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STCBF Project on Gmelina to increase farmers’ income and contribute to environmental services in Region 2

There is a shortage in Gmelina raw materials for the furniture industry in Region 2. This is due to the wide gap between supply and demand, which is aggravated by the implementation of Executive Order (EO) No. 23, also known as Logging Moratorium. The moratorium restricts the cutting of trees in primary and secondary forests to protect the diminishing supply of premium and other commercial timbers including Gmelina trees from natural-growth forest.

With this development, Gmelina arborea, a fast growing Industrial Tree Plantations Species (ITPS), will be the sole source of raw materials for the furniture industry in the Cagayan Valley.

A three-year project on “S&T Community-based Farm (STCBF) project on Gmelina” will serve as a model in the establishment of Industrial Tree Plantations (ITPs) in Region 02 with Yemane (Gmelina arborea) as main commodity.

The project will be led by the Isabela State University (ISU) College of Forestry and Environmental Management-Upland Resources and Development Center in coordination with the farmer/community leaders and LGU representatives from Cabagan, Isabela.

The STCBF aims to increase the income of Gmelina upland farmers in Isabela by enabling them to be more productive. It also aims to contribute to the environmental services through the adoption of science and technology interventions in Industrial Tree Farming (ITF).

The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) continues to demonstrate its commitment to push for continuous economic growth through S&T interventions.

S&T interventions introduced in the project are site specific nutrient management, use of genetically superior planting materials, use of indigenous microorganisms (IMOs) and mycorrhiza technology, intercropping, and application of silvicultural treatments.

It is expected that the implementation of these interventions would increase the quality and quantity of trees to be harvested, increase the income of farmers in Gmelina Model Farms in Isabela, and contribute to environmental services to achieve a prosperous and more climate resilient upland communities in Region 2 (Marizina B. Javier and Yolanda M. Tanyag, DOST-PCAARRD Media Services).

DOST-PCAARRD nods on project to document gall rust disease in Falcata trees in ComVal Province

Gall rust disease in various tree species has been a long-time problem in the Philippines, especially in areas covered with forest tree plantations. To resolve this, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) recently approved a project to prevent the spread of gall rust disease in Falcata tree species.

Titled, “The Use of Geospatial Analysis of Gall Rust in Falcata to determine disease occurrence in Compostela Valley, Philippines,” the project is implemented by the University of Southeastern Philippines.

Gall rust is an air-borne fungal disease caused by Uromycladium falcatarium. An infected falcata tree can spread the disease to an entire plantation when not treated immediately. Indication of the disease is the formation of “galls” or swelling on stems and branches. This results in widespread loss of leaves and other parts of the tree crown, and eventually death of the tree.

According to Project Leader Nympha Branzuela, with the help of geospatial analysis, they will be able to assess the extent of gall rust damage and determine the influence of biophysical factors to the prevalence of gall rust in the province. The collected data can be used to establish field trial planting employing various control measures to prevent further spread of the disease.

Classified under PCAARRD’s strategic R&D banner program, the project envisions to address disease problems on falcata plantations and restore environmental conditions among forestlands/timberlands in the country. The project will run for two years and will be closely monitored by DOST-PCAARRD (Eirene Grace C. Zaragoza, DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Services)