MEASUREMENT OF SMALLHOLDER TREE FARMS ON LEYTE ISLAND

This paper describes the field techniques used to measure timber volume and log quality from smallholder tree farms on Leyte Island conducted as part of ACIAR project ASEM/2003/052, Improving Financial Returns from Smallholder Tree Farms in the Philippines . Tree farms were included in the sample if they were 0.1 ha or greater in area and contained 100 or more trees. Paired circular blocks were chosen for measurement, one in the centre and one on the edge of the tree block. Where tree farms included multiple blocks of trees, two circular plots were established within each block. For each tree over 10 cm diameter at breast height (dbh) in the plot, measurements were made of dbh, diameter at the base (db), tree height, location, crown depth, crown radius, bearing and distance of each tree with reference to the plot centre. Estimates of log lengths and grade that each tree was expected to yield were also recorded, along with a sketch of each tree. In addition, data were collected on tree farm, block and plot characteristics, and were entered into an ACCESS database for subsequent analysis