Smallholder tree growing and timber marketing practices on Leyte Island

This paper reports the results of an analysis of part of the data from a socio-economic survey conducted in seven randomly selected municipalities in Leyte and Southern Leyte Province in the Philippines. It focuses on the management of smallholder tree farmers as well as their experiences in timber selling, and their technical knowledge. The survey examined the intentions and aspirations of smallholders with regard to adopting tree farming on Leyte Island. It was found that most of the respondents relied on their own knowledge and experience in nursery and plantation establishment and maintenance. More than half the respondents had harvested timber in the last three years. Gmelina and mahogany were the species most often harvested