Skip to main content
Log in

Analysis and evaluation of agroforestry as an alternative environmental design in the Philippines

  • Published:
Agroforestry Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Tabora, Panfilo C. Analysis and evaluation of agroforestry as an alternative environmental design in the Philippines.

Agroforestry as a land-use concept and an environmental design was analyzed and evaluated from the Philippines setting. A historical perspective of agroforestry was presented and the study explores the direction that agroforestry has taken in recent years as a socio-economic tool, a conservation strategy and a political expediency.

The concepts of agroforestry were analyzed and used as the bases for evaluation. Five general socially-oriented concepts were examined: social relevance (appropriateness); profitability; balance (equilibrium); versatility and creativity; and longevity and reliability. These were related to five agroecosystem principles: ecological integrity; productivity; stability; flexibility and resiliency; and sustainability and conservation. All these were interrelated to many attributes under a unified ‘Agroecosystem Analysis Framework’.

Seven current programs in the Philippines which promote agroforestry were also examined and evaluated based on the Agroecosystem Analysis Framework. A closer look at the impacts of the programs was done and ratings were given for each program. The Multiple Cropping Program and the Integrated Social Forestry Program came out with the most positive results.

For a closer focus, a site was selected and five cases from the site were evaluated based on a reconstruction of the events and experience in the area over 14 years. The Mixed-Crops Agroforestry (representing the ideal agroforestry) came out with a rating equivalent to the Coconut and Abaca-based Agroforestry. The Industrial Tree Plantation came out with the lowest rating.

The study concludes that agroforestry has a role as an environmental design, but that its usefulness has limitations due to some physical constraints and social and economic values that have to be overcome. Recommendations are provided for policy-making for agroforestry.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahern G (1927) Annual Report of the Philippine Commission. GOB Washington, DC, 71 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Anon (1964) National Conference on Kaingin Problems, 1964 UPLB College of Forestry. Philippines

  • Budowski G (1980) The place of agroforestry in managing tropical forests: utilization and conservation. Yale University, New Haven, April 15–16, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  • Budowski G (1981) Agroforestry in Central America. Proc. of a seminar at CATIE, Costa Rica. Feb 23-March 3, 1981

  • Conrad M (1983) Adaptability. Plenum Press, NY, p 183

    Google Scholar 

  • Conway G. Agroecosystem analysis. Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, 17 pp

  • Dahl AL (1984) Biogeographical aspects of isolation in the Pacific. Ambio 13 (5–6): 302–305

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubos R (1978) The resilience of ecosystems, an ecological view of environmental restoration. Colorado Univ Press, 30 pp

  • ICRAF (1978) As cited by Heuveldop J and J Lagemann, 1981. Agroforestry, Proc of a Seminar. CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica, p 8, and Spurgeon D 1979. Agroforestry, a new hope for subsistence farms. Nature 280: 533–534

    Google Scholar 

  • International Labor Organization/Bureau of Forest Development (Phil)/Government of Finland. 1982. Implementation of appropriate technology in Philippine forestry. Project Report. World Employment Programme, ILO

  • Leopold LB, Clark FE, Hanshaw BB and Balsley JR (1971) A procedure for evaluating environmental impact. Geological Survey. Circular 645. US Dept of Interior, Washington DC, 13 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Ricklefs R (1976) The economy of nature. Chiron Press. p 217

  • Roque CR (1977) Concepts for environmental management in the seventies. National Environmental Protection Council. Philippines June 6–7, 1977

    Google Scholar 

  • Starfield AM and Bleloch AL (1983) Expert systems: an approach to problems in ecological management that are difficult to quantify. J Environ Management 16: 269–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Vergara NT (1982) New directions in agroforestry: the potential of tropical legume trees. East-West Center and UN University

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Portion of a study submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science & Forestry, May, 1986.

Presently Leader of the Diversification Program of the Honduran Foundation for Agricultural Research.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tabora, P.C. Analysis and evaluation of agroforestry as an alternative environmental design in the Philippines. Agroforest Syst 14, 39–63 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00141596

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00141596

Key words

Navigation