Browsing by Author "Koffa, Samuel"

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    Comparative growth performance of eight tropical tree species on sites of varying altitudinal gradients in Lantapan
    Koffa, Samuel; Garrity, Dennis P.; Ngugi, M. (Bukidnon, Philippines: International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, 2000)
    Introduced on sits of varying altitudes, the growth response of 21-month-old plots of Acacia mangium, Albizia lebbekoides, Eucalyptus robusta, Rucalyptus torilliana, Gmelina arborea, Paraserianthes falcataria, Pterocarpus indicus and Swientenia macrophylla was investigated and determined. At each site and across sites, species differed significantly in height and diameter growth. These differences were an indication of genotype x environment interaction which was reflective of magnitude of species-site specificity. Altitude influenced species performance significantly through its effect on the nutrient availability and temperature of experimental sites. The quantities of Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphors and Potassium decreased with increased altitude, and percent Nitrogen, organic carbon and organic matter increased with increased altitude.
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    Creating space for interactive participation of grassroots organizations in research and devolved management of critical resources towards conservation and development: Emerging lessons and issues from Lantapan
    Koffa, Samuel (2001)
    This paper describes a strategy that draws its strength from training and participatory research approaches and methodologies not only to increase income and food flows, but also to improve the socioeconomic conditions of grassroots households as well as address aspects of vulnerability. It focuses on trees and tree seed (and other tree products) as a store of wealth that supports rural livelihoods and encourages conservation and devolved management of the critical natural resource base. Trees, and tree products are discussed in the context of agroforestry systems and component technologies designed to increase income, improve productivity and cultivate conservation ethics.
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    Grassroots empowerment and sustainability in the management of critical natural resources: The Agroforestry Tree Seed Association of Lantapan
    Koffa, Samuel; Garrity, Dennis P. (Los Baños, Philippines: Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development, 2001)
    The strategy that was implemented involved continuous interaction between researchers and farmers during the identification, testing and extension of agroforestry technologies. This enabled us to establish a strong partnership with farmer partners, understand their practices and find ways to improve and enhance such practices. Our strategy also included assisting a grassroots organization through capacity building to support the projects research and extension activities and build a
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    Growth response of six tropical tree species to fertilizer and fertilization methods on sites of varying altitudinal gradients in Lantapan
    Koffa, Samuel; Garrity, Dennis P.; Nguigi, M. (Bukidnon, Philippines: International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, 2000)
    Seedlings of Albizia lebbekoides, Eucalyptus robusta, Eucalyptus torilliana, Gmelina arborea, Pterocarpus indicus, and Swientenia macrophylla were fertilized, outplanted and maintained on 3 sites of varying altitudes (470 masl, 780 masl, 1330masl) on-farm in upland villages for 21 months. Side-dressing and controlled release served as fertilizer treatments.Statistically significant differences in the measured traits, plant height and diameter, were noted between fertilized and non-fertilized plots of E. robusta, G. arborea and S.macrophylla. No significant differences were observed of fertilized and non-fertilized plots of A. lebbekoides, E. torilliana and P indicus on one hand, and between the fertilization methods on the other. Altitude, a major topographic factor, influenced plant response to fertilizer by its effect on soil temperature and the chemical and physical proprieties of soil. Temperature and quantities of Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Potassium decreased with increased altitude, while organic carbon and organic matter increased. Other factors which affected plant response to fertilization were the age of growth and
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    Innovations in participatory watershed resource management to conserve tropical biodiveristy
    Garrity, Dennis P.; Amoroso, V.; Koffa, Samuel; Catacutan, Delia C. (Los Baños, Philippines: Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development, 2001)
    This paper reviews the experience of the Biodiversity Consortium at the Philippine site in conducting research to develop tools and approaches to improve biodiversity conservation with the active involvement of the communities that live near the Mt. Kitanglad Range Nature Park. The following section discusses the global setting of Integrated Conservation Development Projects (ICDP) , highlights some of the key lessons learned so far, and proposes a theoretical framework. The subsequent sections review the SANREM experience in developing methods for achieving conservation with development in the Manupali watershed. The conclusion summarizes the progress observed and remaining limitations. It discusses future directions for integrated conservation-development in this location, and more.
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    Integrated natural resources management on the poverty-protection interface in an Asian watershed
    Garrity, Dennis P.; Amoroso, V.; Koffa, Samuel; Catacutan, Delia C.; Buenavista, Gladys; Fay, P.; Dar, W. (2001)
    There are serious methodological and policy hurdles to be overcome in effective integrated natural resource management that alleviated poverty while protecting environmental services in tropical watershed. We review the development of an approach to integrate biodiversity conservation and agroforestry development through the active involvement of communities and their local governments. The work focused on the Kitangaland Range Nature Park in the upper reaches of the Manuplai watershed in central Mindanao, Philippines. Agroforestry innovations were developed to suit the biophysical and socio-economic conditions off the buffer zone, including practices for tree farming and conservation farming with annual crops. Institutional innovations improved resource management, resulting in an effective social contract to protect the natural biodiversity of the Park. Natural vegetative contour strips were installed on several hundred sloping farms. Stream corridor vegetation was restored by the local Landcare groups. The practices decreased soil erosion and runoff, while the buffer strips increased maize yields by an average of 0.5 t/ha on hill slope farms. Fruit and timber tree production dramatically increased, re-establishing tree cover in the buffer zone. The scientific knowledge base guided the development and implementation of a natural resource management plan for the Municipality of Lantapan. A dynamic grassroots movement of farmer-led Landcare groups evolved in the villages near the park boundary. It has had significant impact on natural resource conservation in both the natural and managed ecosystem. Encroachment in the natural park has been rescued 95% in the past four years. This integrated approach has been recognized as a national model for local natural resource management planning and watershed management in the Philippines. Currently, the collaborating institutions are evolving a negotiation support system to resolve the interactions between the three management domains: The park: the ancestral domain claim, and the municipalities. The consortium that evolved this integrated systems approach operated effectively with highly constrained funding, suggesting that commitment and impact may best be stimulated by a drip-feed approach rather than by large, externally funded efforts.
  • Landcare on the poverty-protection interface in an Asian watershed
    Garrity, Dennis P.; Amoroso, V.; Koffa, Samuel; Catacutan, Delia C.; Buenavista, Gladys; Fay, C.; Dar, W. (Waterloo, Ont.: Resilience Alliance Publications, 2002)
    This paper presents an integrated approach to natural resource management (INRM) that addresses both conservation of biodiversity and development to increase incomes and well-being in impoverished, fragile regions. The new approach suggested by the authors focuses on grass-roots movements to increase sustainable development. In the case study region, which is situated in the buffer zone of the Kitanglad Range Natural Park in the Manupali watershed, central Mindanao, the Philippines, there was successful widespread implementation of tree farming and conservation farming agroforestry techniques. The growth of fruit tree and timber farming increased tree cover in the buffer zone, and the use of buffer strips both decreased soil erosion and runoff and increased crop productivity. Local farmer-led Landcare groups helped to enhance conservation, restoring stream-corridor vegetation and contributing significantly to the 95% decrease of encroachment in the national park over three years. To resolve the overlapping, sometimes conflicting, management roles of the park, the ancestral domain claims of the indigenous people, and the local governments, the involved institutions are now developing a negotiation support system. The INRM applied to this region can serve as a national model for sustainable local natural resource and watershed management. The success of this approach, which worked with a very limited budget, suggests that projects based on high local commitment and involvement with "drip-feed" funding are preferable to large projects with generous external funding.
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    The market and marketing situation for smallholder-produced trees and tree products in Lantapan: A preliminary analysis
    Koffa, Samuel; Garrity, Dennis P. (2000)
    An overall demand for a product at a given place and time under specific conditions constitutes a market (FAO 1996). Kohls and Uhl (1980) define marketing as a system of alternative product flows called marketing channels, a variety of firms and numerous business activities. Some of the aspects of markets and marketing about which other excellent papers have been written include pre-sale and marketing procedures (Cruz et al 1993), market development (Francisco and Sumalde 1993, Pabuayom 1993), demand and market potential (Priasukmana and Dwiprabow 1990), market information and price structure (Hammet 1998, Rivera et al 1993) and production and marketing (FA)
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    Marketing smallholder-produced agroforestry trees and tree products in Lantapan
    Koffa, Samuel; Garrity, Dennis P. (2000)
    An objective of participatory tree domestication research and extension initiatives in Lantapan, a municipality of 14 villages in southern Philippines, is to create an environment that would enable small-scale, capital-limited farmers (smallholders) to incorporate trees into their farming systems that are located in the margins of a national park and within the boundaries of a critical watershed. Market-related variables such as declined prices of smallholder-produced timber and other tree products are a potential disincentive in the quest to engender a tree-growing culture among farmers. However, productivity, conservation and the capacity to generate income can be enhanced and sustained by improved marketing systems (Kamara & von Oppen 1999, FAO 1996, Dewees and Sexena 1995). Attempts towards improved living standards for the world s most underprivileged and impoverished group of people, smallholders, will make a positive impact if they facilitate development of efficient marketing systems.