Abstract
This paper reviews forestry seedling production systems in South-east and East Asia and identifies problems with respect to seedling quality, seedling distribution and financial sustainability, and measures which have been adopted or advocated to improve performance in this sector. The paper draws in particular on experience in a series of research projects on smallholder forestry in the Philippines. Some observations are also drawn from the following papers in this combined special issue of Small-scale Forestry. It is found that a mix of public and private sector models are adopted for forestry seedling production, between and even within countries. Often nurseries are set up to provide seedlings for a government-directed expansion in tree planting, and have difficulty surviving once the initial planting purpose is completed. Private nurseries often lack resources, and depend on contracts to supply seedlings for financial viability. Demand tends to be highest for fast-growing species (often exotics), fruit trees, and ornamentals in the case of urban nurseries. Government policies typically favour quantity over quality of the seedlings produced. Considerable scope exists for adopting best or at least improved management practice in seedling nurseries.
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Notes
Byron’s other three keys are: secure property rights to land and tree crops; capacity for crop protection; and adequate markets.
According to the Global Warming is Real (2008), Indonesian officials on 28 November 2007 reported that 79 million trees were planted in a single day in an effort to replant lost forest cover and signal how seriously the government views the problem of climate change. This took place shortly before the United Nations climate change conference in Bali of 3–14 December. NPR Foundation (2008) noted that the move is part of a United Nations campaign to plant a billion trees around the world.
Formally, this is ACIAR project ASEM/2006/091—Enhancing tree seedling supply via economic and policy changes in the Philippines nursery sector.
As defined by Helms (1998), a superior tree is one having ‘Genetics phenotypically better than the average of the population but not yet tested for genetic worth …’ (p. 180), a plus tree is ‘A tree selected on the basis of its outstanding phenotype but not yet clonally or progeny tested …’ (p. 138), and the term elite applies to ‘A tree, stand or group of genotypes verified by appropriate testing as being genetically superior or desirable for a specified environment and propagation system. …’ (p. 55).
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Harrison, S., Gregorio, N. & Herbohn, J. A Critical Overview of Forestry Seedling Production Policies and Practices in Relation to Smallholder Forestry in Developing Countries. Small-scale Forestry 7, 207–223 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11842-008-9051-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11842-008-9051-5