Sunday, April 20, 2014

Ecological Succession


ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION
by Antonio C. Antonio
February 4, 2014

“Most of our large-scale reforestation projects are funded through government loans from international banks, hence as citizens, we are all co-debtors. In what way can knowledge in the current stage of ecological succession be helpful in reforestation activities? Discuss its implication on site-species matching (choosing the survivable species depending on site quality), tending/maintenance cost, and probable survival rate of planting materials.” (Professor Renato A. Folledo, Jr.)

There have been a few disturbances in the Philippine landscape in the last 25 years that could be considered as primary succession.  Notable among which is the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 that covered most of Central Luzon with ash.  The subsequent lahar that changed the flow/stream of the river systems in Tarlac, Pampanga and Zambales can also be included in this disturbance regime.  But if we visit these places now, there is hardly a trace of Mt. Pinatubo’s devastating eruption.  Other forms of disturbance --- floods, landslides and storm surge --- can be considered secondary succession since the presence of soil, which is the primary catalyst for ecological succession, is still present.

Our country is truly blessed to be strategically located in the tropical rain forest belt.  The annual rainfall and weather system are ideal in promoting a year-round growth for trees, plants and vegetation.  The survivability of plants is above the normally accepted standards and most plant and tree species can grow anywhere.  I would drive along EDSA almost daily and could not help but notice plants grow out of the joints, cracks and crevices of the MRT wall.  This is a testimony to how easy it is to plant anything anywhere in this country and be assured of their survival.  It is also said that while other countries would labour to grow plants, we Filipinos could just simply throw away the seeds of our favourite fruit in our backyard and, before we even realize it, we already have an orchard.  Selecting tree species for a particular area, planting costs and survivability in this country is not much of a problem than the actual act of planting trees.

The single-biggest reforestation program at present is the National Greening Program (NGP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).  From what I’ve heard, it has a PhP 5 billion funding.  I could not be certain, however, if this is actually a loan from international lending institutions. But judging from the budget the DENR has been getting from the GAA in the last three years, it is more likely that the PhP 5 billion is a loan.  And if it’s a loan, then there is a real reason to get alarmed since, as Sir Jun mentioned, “we are all co-debtors”.

The National Greening Program is a good reforestation program.  But I have serious reservations on the manner by which accomplishments are being established and the parameters being used to determine results.  There was a significant “increase” in the Philippine forest cover by the end of 2012.  Why?... Not due to additional trees actually being planted but a change in the parameters in considering and classifying forest cover.  The United Nations – Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO) reset the standard to include even small patches of trees in the total forest cover of a country.  Right now, strips of trees being planted along roadsides are being considered as NGP accomplishments.  The question that needs to be answered now is whether these strips of trees should be considered as “forest”.  It is quite hard reconciling what we define to be a forest with the new parameters and procedure in forest inventory.

Last year, the DENR – Forest Management Bureau (DENR-FMB) has been facilitating meetings between tenurial instrument holders and lending institutions (notably the Development Bank of the Philippines [DBP]) for soft loan packages for reforestation activities.  This is also a concerned move on the part of the DENR especially for tenurial instrument holders seriously affected by the moratorium on harvesting activities or Executive Order No. 23.  The tenurial instrument holders, however, are not too comfortable with this arrangement.  Financial studies conducted by IFMAP (an organization of IFMA holders) revealed that the interest rates, repayment schemes and other loan conditions are not too encouraging and will only create further financial malaise among IFMAP members.  In reality, it costs more that PhP 12 thousand per hectare to establish a tree plantation.

Most IFMAP members have been diligent in their reforestation and developmental activities commitments.  But government seemingly forgot that they are their partners in forest development and preservation.  The DENR should consider tenurial instrument holders as co-operators in the NGP... at least those who have proven records of success in the field of forest management.  This will make the entire NGP program more transparent and, with private sector involvement, make the program less prone to usual failure.

“How can ecological succession concept affect our decision-making in maintaining a balance in upland resources extraction, conservation, and preservation?” (Professor Renato A. Folledo, Jr.)

Forest products are still mainstream commodities that help spur economic growth and development.  The declaration of a total logging ban in the Philippines will only put pressure on other forests in other parts of the world… if not cause the trade in wood products to go underground and therefore encourage illegal logging even more.  (Logging bans have a curious way of increasing demand and prices which make logging, however illegal, more lucrative as a business endeavour.)  It should be noted that even with the imposition of a moratorium in some 3 years ago, the furniture and woodworking businesses have not slowed down on their production schedules and commitments.  Many downstream wood industry businesses still thrive and prosper even when there are no clear and legal sources for their inputs.  This will only make us more convinced that illegal logging continues.  This, however, is not sustainable and would only give us long-term problems down the road.

Sustainable forest management still remains to be our best bet in maintaining a balance in upland resources utilization and preservation.  The tenurial instruments system should be further expanded to cover more forest areas as well as the provision of support mechanisms to plantation establishment in partnership with the upland communities.

A clear understanding of the concept ecological succession will surely help stewards and managers of forestlands in their decision-making processes.  One of the generic challenges of upland management is the insufficiency of funds to support developmental projects and activities.  Efficiency of fund use therefore becomes critical.  Knowing that ecological succession is the inevitable order of nature, developmental plans could be recalibrated to efficiently manage financial resources.  Knowledge of ecological succession will then and also allows the focus and re-direction of funds to where they are truly and critically needed.

Just my little thoughts…

REFERENCES:

·  http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080708021430AApSkVt
·  http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/j9345e/j9345e08.htm
·  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logging
·  http://www.fao.org/docrep/007/ae346e/AE346E03.htm

COMMENTS / REACTIONS:

Professor Renato A. Folledo, Jr. (February 5, 2014): “Hi Anton, Thanks for your thought-provoking insights. I have a question for you to answer, discuss, or further clarify. Could it be that the trees growing in the cracks and crevices are manifestation of primary succession?”

Clarence Faith Escote (February 6, 2014):  “Thank you Sir Jun and Sir Anton for sharing your knowledge and views on this.  I think plants growing in cracks and crevices in urban areas are mostly manifestation of secondary succession. The plant's adaptive characteristics allowed it to thrive and reach thin - soiled dry sites with the aid of water, sunlight and other agents of growth.”

Antonio C. Antonio (February 7, 2014):  “I should say that plants/trees growing out of cracks and crevices on the MRT wall along EDSA are a manifestation of primary succession.  The accumulation of soil from dust particles, mud from the underchasis of vehicles and rain provided the basic element (soil) in these crannies to support plant life.  I seriously doubt, however, if ecological succession can go full cycle to the climax stage.  The fact that EDSA is one of the most polluted strip of road in Metro Manila plus the many disturbances that happen there would not support the completion of ecological succession. One of the conditions for successful ecological succession is the absence of any form of disturbance.  Take the case of the abandoned Buddhist temple complex in Angkor Wat, Cambodia… the place, in its relative isolation, was left undisturbed for a long period of time.  As a result, ecological succession successfully reached the climax stage.”

Elizabeth Villezar (February 7, 2014): “I think those trees growing in crevices and cracks may be or may not be considered a manifestation of primary succession.  Based on the videos and the literature about primary succession, soil factor is very crucial here.  Soil may still be present in those crevices and cracks (hidden beneath because of human intervention).  However, if those crevices and cracks are located in a barren place where there are no traces of soil at first and only after sometime that trees/ plants grow; then primary succession may be considered here.”


No comments:

Post a Comment