Forest Nursery Management in Leyte Sab-a Peatland Forest

Summary

The Leyte Saba Basin Peatland Restoration Initiative is a four-year project focused on protecting, restoring, and sustainably managing 2,000 hectares of degraded peatland in the province of Leyte. This project emphasizes community involvement in re-vegetation, including forest nursery establishment, seedling care, and site preparation for planting. Key species such as Lanipao, Putat, and Kabak are prioritized for replanting. The restoration is guided by principles of re-wetting, re-vegetation, and revitalization of local livelihoods. Community champions, with support from local government and stakeholders, ensure the success and sustainability of the project for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Leyte Sub-Basin Peatland Restoration Initiative is a four-year project aimed at restoring and sustainably managing 2,000 hectares of peatland in Leyte, Philippines.
• 😀 The peatland ecosystem plays a critical role in regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide and preserving biodiversity.
• 😀 The project addresses the degradation of peatlands due to land conversion and human activities, which severely impact water regulation and biodiversity.
• 😀 Community engagement is central to the restoration effort, with local associations trained in nursery establishment and sustainable forest management.
• 😀 The restoration process focuses on re-vegetation, re-wetting, and revitalizing local livelihoods to promote environmental sustainability.
• 😀 Priority tree species for re-vegetation include Lanipao, Putat, and Kabak (Bangkal), selected for their suitability to the peatland environment.
• 😀 Forest nurseries are established by local community groups who manage seed collection, propagation, and planting efforts.
• 😀 Site preparation for planting includes identifying and geotagging planting areas, with careful attention to ensuring proper site conditions and spacing.
• 😀 The re-vegetation strategy includes transplanting wildlings, seeds, and cuttings, with specific methods for handling different plant types to ensure high survival rates.
• 😀 The success of the restoration relies on the active participation of community champions, including women, men, and youth, who assist in monitoring, evaluation, and maintenance efforts.

Q & A

What is the role of peatlands in the environment?

Peatlands are crucial for regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide, preserving biodiversity, and serving as habitats for diverse flora and fauna. They also play an essential role in water regulation, climate change mitigation, and disaster risk reduction.

What challenges does the Leyte Subabasin Peatland face?

The Leyte Subabasin Peatland has been severely degraded due to land conversion and human activities, which have significantly impacted its biodiversity and water regulation functions.

What is the goal of the Leyte Subabasin Peatland Forest Restoration Initiative?

The goal of the initiative is to protect, restore, and sustainably manage approximately 2,000 hectares of the Leyte Subabasin Peatland forest over a four-year period.

How does the restoration initiative raise awareness about peatlands?

The project includes a series of multi-stakeholder and community consultations, as well as peatland awareness activities, to educate local communities about the importance of peatlands in addressing climate change and supporting biodiversity.

What are the key principles of the peatland restoration effort?

The restoration effort is based on three key principles: re-vegetation, re-wetting, and revitalization of livelihoods. These principles aim to restore the peatland ecosystem and improve the local communities' well-being.

How are local communities involved in the restoration project?

Local communities, including women, men, and youth, are actively involved in forest nursery establishment, monitoring, evaluation, and maintenance of planting sites. They are trained in various activities, such as seed collection, nursery management, and re-vegetation efforts.

What activities are involved in forest nursery establishment?

The activities include constructing nursery facilities, collecting seeds, wildlings, and cuttings, potting, and caring for the plants. Community members are trained to ensure the careful handling and selection of healthy mother trees for seed collection.

What types of tree species are prioritized for re-vegetation?

Priority tree species include Lanipao, which is used for light construction and riverbank stabilization, Putat, an ornamental tree with pink flowers, and Kabak (Bangkal), which is suited to waterlogged conditions and is used for furniture production.

How are suitable planting sites selected and prepared?

Suitable planting sites are identified and geo-tagged. Specific planting points are then marked using bright nylon ribbons, and a pre-marked perimeter is set to accommodate 83 trees per hectare. The sites are carefully prepared before transplanting seedlings, wildlings, and cuttings.

What role does monitoring play in the success of the restoration project?

Monitoring is crucial for ensuring the success of the restoration. Community peatland champions are involved in evaluating and maintaining the planting sites to ensure that the vegetation thrives and the ecosystem functions are restored.