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