Strategies to improve seedling quality in smallholder forestry in the Philippines: A synthesis of findings from a systems research program

Project ASEM/2006/091 and earlier forestry projects in the Philippines funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) have identified the prevalence of low quality forestry seedlings. A research strategy involving systems modelling to identify intervention measures, and progress in applying these measures, are described. This has involved developing a seed centre, identifying superior mother trees, developing nursery best management practice guidelines, and assisting the national government to trial these guidelines. Recommendations are made to increase the extension and training effort in production of high quality seedlings, and to conduct further research into watershed restoration utilizing hiqh quality germplasm of indigenous tree species