Agroforestry model farms have been established in community-based forest management areas in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) Region, the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) has disclosed.
The DOST-PCAARRD said its funded project that aims to build resilient and sustainable community-based forest management areas continues to reap accomplishments in its second-year implementation.
The accomplishments of the project were reported during the monitoring and evaluation activity of the Council, led by its Technology Transfer and Promotion Division (TTPD).
The three-year “Agroforestry Support Program for Enhancing Resiliency of Community-Based Forest Management Areas (ASPIRE-CBFM)” is spearheaded by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).
The Council noted that ASPIRE-CBFM has three project components in four CBFM sites in Calabarzon: Liliw, Laguna; Rosario and Magallanes, Cavite; and Infanta, Quezon.
“One of the accomplishments of the project is the establishment of agroforestry model farms based on the local adaptive capacity and biophysical conditions of the CBFM sites,” it said.
“These include the vegetable-based agroforestry systems in Liliw, Laguna; fruit tree-based agroforestry systems in Rosario, and Magallanes, Cavite; and Aquasilviculture system in Infanta, Quezon were growing various aquatic produce such as king crab, samaral and milkfish.”
The PCAARRD cited that the project team from Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-ERDB) stepped up to come up with baseline data on the ecological status of the CBFM sites.
The team developed biophysical profiles on soil erosion, water quality and quantity, and carbon stock through coordination with other concerned agencies, reconnaissance survey, field data gathering (soil and water samples collection, flora and fauna assessment, spatial survey) and laboratory analyses, it said.
The PCAARRD reported the installation of one Local Government Unit Information Dissemination System (LGUIDS) and three automated rain gauges by the DOST-IV-A to strengthen the capacity of beneficiaries towards sustainability and resiliency.
Also expected to be installed for the CBFM sites are Early Warning System (EWS) and Water level Monitoring System (WLMS).