaving technique. Under Benguet
pine stand, the stocking density was
286 trees/ha with light penetration of
30%.
The results
Results of the study showed that the
average survival percentage of tiger
grass in open area was slightly higher
*89.45%) than that under the Benguet
pine stand. The average annual yield
per plant was 5.7 panicles in open area
after three years. Under Benguet pine
stand, the annual yield was 4.6 panicles
per plant.
The panicles were harvested when the
emerging inflorescence/last branchlet
was two to three inches away from the
last leaf of the stem. All the branchlets
were stripped from the main stem
before weaving them into soft brooms to
make the broom more durable.
On a per hectare basis, the average
annual yield of tiger grass planted in
open area was 14,250 panicles, which
could produce about 180 soft brooms
and generate a revenue of P5,400 (if
sold at P30/broom). Tiger grass planted
under Benguet pine stand, on the other
hand, had an average annual yield of
11,500 panicles, which could make 145
soft brooms and earn a revenue of
P4,350.
Technology generated
Planting tiger grass under Benguet
pine. This tiger-grass underplanting
scheme has been proven successful
and it is the first technology uniquely
generated in the Cordillera region. The
technology is also a good strategy that
can be applied in the management,
protection, and conservation of pine
forest and land resource. Furthermore,
a symbiotic relationship occurs between
the tiger grass and the Benguet pine.
The pin tree serves as a nurse crop for
the tiger grass, which, in turn,
conserves the soil and nutrients needed
by the pine tree.
RIght time of harvesting. Tiger grass
panicles should be harvested when the
inflorescence is two to three inches
away from the last leaf of the stem.
Panicles at this stage are elastic and
flexible, making the broom durable. This
counters the belief in the past that
panicles produced in colder areas of
Benguet Province could easily break
and do not last long.
Weaving technique. All branchlets
should be stripped from the main stem
and then bundled/woven together with
rattan splits. In the past, the main stem
was included when weaving, making the
broom break easily. Moreover, tiger-
grass farming used to be done only in
) page 11
January - February 2002
 Powdery mildew disease of dapdap
and its control measures
Maria DP. Dayan, Vivian DP. Abarro, and Alvin A. Faraon

P owdery mildew is a common

disease caused by the fungi,
Erysiphe cichoracearum and
Sphaerotheca fuligena, affecting
hundreds of plants, specially agricultural
crops like tomato, peas, cucurbits,
grapes, as well as forest tree species,
like acacia (Samanea saman), Acacia
auriculiformis, A. mangium, and other
Acacia spp. and Eucalyptus spp. The
powdery growth appearance on the
upper part of the older leaves is the
most prominent symptom, sometimes
infecting even the stem and shoots of
the tree. The initial symptom of the
disease is the presence of white
superficial cobweb-like growth of
hyphae. In some trees, the disease
starts as whitish to yellowish specks
which later increase in size, become
brownish with grayish powdery growth
on the upper surface of the leaves and
stems. In severe cases, even the shoot
is affected. This powdery growth
appearance is actually the mass of
spores/conidia and conidiophores of the
fungus. Later, the powdery appearance
disappears, leaving dark brown
discoloration in the upper surface of the
leaves which later shed. Humid
condition and shaded area (above 75%)
favor disease development and
outbreak in the entire seedling
population.
is actually the hypha appeared after two
days which later turned to grayish
discoloration (mass of conidia) after five
days of observation. In severely infected
seedlings, even the stem and petioles
were infected while the grayish
coloration on leaflets turned to irregular
brown spots. Ten days later, spots
coalesced leading to premature falling
of leaves and complete defoliation of
the seedling population.
The causal fungus
The causal fungus of powdery mildew,
Oidium sp. (imperfect stage) Erysiphe
(perfect stage), belongs to order
Erysiphales, family Erysiphaceae. Like
downy mildew, it is an obligate parasite
which cannot be cultured in artificial
medium. The conidiophores are hyaline,
which arise singly from uninucleate
hyphae. These consist of short strips
which are four-celled, thin-walled, and
measure 94.9-111.8 µm x 9.39-10.66
µm. The conidia in chain of 6-8 arise in
the apical cells of the conidiophore.
They are hyaline, ellipsoidal in shape,
thick-walled, and measure 26-35.88 µm
x 13-18.72 µm.
Control measures
Various fungicides (Benlate, Captan,
Dithane M-45, Anthracol, Bayleton,
Cupravit, and Daconil at 1.25 g
(wettable powder)/250 ml H2Oand
Folicur 0,25 ml (v/v)/250 ml H2O were
sprayed at weekly interval for one
month. These totally eradicated the
growth of powdery mildew on
succeeding new shoots. This did not
occur with the untreated seedlings.
However, when these seedlings (treated
and untreated) were transferred after
treatment to another place outside the
clonal nursery with 28-31oC
temperature range and 50-75% sunlight
exposure, even the untreated seedlings
produced disease-free shoots and
leaflets after two months of observation.
Reference
Quimio, T.H. and R T. Hanlin. 1999. Illustrated
genera of species of plant pathogenic
fungi in the tropics. UPLB-CA, College,
Laguna, Philippines. pp. 90-91.
RISE, Dapdap. 1992. Ecosystems Research
and Development Bureau. College,
Laguna.
The first author is Senior Science
Research Specialist, the second is
Clerk III, and the third is Science
Research Assistant at the Grassland
and Degraded Areas Ecosystems
Research Division, ERDB.

The ERDB study

This disease was recently observed in
the clonal nursery of the Ecosystems
Research and Development Bureau
(ERDB) where more than 3,000
seedlings of dapdap being maintained
for the project “Rehabilitation of marginal
lands using indigenous species
inoculated with mycorrhiza” were
infected. Almost 100% of both
uninoculated seedlings and those
inoculated with mycorrhiza were
infected. Thus, this short-term study was
conducted to determine the causal
organism of the disease in dapdap and
the possible control measures.

The findings
The disease started as small patches of
yellowish discoloration on the older
leaves. The white powdery growth which

January - February 2002 CANOPY International 3

 What’s this “rainforestation
farming” strategy?
Manolito U. Sy
“T
he Philippines is one of the
megadiversity countries,
with more than 52,177
described species, of which more than
half are found nowhere else in the
world… However, less than 6% of the
country’s original forest cover remains
while 418 species are listed in the 2000
International Union for the Conservation
of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)
Red List of Threatened Species making
it one of 25 global biodiversity
hotspots” (Ong, et al. 2002).
Being classified as “global biodiversity
hotspot” is something to look into and
address positively—and seriously—to
avert further resource degradation. The
graduation of some plant and wildlife
species into rare, threatened, or
endangered, or into the appalling
category of being extinct already has
brought heightened concerns on
biodiversity conservation and
management.
Biodiversity conservation
The conservation of biological diversity
(or simply biodiversity) in the country
has been given impetus with the
enactment of the National Integrated
Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of
1992 (Republic Act No. 7586). The
NIPAS, as defined in the Act, is the
classification and administration of all
designated protected areas to maintain
essential ecological processes and life-
4 CANOPY International
support systems, to preserve genetic
diversity, to ensure sustainable use of
resources found therein, and to
maintain their natural conditions to the
greatest extent possible. This
promulgation identified the following
categories of protected areas: strict
nature reserve, natural park, natural
monument, wildlife sanctuary, protected
landscapes and seascapes, resource
reserve, natural biotic areas, and other
categories (e.g. wilderness areas,
mangrove reserves, watersheds, and
old-growth forests) established by law
conventions, or international
agreements of which the Philippine
government is a signatory.
Other policies, regulations, and
instructions which promote and
enhance the development of
biodiversity in the country have also
been issued by the government,
particularly the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR). For instance, logging has been
prohibited in areas with 50-degree slope
and greater, as well as in areas with
elevations above 1,000 m, and within 20
m of either side of streambanks. The
assisted natural regeneration has been
used in the rehabilitation and
development of watersheds, as well as
protection and production of forests.
Basically, this method involves
maintaining existing natural
regeneration of broad-leaved species,
liberating ehtm from competing
vegetation, encouraging their faster
growth, and facilitating their domination
over the area. Moreover, at least 10 ha
of dipterocarp pilot plantations have
been established in suitable sites in
each province to promote species
biodiversity and to support the National
Forestation Program. This would
somehow reinforce the dwindling supply
and production areas of dipterocarps
and perpetuate these so-called
“mainstays of Philippine forestry.”
Rainforestation farming strategy
Just recently, the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources
issued another directive, Memorandum
Circular No. 2004-06, to further promote
biodiversity in the country. The circular
sets the “Guidelines in the integration of
rainforestation farming strategy in the
development of open and denuded
areas within protected areas and other
appropriate forestlands.”
“Rainforestation farming” is defined as a
concept in forest restoration, wherein
only indigenous and endemic tree
species are used as planting materials
which include, but not limited to,
dipterocarp and premium species. It is a
kind of reforestation aimed to preserve
biodiversity and expand Philippine
forests, at the same time sustain human
food production and provide people with
additional income through the
intercropping of agroforestry crops.
Based on the circular, the strategy could
be applied in these areas:
● Open, denuded, inadequately
wooded or degraded portions of
protected areas, critical habitats of
wild flora and fauna, proclaimed
watersheds, and other appropriate
forestlands;
● Communal forests, community
watersheds, and municipal and
barangay tree parks, which are under
the partnership of DENR and local
government units; and
● Other identified protection forests or
zones.
Pilot areas visited
As the rainforestation farming concept
was developed under the Philippine-
German Applied Tropical Ecology
Program of the Leyte State University
(LSU, formerly the Visayas State
) page 10
January - February 2002

T ree domestication is a relatively
new concept in silviculture. Its
difference against the traditional
tree improvement of the elite commercial
forest industry, is the emphasis on its
being smallholder– or farmer-driven
strategy. This concept represents a
paradigm shift (Simons, 1998), an
accelerated and human induced
evolution to bring species into wider
cultivation through a farmer-driven and
often market-led process. It is an
instrument for in situ and/or ex situ forest
genetic resource conservation. It may
also include genetic improvement but
not always a necessity (Utama et al.,
1999), specially for genetic
conservation.
The experience on tree domestication
presented herein centers on the
initiatives of a private entrepreneur, the
VGL Farms, Inc. and the Ecosystems
Research and Development Bureau
(ERDB).
The project site
The 50-ha VGL Farms is located in
Barangay Songco, Lantapan, Bukidnon.
It is owned and managed by VGL
Industries. Patches of second-growth
forests are found in the ravines inside
the property, more or less comprising 10
ha.
Some of the endemic tree species found
at the ravines inside the VGL Farms
were as follows: white lauan (Shorea
contorta Vid.), Philippine oak
(Lithocarpus sp.), malakmalak bundok
(Palaguium montanum Elmer),
malapapaya (Polyscias nodosa [Blume]
Seem.), marang banguhan
January - February 2002
Tree domestication: The
experience of ERDB
cum VGL Farms
(Artocarpus odoratissimus [Blanco]),
and lingo-lingo (Vitex turczaninowii
Merr.). Tree ferns, bamboos, rattans,
palms, ginger plant, Ficus spp., and wild
orchids abound on the slopes of ravines
and near the ephemeral stream at its
boundaries. There are also exotic trees
found at the slopes of the farm, namely,
ipil-ipil (Leucaena luecocephala [Lam.]
de Wit), gmelina (Gmelina arborea
Roxb.), mahogany (Swietenia
macrophylla King), Acacia mangium
(Willd.), Moluccan sau (Paraserianthes
falcataria L. Nielsen), to mention a few.
The tree domestication project of VGL
Farms and ERDB started in 1998.
Through the ERDB project,
“Macropropagation of dipterocarps
through seedlings, wildlings, and rooted
cuttings”, dipterocarp planting materials
were provided to VGL Farms. Similarly,
technical assistance, including the
conduct of hands-on training on the
technologies generated by the
dipterocarp macropropagation project
was provided to farm personnel. These
technologies include: (1) hedge garden
establishment and management; and
(2) propagation by cuttings using the
nonmist system. The wildling recovery
chamber was also provided. VGL
Farms, on the other hand, provided
Mitzi T. Pollisco
labor and the land for field trial
plantation of dipterocarp rooted cuttings.
Collection of planting materials
Seedlings
Seedlings are heterogeneous products
of secual reproduction that involves
genetic recombination and segregation
of alleles. Each seed has inherited
different parts of the genetic code from
their parent trees, with segregation of
genes among progenies (Leakey,
1991). Propagation via seed production
is preferable when large quantities of
genetically diverse and unlimited
number of seeds are needed (Leakey
and Simons, 1997).
In the case of VGL Farms, seeds were
either collected from the natural stands
where they are available, or brought
from other collectors. The seed sources
include Baguio City for Benguet pine
(Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon);
Baybay, Leyte and Surigao for tanguile
(Shorea polysperma [Blanco] Merr.);
and Cebu for molave (Vitex parviflora
Juss). Problems regarding germination
treatments of seeds of rare/endangered
species like the Philippine oak
(Lithocarpus sp.), Philippine chestnut
(Castanopsis philippinensis [Blanco]
Vidal), molave (Vitex parviflora Juss.),
and mangkono (Xanthostemon
verdugonianus Naves), and even the
severe infestation of damping-off fungi
on newly germinated Benguet pine,
were experienced on the farm.
Percentage germination of the rare/
endangered species was a big problem,
despite the technical references and
assistance provided to VGL Farms.
Hedge garden
To add new genes to the domestication
program, continuous germplasm
collections were done to bring in new
material from the wild. The infusion of
germplasm has been done regularly in
the VGL hedge garden Detopping and
bending techniques to induce multiple
) page 9
CANOPY International 5

R attan is one of the most
important forest species,
second to timber, and an
important dollar earner of the country. Its
economic importance is well recognized,
especially in most ASEAN countries. It
provides income to rattan gatherers,
truckers, furniture manufacturers,
traders, and exporters (Palaypayon and
Cadiz, 1988).
At present, there is a great demand for
rattan as raw materials and as finished
products. Japan, the United Arab
Emirates, Australia, France, Germany,
and the USA are among those countries
demanding such supply. Unfortunately,
the supply can hardly meet the demand
due to fast decrease in commercially
available species. In 2001, the total
rattan export was only 25,000 kg for split
rattan, and roughly 8.8 million lineal
meters (l m) for unsplit rattan, earning
only about US$34,000—way behind the
1984 record of 2.77 M kg of split and
25.4 M l m of unsplit rattan (Forest
Management Bureau, 2001). In contrast,
imported rattan, both split and unsplit,
totaled about US$1.2 M in the same
year.
The Philippine rattan industry is beset
with various problems related to the
meager supply of poles. This problem
could also be traced in the rapid
6 CANOPY International
Growth behavior of
selected rattan species
decline of forest cover and
overexploitation of the species (Cadiz,
1988). The problem could be solved
through importation, but it is prone to
crisis every time our foreign sources
implement ban on their local rattan,
such as in the case of Indonesia in the
late 1980s.
Generally, rattan can regenerate itself
naturally or artificially. However, there is
a dearth of information on the factors
influencing its growth. Various literature
on rattan suggest that climatic, edaphic,
and biotic factors are important
considerations in raising the species. It
is important, therefore, that these
factors be taken into account to
evaluate their role in the development
and growth of rattan. Understanding
these factors would guide practitioners
in formulating silvicultural strategies for
natural and artificial regeneration of
rattan.
Information on rattan production in the
Rafael T. Cadiz
Philippines is still inadequate to come
up with meaningful guidelines for the
effective management in both man-
made plantation and natural stand
(Cadiz, 1988). It is therefore imperative
that any effort to bring back the past
glory of this species in terms of
abundant supply of raw materials for the
industry be coupled with a study on the
important behavior and requirements of
the species for its growth and
development.
The study
A study was conducted to understand
the growth and development
characteristics of rattan. Existing natural
stands of rattan in secondary forest and
man-made rattan plantation in the four
climatic types of the country were
selected. These areas were located in
Mt. Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna
representing climatic type I (CT1);
Pagbilao, Quezon (CT2); Barrio
Bagumbayan, Puerto Princesa,
Palawan (CT3); and Baybay, Leyte
(CT4). Parameters like height growth,
as well as climatic, edaphic, geographic,
and associated vegetation data were
gathered in each area. The height
growth parameters were collected for 32
months.
Among the rattan species found in the
man-made and existing natural forest
stand that were included in the study
were palasan (Calamus merrillii, Becc.),
limuran (C. ornatus Blume var.
philippinensis), and ditaan
(Daemonorops mollis Blanco). The
species were commonly found in the
four climatic areas.
Research findings
❑ Palasan (Calamus merrillii Becc.)
● In natural stand, highest height
growth increment (228.55 cm)
was observed in CT4; the lowest
(64.22 cm), in CT1.
● Man-made plantation exhibited
about three times higher height
)
page 7
January - February 2002
 Table 1. Height growth increment of selected rattan species in natural stand in various
growth increment (with highest height classes within 32 months.
record of 647.79 cm in CT4) than
the natural stand. Height classes (cm)
Species Climatic Average
0-40 41-80 81-120 121-200 201-up
❑ Limuran (Calamus ornatus Blume type
var. philippinensis) Palasan I 19.0 39.29 — 95.60 103.00 64.22
● In natural stand, the highest
II 30.5 43.43 65.03 207.75 315.00 132.34
height growth increment was
III 56.3 229.0 202.00 163.00 462.00 222.46
observed under CT3 (198.85 cm);
IV 19.23 74.72 173.40 41.90 833.50 228.55
the lowest, CT4 (25.60 cm).
Limuran I 18.58 12.50 34.00 104.00 — 42.27
● For CT1 and CT3, however, no II 22.37 23.33 72.50 241.00 184.00 108.64
man-made plantation was III 65.15 121.0 332.00 — 277.25 198.85
observed. Available climatic data IV 13.09 15.70 — 48.00 — 25.60
for CT2 and CT4 revealed that Ditaan I 17.00 23.50 — — 271.00 103.83
the former had higher height II — 176.25 206.00 230.67 — 204.31
growth increment (310.72 cm) III 20.00 199.50 268.75 211.00 273.00 194.45
than the latter (107.30 cm). IV 20.09 — 165.50 — 213.69 133.09
Similarly, comparison made
between the natural stand and Table 2. Height growth increment of selected rattan species in man-made plantation in
various height classes within 32 months.
the man-made plantation showed
that the latter had higher height Height classes (cm)
growth increment, regardless of Species Average
Climatic
the height class. 0-40 41-80 81-120 121-200 201-up
type

❑ Ditaan (Daemonorops mollis Blanco) Palasan I 17.67 93.50 47.00 301.00 687.00 229.23
● In natural stand, the best result II — 201.94 154.22 345.57 162.00 215.93
was recorded under CT2 with III — — — — — —
204.31 cm height growth IV 117.25 449.25 703.63 849.33 1129.5 647.79
increment; CT1 had the lowest Limuran I — — — — — —
record (103.83 cm). II 15.60 279.94 274.38 492.00 492.00 310.72
III — — — — — —
● In man-made plantation, the IV 83.71 154.20 — 84.00 — 107.30
highest height growth increment
Ditaan I 34.66 — 149.00 — 266.16 149.94
was observed in CT4 (396.67
II 81.60 129.54 243.50 — 284.00 184.66
cm). CT1 registered the lowest
III 38.00 — — — 444.00 241.00
increment (149.94 cm).
IV — — 212.00 428.00 550.00 396.67
Tables 1 and 2 show the details of Table 3. Chemical and physical analyses of soil in various experimental areas with
height increment of the three species of selected rattan species.
rattan in natural stand and in man-made
plantation, both under four climatic Me/100 gm
conditions. Observations were made for Experimental area % P %
32 months. Table 3, on the other hand, pH K Texture
N ppm OM
indicates the chemical and physical
A. Mt. Makiling, Los Baños
properties of the soil in different study a. Natural Stand 4.6 0.35 7.43 0.9 6.59 Loam
areas. b. Man-made plantation 4.8 0.33 3.37 0.78 6.59 Silt-loam

Summary B. Pagbilao, Quezon

a. Natural Stand 4.2 0.13 1.35 0.63 2.64 Clay-loam
Man-made plantation of rattan showed
b. Man-made plantation 4.7 0.12 1.14 0.24 2.3 Loam
higher height growth increment in all the
climatic types than the natural stand. C. Puerto Princesa, Palawan
This might be due to the relatively a. Natural Stand 4.5 0.19 1.419 0.13 3.92 Sandy-clay
greater exposure of rattan to light in Loam
man-made plantation than in natural D. Baybay, Leyte
stand in secondary forest. It was also a. Natural Stand 4.2 0.63 1.21 0.48 12.55 Sandy-loam
observed that the growth increment was b. Man-made plantation 5.0 0.44 4.21 7.0 8.30 Sandy-loam
directly proportional to the height class
of rattan. That is, the higher the height of
rattan, the greater the growth increment. of rainfall and the physical and chemical uniform monthly rainfall—greater
properties of the soil. Palasan and amount of nitrogen, potassium, and
Other factors that affected the growth ditaan in Baybay, Leyte (CT4)—which is organic matter was observed in the soil,
performance of rattan were the amount

)
characterized by relatively

) page
page 11
10

January - February 2002 CANOPY International 7

 Sustainable management of Sampaloc Lake:
Some policy issues
Aurora S. Jose

W e have about 59 natural

lakes in the country. Some
experts consider these lakes
as potential solution to the prevailing
chronic water shortage in the country.
● The lake has become shallower.
● The water has been polluted with
domestic wastes and feed residues
from fishpens.
● Native species of shrimp, carpa,
Management issues
The Sampaloc Lake ecosystem is under
stress primarily due to exploitative use
of the water resource, pollution, and
weak implementation of existing policies
However, certain human activities dalag, tilapia, to mention a few, have to protect and rehabilitate the lake.
interfere with the natural life of the lakes, disapperared.
depleting them the capacity to support ● The extent and frequency of fishkill The policy that sets the allowable
life. in January and December has standard size of fishpens (100 sq m) in
aggravated. the lake has not been implemented yet.
Sampaloc Lake in San Pablo City (in ● Water hyacinth has begun to Also, no proper identification of fishpen/
Laguna Province), which is also known increase, encroaching across the cage operators has been done to
as the “City of Seven Lakes”, sits at the lake. determine the legitimate/bona fide
heart of the metropolis. It is the premier ● The water has begun to exude foul beneficiaries or those allowed to legally
and the biggest of the seven lakes, with odor due to decaying water hyacinth. operate on the lake.
a surface area of 104 ha and a
maximum depth of Fortunately, some
27 m. concerned citizens
mustered into the
With its so-called “Bantay
socioeconomic and Lawa” or Lakewatch
ecological movement. Bantay
importance, there is Lawa aims to assist
a need to monitor concerned
and evaluate how government
Sampaloc Lake is agencies in the
being managed and sustainable
developed. Hence, a management of
policy research was Sampaloc Lake. It
conducted seems, however,
specifically to that a strong political
determine and will is the most
examine major efficient and cost-
issues and concerns effective tool to
on the sustainable mitigate the
management of the worsening condition
lake. Major issues of the water
included: (a) the resource.
capacity of the local people along the ● The number of redidential houses Rehabilitation of the lake, pollution
lakeshore to sustain the benefits they and other infrastructures such as control, and environmental education/
derive from the lake and the integrity of restaurants and small eateries has campaign seem to be long-term
the lake ecosystem; (b) the need to increased. solutions.
enforce existing regulations and related ● The population growth rate along the
laws on the rehabilitation, protection, lakeshore has increased. Some policy interventions
and conservation of the lake; (c) the ● Aquaculture technology has The local government, nongovernment
nature of policy interventions that increased in number (e.g. carp cage organizations, and other sociocivic and
support for the sustainable management culture, hybrid tilapia culture). religious organizations initiated the
of the lake. ● Loss of vegetation around the relocation of the residents along the
lakeshore has caused heavy siltation lakeshore. Constructed were 184
Recent scenario on the lake. houses for the legitimate lakeshore
Interviews conducted among lakeshore ● Springs around the lake have dwellers. Under the nontransferable
residents and fisherfolks provided disappeared. contract, the residents have to pay
interesting information on the status of P150/month for the lot for 25 years.
Sampaloc Lake. Trainings on alternative livelihood

) page 11

8 CANOPY International January - February 2002

Tree domestication… from page 5
shoot production for eventual vegetative
propagation were also done.
Kalantas (Toona clanatas), amugis
(Koordersiodendron pinnatum [Blanco]
Merr.), supa (Sindora supa Merr.),
almaciga (Agathis philippinensis), and
ipil (Intsia bijuga [Colebr.] O. Kuntze)
were planted alongside red lauan
(Shorea negronensis Foxw.),
dalingdingan (Hopea foxworthyi),
tanguile (S. polysperma [Blanco] Merr.),
guijo (S. guiso [Blanco] Blume), bagtikan
(Parashorea malaanonan [Blanco]
Merr.), white lauan (S. contorta),
palosapis (A. thurifera [Blanco] Blume
spp. thurifera), and gisok-gisok (H.
philippinensis Dyer). Initial spacing was
1 m x 1 m. However, when VGL Farms
converted the area into plantation, some
stockplants (I.e. individual trees planted
in the hedge garden) were balled and
transferred to other areas to maintain a
2-m x 2-m spacing. Weeding, watering,
and pest/disease monitoring were done
regularly.
The growth performance of these
species served as an indicator for the
suitability of species in the area. It was a
small species trial providing baseline
information as to the capability of the
species to adapt to the conditions of
Lantapan, Bukidnon.
Field trial plantation
In 1999, established rooted cuttings of
dipterocarps, namely, gisok-gisok,
palosapis, guijo, white lauan, red lauan,
apitong, dagang, almon, narig, and
bagtikan were eventually planted on the
farm at a 2-m x 2-m spacing. Seedlings
of tanguile (S. polysperma), white lauan
(S. contorta), muzizi (Maesopsis eminii),
igem (Dectycarpus imbricatus [Blume]
de Laub. var. patulus de Lamb.),
almaciga (Agathis philippinensis),
malakawayan, ipil (Intsia bijuga), pili
(Canarium ovatum Engl.), mahogany
(Swietenia macrophylla King),
Eucalyptus torillana, and narra
(Pterocarpus indicus) were also planted
with the same spacing.
So far, 1,155 indigenous trees have
been planted around the property.
Intensive maintenance activities,
specially manual brushing, were done to
ensure that climbers and weeds would
not overtop trees planted.
January - February 2002
Grasses were clipped at ground level to
prevent excessive moisture loss during
summer and soil erosion during the
rainy season. Planted trees were
constantly pruned to maintain only one
leader shoot and to arrest the
development of multiple shoots.
VGL Farms also used decayed organic
materials on the farm, consisting of
chicken dung and other animal wastes;
kitchen refuse; leaves, branches and
twigs of different tree species; and
clipped grasses, as fertilizer.
Species performance
E. torillana outgrew all the other trees
planted at the same time or earlier (like
dipterocarps, mahogany, and gmelina),
followed by muzizi. Outstanding
performance of tanguile collected from
Leyte had an average height of 183 cm
and diameter of 2-2.5 cm in plantation
two years after outplanting. The Surigao
tanguile was surprisingly stunted with
an average height growth of 45.7-61 cm
and a diameter of 0.3-0.4 cm. The
growth of white lauan from Subic,
Olongapo, Zambales was also
outstanding with an average diameter of
2.0-2.5 cm after two years.
Problems encountered
Identification of indigenous species
collected was quite difficult despite
comparison with illustrations in
reference materials. At times, pressed
leaf samples were brought to ERDB and
UP Los Baños for identification.
Treatments to enhance germination of
ulayan, the Philippine oak, mangkono,
and some other species were found to
be extremely necessary, especially that
these are rare and hard to collect.
For the rooted cuttings, choice of potting
media, frequency of watering, and
elimination of fungal infection were the
main problems. Appropriate
temperature of rooting medium for most
cuttings in a cold place like Songco still
had to be identified.
Manual brushing was the most
demanding maintenance activity that
took up most of the time for almost
three years for the fast-growing species
until after the planted trees have
overgrown the weeds. Thereafter, strip
brushing could already be enough.
All mahogany trees, 183-244 cm in
height, were attacked by shoot borer,
resulting in the forking of the main stem.
Concluding note
Biodiversity conservation and
sustainable development with emphasis
on forest genetic resources
conservation can be done through the
domestication of rare and endangered/
threatened forest tree species. The
outstanding growth of indigenous
dipterocarp species, namely, white
lauan from Subic and tanguile from
Leyte made them the best choice of
species for the area, in addition to the
fast-growing exotics, E. torillana, and
muzizi. The nonmist system of
vegetative propagation developed for
the dipterocarps was proven applicable
even for nondipterocarps such as
almaciga and molave which are hard to
propagate. It also worked well even
under low temperatures of the Lantapan
area.
References
Leakey, R.R.B. 1991. Towards a strategy for
clonal forestry: Some guidelines based on
experience with tropical trees. In J.E.
Jackson (ed), Tree breeding and
improvement. Royal Forestry Society of
England, Wales, and Northern Ireland,
Tring, Herts, United Kingdom. pp. 27-42.
__________ and A.J. Simons. 1997. When
does vegetative propagation provide a
viable alternative to propagation by seed in
forestry and agroforestry in tropical and
subtropical countries? In Problem of
forestry in tropical and subtropical
countries— the procurement of forestry
seed: The example of Kenya. H. Wolf.
(ed). Ecomed Publishers, Landsberg/Lech
Germany.
Simons, A.J. 1997. Domestication and
commercialization of nontimber forest
products in agroforestry systems. In R.R.
B. Leakey, A.B. Temu, M. Melnyk, and P.
Vantomme (eds) FAO Technical Paper,
Nonwood forest products # 9. Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy. 297 pp.
Utama, R., D. Rantan, W. de Jong, and S.
Budhi. 1999. Income generation through
rehabilitation of Imperata grasslands:
production of Vitex pubescens as a source
of charcoal, pp. 175-184. In J.M. Roshetko
and D.O. Evans (eds) Domestication of
agroforestry trees in Southeast Asia.
Forest, Farm, and Community Tree
Research Reports, Special Issue. 242 pp.
The author is Senior Science Research
Specialist at the Upland Farms
Ecosystem Research Division, ERDB.
CANOPY International 9
Rainforestation… from page 4
College of Agriculture or ViSCA) in
Baybay, Leyte, it was fitting for the
DENR Rainforestation Core Group
(created through DENR Special Order
No. 2004-356) to have a cross-visit at
LSU and the pilot areas.
LSU’s case studies on raiforestation
farming were applied in private lands in
cooperation with the lot owners. Four
farms, one managed by a farmers’
association and three by individual
farmers, were visited. One cooperator,
Mr. Macario H. Romano, had his 1.2-ha
lot planted with a mixture of white lauan
(Shorea contorta), red lauan (S.
negronensis), panau (Dipterocarpus
gracilis), bagtikan (Parashorea
malaanonan), almaciga (Agathis
philippinensis), agoho del monte
(Gymnostoma rumphianum),
interspersed with fruit trees like
rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum),
mangoesteen (Garcinia mangostana),
mango (Mangifera indica), and durian
(Durio zibethinus). Underneath these
trees were pineapples. There were also
tall coconut palms which have been
already existing before these plants
were introduced and which provided the
shade for the less tolerant dipterocarps.
Before the rainforestation farming was
introduced in 1995, the area was,
according to Mr. Romano, dominated by
ferns.
In another farm, where the
rainforestation farming strategy was
applied in 1995, income began to be
realized three years later (1998), from
the harvest of fruits (rambutan and
pineapple) and root crop (Dioscorea
alata). By 2001, other plants like marang
(Artocarpus odoratissimus), santol
(Sandoricum koetjape), guyabano
(Annona muricata), cacao (Theobroma
cacao), durian, and mangosteen were
yielding fruits. Capital investments and
production, operating, and harvesting
costs in this 0.3-ha lot owned by Mr.
Manuel B. Posas of Barangay Marcos,
Baybay, Leyte, reached P44,488 from
1995 to 2003 as against the previous
income of P26,685, according to a study
being conducted by Mr. Marlito M.
Bande, a researcher at LSU. The
farmer’s capital investment is, however,
expected to be recovered in a few years
as income increases from the sales of
more harvests, including firewood and
10 CANOPY International
timber from such forest trees as white
lauan, molave (Vitex parviflora),
bagalunga (Melia dubia), kalumpit
(Terminalia microcarpa).
The LSU has also established its own
rainforestation demonstration farm
within its domain—at the then Forest
Research Institute’s (now ERDB)
experimental forest. This 2.66-ha farm
consists of more than 10,000 timber and
nontimber plants belonging to 263
species. Notable in the area are the big-
diameter white lauan and the long-
caned rattans (Calamus merrillii and C.
ornatus), which, according to Mr.
Antonio Fernandez of LSU, were
planted in 1980 and 1981, respectively.
Personal observations and
suggestions
The pilot areas in private lands
established by LSU could well be show
windows for the rainforestation farming
strategy and the consequential
attainment of its objectives as these
were given due technical, and probably,
some material assistance to start with.
Besides, the accessibility of the areas
and the needed care and maintenance
accorded by the cooperators to their
farms were certainly prime contributors
to the initial success of development. It
would, however, take some more time
to test the viability of these
undertakings, particularly in providing a
stable and higher income to the
farmers.
There is no doubt about the capability of
the rainforestation strategy to enhance
local biodiversity as it advocates the use
of endemic and indigenous species
interplanted with agricultural crops, fruit
trees, and timber and nontimber species
(though it does not give clear
percentage of the number of species to
be planted within a given area).
Furthermore, its role as a buffer zone
could be firmed up if more
rainforestation areas are established,
protected, and managed sustainably
around identified protected areas and
forestlands.
A farmer’s enthusiasm in this endeavor
can last for as long as he/she gets
something from it to immediately
address his/her day-to-day sustenance.
Thus, to forestall an early fading away
of interest and immature harvest of the
long-rotation forest tree crops (that
could close the canopy and prevent
planting underneath of shade-intolerant,
early-yielding crops), an alternative
livelihood should be at hand. Moreover,
continuous technical assistance and
education campaign on the merits of the
rainforestation strategy should be done
by responsible persons and agencies.
On the other hand, the adoption of this
concept by the government for
application in protected areas and other
forestlands may be limited to the
planting of endemic and indigenous
species except in areas convered by
tenurial instruments that allow
harvesting and utilization of such. In
protected areas, the rainforestation
farming strategy could be applied in the
restoration zones, as well as in the
multiple-use and buffer zones. Unlike in
the private land, though, care and
maintenance of the crops may not be
that satisfactory considering the limited
funds from the government and the
relatively distant locations of these
forestlands.
Nonetheless, rainforestation farming, as
has been conceived, should be also
pilot-tested and studied in suitable
forestlands to establish its contribution
to rehabilitation, biodiversity promotion,
and sustenance of human food
production.
References
Department of Environment and Natural
Resources. 2004. Guidelines in the
integration of rainforestation farming
strategy in the development of open and
denuded areas within protected areas and
other appropriate foreslands.
Memorandum Circular No. 06, Series of
2004.
Ong, P.S., L.E. Afuang, and R.G. Rosell-Amball
(eds.) 2002. Philippine biodiversity
conservation priorities: A second iteration
of the National Biodiversity Strategy and
action plan. DENR-PAWB, Conservation
International Philippines, Biodiversity
Conservation Program-UP Center for
Integrative and Development Studies, and
Foundation for the Phil. Environment,
Quezon City, Philippines.
Republic Act No. 7686. 1992. An act providing
for the establishment and management of
National Integrated Protected Areas
System, defining its scope and coverage,
and for other purposes. June 19.
The author is Supervising Science
Research Specialist at the Forest
Ecosystem Research Division, ERDB.
January - February 2002
Editorial… from page 1
A first step toward doing that is to ban
the production of CFCs which are used
to make plastic foam and as coolants in
refrigerators and air conditioners. These
gases account for an estimated 15% of
the greenhouse effect. Another strategy
is to burn as much methane as possible.
That would add CO2 to the air, but
getting rid of the methane is well worth
it. Methane from cattle feedlots is quite
difficult to collect, but the gas in garbage
landfills is already being tapped and
burned at many sites around the
Tiger grass… from page 2
open areas. Today, however, tiger-grass
farming could be done under Benguet
pine stand. With this method, the
production and development of panicles
takes longer time.
Concluding note
Tiger-grass farming is feasible and
viable under Benguet pine stand. This
Rattan… from page 7
making it slightly acidic (pH 5). Sandy-
loam soil gave the highest height growth
increment during the 32-month
observation (Table 3). However, among
the sites observed, the man-made
plantation of limuran in Pagbilao,
Quezon (CT2) gave the highest height
growth increment.
Conclusion and recommendation
Amid the problem besetting the rattan
industry, results of the study might be
useful in predicting output for specific
growing and harvesting period. Whereas
the results seem promising, further study
should be conducted to ascertain the
growth behavior of rattan. The study
could be prolonged to elicit more
Sampaloc Lake… from page 8
opportunities would also be conducted
to encourage entrepreneurship among
the people and to lessen the pressure
on lakewater resource. In addition,
infrastructure (both residential and
business) around the lake would
likewise be demolished accordingly.
January - February 2002
U.S. and in other countries.
Another step that could be taken to
counteract global warming is to slow—
and ideally stop—deforestation. But that
is an enormously complex task, and so
a simple accompanying strategy should
be adopted at the same time. That is,
the launching of a mammoth nationwide
tree-planting program for trees to
absorb CO2 from the air. Tree planting
can be encouraged at all levels of
society, from individuals putting an extra
tree or two in their backyards, to local
communities and private
can provide several benefits to upland
farmers and the environment: (a) a
livelihood option/opportunity; (b) a
source of raw materials for making soft
brooms and other handicrafts; (c) a tool
for the management of pine forest and
protection from forest fires; (d) a good
soil cover and a crop to maximize land
use; and (e) the leaves left after
harvesting serve as forage for cattle.
empirical pattern of its growth and
development. Exposure to various light
intensities and fertilizer application
could be closely examined to determine
better their effect on the species.
Furthermore, planting rattan along with
other forest plant species could be
tested to come up with species
compatibility. This will be helpful to
small farmers and other interested
parties who would like to plant rattan
along with other agricultural and/or
forest crops. Uncertainties of success
due to site condition (I.e. climatic,
edaphic, and biotic factors) would be
normalized as height growth increments
in a particular site (similar to the areas
observed in this research endeavor)
have already been demonstrated. As
such, interested parties could dwell on
Other proposed interventions
● Promoting intensive educational and
information campaign on the
protection and conservation of the
lake.
● Promoting Sampaloc Lake as
ecotourism spot and educational
tour destination.
● Limiting the destructive and
overexploitative aquaculture
activities.
organizations planting a hectare/an acre
at a time, to provincial and national
governments reforesting on a more
widespread basis.
However, trees are just a stopgap.
Unless a tree is used for lumber, it
eventually dies and rots or is burned,
releasing whatever CO2 it has
absorbed. But since the rapid pace of
change may be the greatest danger
posed by global warming, stopgaps
could be important. If nothing else can,
reforestation will but time to put other
preventive measures into place.
Reference
Noble, B.F. 1991. Tiger-grass farming in
Cordillera. The Cordillera Gangza. Vol. 3
No. 1, Jan-April. pp. 25-30.
The author is Senior Science
Research Specialist at the ERDS,
DENR-CAR.
this result and prepare for the
establishment of their own rattan
plantations.
References
Cadiz, R.T. 1988. Growth assessment of rattan
in existing natural stands and man-made
plantations. Annual Report PCARRD-
IRDC Rattan Project (Unpublished),
ERDB-DENR, College, Laguna,
Philippines.
Forest Management Bureau. 2001. Forestry
Statistics. Philippines.
Palaypayon, W.R. and R.T. Cadiz. 1988. Rattan
production at the village level. PCARRD
Technology Bulletin, Vol. 10 No. 2. Los
Baños, Laguna, Philippines.
The author is Senior Science Research
Specialist at the Upland Farms
Ecosystem Research Division, ERDB.
● Encouraging the conduct of research
and development projects and
activities that would improve the
water quality of the lake and
promote its sustainable use.
The author is Science Research
Specialist II at the Forest Ecosystem
Research Division, ERDB.
CANOPY International 11
 EDITORIAL BOARD Earthwatch
Celso P. Diaz
captured from the atmosphere and
Executive Adviser Praxedes L. Silvoza
stored underground, or captured in the
soil in the U.S.
Vicente R. Cabrera

Executive Editor
EDITORIAL STAFF
Gloria R. Diokno
Editor
Carlo B. Castillo
Associate Editor
Layout Artist
Colorist
BUSINESS STAFF
Flora B. Palicpic
Circulation Manager
Eduardo M. Tolentino
Circulation Assistant
Canopy International is published bi-monthly by
the Ecosystems Research and Development
Bureau (ERDB) of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, Republic of
the Philippines.
Canopy International seeks to promote the
global communication and exchange of
information on issues and developments
affecting the equitable utilization of natural
resources and sustainable management of the
environment.
Canopy International accepts contributions for
publication but reserves the right to edit such
contributions. Only unsolicited manuscripts
accompanied by self-stamped and self-
addressed envelope will be returned.
Contributions must be accompanied with a brief
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No contents of this publication may be
reproduced, in part or in whole, without prior
permission from the publisher, except for
purposes of review and citation, provided a copy
of such review or citation is sent to the publisher.
S
oot, the black dust emitted from
diesel engine, is the major cause of
global warming, second only to
carbon dioxide and may cause as much
as 30% of the climate change (known as
the greenhouse effect), according to
researchers at Stanford University in
California.
*****
Despite uncertainty about the processes
involved in global warming, UN
Intergovernment Panel reaffirms its
earlier conclusion that an average
increase in temperature of 1.5oC and
3.5oC is likely over the next 100 years.
*****
The dimensions of acid rain problem are
growing rapidly in Asia, with sulfur
dioxide emissions expected to rise as
much as triple from 1990 levels by 2020
if current trends continue, says the World
Resources Institute.
*****
Increased levels of untraviolet radiation
reaching the Earth as the ozone layer
thins may weaken immunities, thus
causing an increase in certain infectious
diseases, according to a UN report.
*****
The United States generates about 5.8
billion tons of carbon dioxide a year. U.S.
officials estimate that up to 250 billion
tons of carbon dioxide could be
*****
Air quality in several Asian cities such
as Jakarta and Manila does not meet
standards set by the World Health
Organization and two-thirds of the
800,000 people who die globally from
air pollution every year are from the
region, says the Clean Air Initiative for
Asian cities.
*****
A study by Queensland University
Centre for Marine says that Australia’s
Great Barrier Reef will lose most of its
coral cover by 2050. At worst, the
world’s largest coral system could
collapse by 2100 because of global
warming.
*****
Air pollution in the smoggiest U.S. cities
dropped 10% during the past decade,
the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) reports. Still, 74 million people live
in cities that fail to meet federal clean air
standards.
*****
According to a World Bank report,
Katmandu in Nepal tops the list of 17
Asian cities with dirtiest air, followed by
New Delhi. Jakarta, and Chongquing
(China’s second largest city) share the
third place.
The compiler is Librarian II of the ERDB.

Views expressed herein are of the author(s) and

do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher
or editors.

Canopy International was entered as second-

class mail in College, Laguna, PHILIPPINES on
30 May 2003 (Permit No. 2003-7).

Environmental concerns
affect us first where we
live, in our homes and
communities.
World Resources Institute
1992 Environmental Almanac

12 CANOPY International January - February 2002