The role of trees for sustainable management of less-favored lands: the case of eucalyptus in Ethiopia

In northern Ethiopia, eucalyptus is the most commonly observed tree species in community and household woodlots. In an environment suffering from biomass and water shortages, erosion and land degradation, fast growing and resilient eucalyptus perform better than most indigenous tree species. Smallholders show a clear preference for eucalyptus poles, which are useful for farm implements and constructing dwellings and fences. In addition, the sale of eucalyptus poles and products has the potential to raise farm incomes, reduce poverty, increase food security and diversify smallholder-farming systems in less-favored areas of Tigray. Despite the potential for eucalyptus to improve rural livelihoods, in 1997 the regional government of Tigray imposed a ban on eucalyptus tree planting on farmlands. The ban was precipitated by concerns about the potential negative environmental externalities associated with eucalyptus, and the desire to reserve farmland for crop production. However, the regional government promotes the planting of eucalyptus in community woodlots, and has recently begun to allow private planting of eucalyptus on community wasteland and steep hillsides. In this paper, we review the ecological debate surrounding the planting of eucalyptus trees. In addition, the economic factors that influence smallholders to invest in tree production are considered. Ex ante benefit–cost analysis based on community and village level survey data from Tigray illustrates that planting eucalyptus yields high rates of return, well above 20% in most circumstances. The effect of variable harvest rates, and the potential costs of decreased crop production when eucalyptus trees are planted on or near farmlands are considered relative to our base case scenario. Based upon the review of the ecological and economic impacts of eucalyptus, we conclude that a policy option favoring the allocation of wastelands for private tree planting offers the greatest opportunity for rural smallholders.     

Non-timber forest products and household incomes in Bonga forest area,southwestern Ethiopia

We identified the major non-timber forest products （NTFPs）, their contributions to household incomes, and the determinants influenc-ing engagement of households in using NTFPs in the Bonga forest area of Gimbo and Decha Districts of Kaffa Zone, southwest Ethiopia. Six Kebeles （the lowest administrative unit in Ethiopia） were sampled from two Districts and 150 households were randomly sampled using propor-tional-to-size techniques based on the number of farm households in each Kebele. Secondary data were collected from and focus group discussions were conducted with selected individuals. The farmers diversified liveli-hood activities such as crop and livestock production, collection of NTFPs and off-farm activities. NTFPs played a significant role in household incomes. The contribution from the major NTFPs （forest coffee, honey and spices） accounted for 47% of annual household in-come. The role of NTFPs was influenced by a number of factors. Vari-ables including being native to the area （＋）, total land holding （＋）, pos-session of livestock （＋） and access to extension （＋） significantly affected forest coffee production. Age of household head （-）, land holding （＋） and distance of the market from the residence （-） significantly affected honey production. Size of landholding （＋）, distance to market （-） and distance of the forest from the residence （-） were significant variables determining the NTFP incomes derived by the households. Attention is needed in the design of policies and strategies for the well-being of households to the contribution of NTFPs to local incomes and the variables that affect the collection of NTFPs must be considered.     

Tree planting in Tigray, Ethiopia: the importance of human disease and water microdams

We examine the decision to plant trees and level of tree planting for two sites, public microdam areas and household agricultural land, and two species groups in Tigray, Ethiopia. Both sites are not perfect substitutes, as they vary with respect to distance from the household and tenure security. The role of permanent pooled water irrigation microdams to tree planting is important but unknown, because water borne diseases, which may influence household income and productivity, are thought to be enhanced by the dams. We find both disease and microdams to be important predictors to tree planting. Disease seems more important in determining whether households plant at all, and less important in the level of planting for those that do plant. For example, disease increases the probability of planting both eucalyptus and other species groups on household-own land, but households suffering from malaria plant higher-cost eucalyptus trees with lower probability at both sites, while planting of other lower-cost species increases at dam sites where other villagers can monitor the trees. We also establish a connection between planting and agricultural residues, finding a strong substitution effect on own-land. Microdam access and age are also important. Households living nearer to dam sites will plant both species groups there with higher probabilities, but the decision to plant on agricultural own-land is not affected. For older dams with more developed irrigation, households are more likely to grow crops rather than plant trees on their own land, but they plant more trees at the dam sites. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Factors Affecting Small-Scale Farmers’ Land Allocation and Tree Density Decisions in an <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia decurrens</Emphasis>-Based <Emphasis Type="Italic">taungya</Emphasis> System in Fagita Lekoma District,North-Western Ethiopia

The development of woodlots as an additional source of livelihood and as a land management option for small-scale farmers is a challenging issue in the cereal-based subsistence farming systems of north-western Ethiopia. There is a need to understand why and which factors determine the decisions of small-scale farmers to grow short-rotation woodlots on their land. Data used in this study were collected from a survey of 200 randomly selected households in the region. A Tobit regression model was used to determine predictor variables for farmers’ decisions to allocate land to planting Acacia decurrens (J.C. Wendl.) Willd. and at what density trees are planted on the respective plots. The most important motivations for planting A. decurrens were income, soil fertility management, and soil and water conservation. Having a male head of household, long distance to markets and plots being on marginal land, among other factors, increased the allocation of land to A. decurrens woodlots. Having a male head of household, access to credit and plots being on marginal land, among other factors, increased tree planting density. Age had a negative effect on both allocation of land to woodlots and tree density, whereas farm size had an inverted U-shaped relationship with both decisions. These results suggest that wider expansion of A. decurrens-based plantation systems could be achieved through improving extension, credit access and road infrastructure to connect small-scale farmers to markets and finance.     

Farmers’ perceptions about exotic multipurpose fodder trees and constraints to their adoption

Many organizations in Ethiopia have for many years promoted exotic multipurpose fodder trees (EMPFT) for livestock feed and soil improvement. Despite the apparent benefits, the number of farmers planting these trees was low. The objectives were to elucidate farmers’ perceptions about their use value, management practices and constraints to adoption in three districts representing annual (one wheat-based and one teff-based) and perennial (coffee-based) crop-livestock systems in the Ethiopian highlands. Data were collected from 235 farm households. Most farmers (95.3%) had awareness of EMPFTs and the principal information sources were development agents (75.3%). Over half of the farmers were motivated to plant EMPFTs for feed value. Motivation for other purposes depended on cropping system, vegetation cover and availability of alternative local fodder trees in the area. Farmers had positive perceptions about EMPFTs for their feed value and contribution to soil conservation. Current adopters had a mean number of 587 (SE ± 84) EMPFTs per farm. Major constraints to adoption of EMPFTs were agronomic problems, low multipurpose value, and land shortage. Majority of farmers (89.8%) were interested to either continue or begin fodder tree development. Of the interested respondents, 44.5% preferred local fodder trees whereas 55.5% preferred EMPFTs. We conclude that farmers are aware of use values of EMPFTs while perceived constraints suggest that introduction of EMPFTs need consideration of farmers multiple criteria, but also awareness of feeding fodder trees and resource availability. Moreover, current development approaches have to recognize the importance of involving the end-users at all stages through participatory approaches to enhance adoption.     

Implications of national land legislation and customary land and tree tenure on the adoption of alley farming

Increasing population in the forest zone of Cameroon has led to reduction of fallow periods and to diminution of per capita cropping land area. Alley farming is a promising technology for the zone; however, its large scale adoption depends on host of factors of which an important one is tree and land tenure. For this reason, a study was conducted in 1990 to determine implication of national land legislation and customary land and tree tenure on the adoption of alley farming in the forest zone of Cameroon.Despite national laws purposing to regulate land and tree use, ownership rights to land and trees are largely determined by customary tenure rules. According to the forest zone customs, land is passed on from father to son when the father dies. Owners of inherited lands have full rights on lands and these rights are rarely revoked. Women do not own lands but are allowed to crop any piece of their husband's land as long as they stay married. Despite the lack of land ownership, women might still readily adopt alley farming because they are primarily concerned about food crop production and the amount of land to be given to their sons in the future.Study funded by the International Livestock Center for Africa (ILCA), Addis-Abeba, Ethiopia, and technically supervised by the Land Tenure Center (LTC), University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin USA.     

Integration of indigenous wild woody perennial edible fruit bearing species in the agricultural landscapes of Amhara region,Ethiopia

The study was undertaken in three districts of Amhara region to assess the extent and purpose of integration of wild indigenous woody perennial fruit bearing species in the agricultural landscapes, appraise their species composition and diversity and identify factors holding back farm integration. Data were gathered through interviews administered to 90 randomly chosen household heads, and fruit trees census in each and every plot of the informants. Species diversity was found to be low and vary by farm, land use type and site. Altogether 17 species were recorded in the agricultural settings. Species retention in the different land use types appears to be governed by species relative importance and compatibility with annual crops, where farm edges recorded a higher ethno-ecological importance score. Nevertheless, as it stands now fruit bearing species are retained primarily for non-fruit utilities. Free availability, land shortage, slope and altitude as well as disgrace feelings are among the major factors holding back farm integration and diversity of indigenous species for fruit production. Should they are additionally exploited for their fruits proper, there is a critical need to raise recognition and awareness at the rural grassroots level and instill knowledge about the food values, and assist in appropriate tree management techniques and inter-cropping regimes as well as accessing markets.     

Tree planting on deforested farmlands, Sewu Hills, Java, Indonesia: Impact of economic and institutional changes

This paper analyses how farmers in the Sewu Hills, a limestone hill complex in Java, were led to grow trees on their holdings. In the past, the area had been notorious for its deforestation, soil erosion and poverty. A historical analysis of change in land use in the area bears out a number of factors that were conducive to these changes: increased crop productivity, depletion of forest resources, better marketing opportunities for tree products, greater security of the trees and increased non-agricultural employment opportunities. Tree planting campaigns launched by the government provided the population with important incentives, establishing a critical mass of farmers adopting tree growing. Trees and their products have diversified, buffered and expanded household economies in the Sewu Hills. Yet it remains to be seen whether the system can withstand the economic and social pressures the area is facing today. A historical, multi-level analysis of land use adds considerably to cross-sectional studies in understanding what causes farmers to grow trees on their fields. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Expansion of Eucalypt Farm Forestry and Its Determinants in Arsi Negelle District, South Central Ethiopia

Declining natural forests and growing demands for wood products are encouraging the rapid expansion of eucalypt farm forestry in Ethiopia, and Arsi Negelle district represents areas with recent plantation expansion in the Rift Valley area of Ethiopia. This study assessed trends in eucalypt planting over the last five decades, identified the determinants, and examined perceptions of local stakeholders towards this expansion in the district. Quantitative data were gathered through a household survey and farm level inventory. About 90% of the respondents had planted eucalypts, and 52% of them were engaged in planting since the late 1990s. About 11% converted cropland to eucalypt woodlots, which is also a growing trend in the area. Proximity to Arsi-Forest Enterprise (P?<?0.01) and area of land holding (P?<?0.01) positively and significantly affected both decision to plant and land area allocated to eucalypts plantings. Active labour in the family negatively and significantly (P?<?0.05) affected planting decisions, while education level of the household head positively and significantly (P?<?0.05) affected land area allocated to eucalypts plantings. Despite strong policy discouragement and perceived adverse ecological effects by the farmers themselves, 96% of them and 90% of the district experts support the expansion. Eucalyptus has become the most desired and planted tree genus, and economics not ecology appears to drive its expansion. Unless better alternative sources of cash income and substitutes for energy and construction materials are found, its expansion is likely to continue even at the expense of cropland. It is concluded that research is needed to fine-tune current eucalypt farm forestry practices to reduce the associated ecological externalities, rather than grossly banning eucalypt planting by smallholders.     

Agroforestry in the South Pacific region — an overview

The developing countries of the Pacific Region consist of 27 countries and territories with a total nd area of 542 000 km² and over 5 million inhabitants. Though highly variable in physical characteristics and land-use pattern, these countries, in general, give a higher priority for production of export crops over other agricultural crops, so that they are net importers of food. Natural forests of the region are luxuriant and floristically rich, but the level of their commercial exploitation is low. Swidden cultivation is the mainstay of subsistence livelihood, but with the increase in population, the system is now causing severe environmental and land-use problems.The major agroforestry systems and practices in the region include various forms of combination of tree crops such as coffee, coconut and cacao with nitrogen fixing trees such as Casuarina, Gliricidia and Leucaena, and food crops (mostly tubers) such as cassava, taro, sweet potato and yams. Additionally, some improvements to swidden (shifting) cultivation are also being tried in several places, the most common being the u use of Casuarina oligodon before abandoning the swidden as in PNG highlands, and intercropping food crops in tree crop stands.Land tenure system in most of the countries is the traditional clan of extended family control over land. This can have either positive or negative influence on the adoption of agroforestry practices depending on the extent and duration of tenancy tenure enjoyed by the assignees of land.Several governments of the region are now promoting the agroforestry approach. In hilly areas with poor access, farmers are forced to produce most of their basic necessities locally. On the other hand, the lack of roads and communication facilities can pose a problem in marketing any surplus products they have.The immediate opportunity in agroforestry in the region lies in making better use of the unexplored potential of a large number of locally available trees and agricultural crops. Intercropping in tree crop stands and the taungya system seem to propromising m methods for the Pacific region.Researh Fellow, July–September, 1984     

The economic contribution of forest resource use to rural livelihoods in Tigray,Northern Ethiopia

By explicitly incorporating forest environmental products (FEPs) in household income accounting, this paper examines the role and significance of FEPs in household income and in rural poverty and inequality. As most conventional household surveys do not incorporate income from environmental sources, substantial gaps exist in our understanding of the actual functioning of rural economies and the extent of rural poverty and inequality. Using data from 360 randomly sampled rural households from 12 villages in Tigray (northern Ethiopia), we measure forest environmental resource use with a monetary yardstick and compares the value of FEPs with other household economic activities. We found that products from environmental sources represent an important component in rural livelihoods. Our analyses indicate that in the study area income from forest environmental sources occupies the second largest share in average total household income next to crop income. Poverty and inequality analyses show that incorporating forest environmental incomes in household accounts significantly reduces measured rural poverty and income inequality. Therefore, we suggest that sustainable forest management schemes should be adopted to maintain and enhance the flow of economic benefits to the surrounding communities without damaging the natural resource system.     

Farm Forestry Prospects Among Some Local Communities in Rachuonyo District,Kenya

Deforestation and degradation of productive lands are serious threats to the sustainability of forestry/agricultural practices in Kenya. In the last two decades farm forestry (FF) has been promoted through pilot projects among local communities as an example of sustainable land use. However adoption of FF is limited outside the project locations because FF improvement measures focused mainly on biological (e.g. succession, biodiversity and traditional industrial timber production) and technical concerns (e.g. material input delivery such as providing free tree seedlings for field planting) rather than local values, and interests and the constraints facing farmers. This study examined the local farm priorities and constraints and the prospects for the wider implementation of farm-level tree planting in four communities in Rachuonyo District. Using interviews with 597 randomly selected household heads, the study assessed farmer’s production assets and activities, land tenure, priority tree species and the constraints to growing trees on farms. Results show that farm labour is represented by a young population, 56.3% under the age of forty. They are mainly engaged in small-scale mixed cropping integrated with multipurpose trees and some livestock. Tree products contribute about 32% to household cash income, more than any other source (agricultural products, labour sales, etc). Females were more often household heads and had considerable influence over productive activities, making them an important target group in FF development. Farmers preferred exotic tree species due to their ability to provide short-term cash income, fuel and shade. Farmers’ concerns included population pressure on limited farmlands and the problem of credit for agricultural inputs. Given the feeling of secured tenure arrangement and influence of tree products on the household economy, farmers are likely to invest more in efficient land uses such as FF if consideration is given to local priorities.     

A preliminary classification of fruit-based agroforestry in a highland area of northern Thailand

Tree fruit crops are an increasingly important component of highland cropping systems in northern Thailand. A survey was conducted in three highland hill tribe villages in an upland watershed in Mae Hong Son Province to examine and classify the fruit-based cropping activities used by villagers. Members of ten households in each village were interviewed to establish activities and crop histories for each plot of land held by the household. From the sample of 85 ‘gardens‘ (plots with ten or more fruit trees), a field-level classification structure was developed reflecting function of trees, use and nature of herbaceous intercrops, and pattern of components. Through the classification process, four groups and 11 subsystems of highland tree fruit-based agroforestry were identified. The single most abundant subsystem was ‘mixed home gardens‘. A strong commercial element was also obvious. The survey indicates a very diverse ‘customized’ use of the fruit cropping system. The classification has potential for use in more extensive surveys of the nature of fruit cropping activities in the highlands and as a tool for further analysis in the study area. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Household and farm attributes affecting adoption of smallholder timber management practices by tree growers in Gunungkidul region,Indonesia

Farm household characteristics determine the success of programs promoting agroforestry systems and practices. This paper reports household and farm factors affecting the adoption of timber management practices by smallholders in the Gunungkidul region, Central Java, Indonesia. The research used three logistic regression analysis models—based on each household and farm characteristic, and a composite of both together—to identify the key factors influencing farmers’ adoption and management decisions, and their relative importance. A sample of 152 farmers who managed their trees primarily for timber production was compared to a sample of 115 farmers with similar socio-economic characteristics who did not. The household condition and composite models identified both on-farm and off-farm gross incomes as significant factors affecting farmers’ decisions to manage timber trees. The models confirmed that farmers with larger farms, and with higher on- and off-farm incomes, were more likely to manage their trees for timber production. These results have implications for extension programs that promote adoption of commercial timber management by smallholders in the case study and similar regions.     

Improving adoptability of farm forestry in the Philippine uplands: a linear programming model

In the Philippines, smallholder farmers have become major timber producers. But the systems of timber production practiced have several limitations. In intercropping systems, the practice of severe branch and/or root pruning reduces tree-crop competition and increases annual crop yields, but is detrimental to tree growth and incompatible with commercial timber production. In even-aged woodlots, lack of regular income and poor tree growth, resulting from farmers’ reluctance to thin their plantations, are major constraints to adoption and profitable tree farming. In the municipality of Claveria, Misamis Oriental, the recent practice of planting trees on widely spaced (6–8 m) contour grass strips established for soil conservation suggests ways to improve the adoptability (i.e., profitability, feasibility and acceptability) of timber-based agroforestry systems. Assuming that financial benefits are the main objective of timber tree farmers, we develop a simple linear programming (LP) model for the optimal allocation of land to monocropping and tree intercropping that maximizes the net present value of an infinite number of rotations and satisfies farmers’ resource constraints and regular income requirements. The application of the LP model to an average farmer in Claveria showed that cumulative additions of widely spaced tree hedgerows provides higher returns to land, and reduce the risk of agroforestry adoption by spreading over the years labour and capital investment costs and the economic benefits accruing to farmers from trees. Therefore, incremental planting of widely spaced tree hedgerows can make farm forestry more adoptable and thus benefit a larger number of resource-constrained farmers in their evolution towards more diverse and productive agroforestry systems.     

Understanding forest transition in the Philippines: main farm-level factors influencing smallholder’s capacity and intention to plant native timber trees

The ‘when, where and how’ of decisions by smallholder upland farmers to plant trees as part of their use of natural, human and capital resources needs to be understood if policy support is to result in actual recovery of tree cover as part of a ‘forest transition’ trajectory. In large parts of the Philippines the turning point may be close. Data on resource access and tree planting decisions were gathered from a household survey, with a total of 148 respondents in four rural communities in Leyte Province in Central Philippines. Data were analysed using logistic regression analysis. Household-level results reveal that the outcomes of the decision-making processes primarily depend on the availability of land and access to remaining forest resources rather than socio-cultural or economic factors. The total area of land and number of parcels managed by the household plus security of land tenure through ownership was found to have a statistically significant effect on farmers’ decision to plant native timber trees. Access to surrounding natural forest is negatively associated with farmer tree planting.     

Forestry in Dumfries and Galloway

The Dumfries and Galloway Region has seen an extraordinary transformationin the last 35 years during which the area under trees has risenfrom 4 per cent to 22 per cent of the land surface. Both productivityand production are climbing steeply and the new forests providesubstantial benefits to the tourist industry and over a thousandjobs. It is expected that about 30 per cent of the land surfacewill be under trees by the year 2000 but a number of major technicalproblems lie ahead.     

The Effect of the Surrounding Landscape and Socioeconomic characteristics on Woody Species Diversity in Homegardens of Shewarobit District,Northeast Ethiopia

Although homegardens are most often suggested as the refuges for biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes, how the surrounding landscape and socioeconomic characteristics affect this diversity in the tropics has received little research attention. Hence, this study has examined how these factors affect woody species diversity in homegardens of northeast Ethiopia. Three landscapes which are similar in agroecology were selected and in total 54 households were used for both a survey and a woody species inventory in respondents’ homegardens. The homegardens were stratified based on their locations in relation to crop fields and natural vegetation using satellite images from Google Earth. The variation in Shannon–Wiener diversity index among homegardens and the effect of the socioeconomic factors including household wealth status, homegarden area and the households’ types of uses of woody plants on species diversity were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Altogether 53 woody plant species belonging to 35 botanical families were identified. Survey results indicated that the woody species diversity was higher in homegardens situated close to crop land as compared with the diversity in homegardens close to natural vegetation. Higher woody species diversity was recorded in homegardens which are larger in area and where the households’ types of uses of woody plants is higher. Moreover, the woody species diversity was found to be higher in homegardens of the high and medium income households when compared with that of poor households. Overall, results suggest that the concurrent ecological and socioeconomic studies are needed to design conservation strategy and policy for plant biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.     

Tree establishment and management on farms in the drylands: evaluation of different systems adopted by small-scale farmers in Mutomo District,Kenya

Agroforestry systems in Sub-Saharan African drylands are complex and heterogeneous in nature even under similar biophysical conditions. This can be attributed to household needs and socioeconomic status which influence the species and utility of the adopted trees. This has an impact on the trees establishment and management system through planting or Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR). This study evaluates how trees for different utilities are managed and which socioeconomic factors influence these decisions. The study used primary data collected in Mutomo District, Kenya through a household survey based on a structured questionnaire. A paired sample t-test was done to assess the preferred mode of adopting trees for different utilities while factor analysis was used to characterize the households as either planting trees or practicing FMNR. Multiple linear regression using household regression factor scores as independent variables and socioeconomic indicators as dependent variables was done to ascertain which socioeconomic factors affect tree adoption. The results show that trees planted were mostly exotic species valued for their nutrition and commercial value, while FMNR was used for subsistence products and environmental services. Household size, livestock levels and mobility had a positive correlation with tree planting, while income, access to markets and roads had an inverse correlation. Access to natural woodland, distance to the nearest motorable road and land size had a positive correlation with tree protection. It is hoped that this knowledge will act as a reference point when designing agroforestry projects in similar areas to ensure they are more aligned to specific site and household conditions.     

The tree planting and protecting culture of cattle ranchers and small-scale agriculturalists in rural Panama: Opportunities for reforestation and land restoration

To examine the opportunities available for designing diverse tree planting and land restoration initiatives in agricultural landscapes that contain tropical dry forests, the tree planting and protecting practices of cattle ranchers and small-scale agriculturalists were examined in two study sites in rural Panama. Ninety-nine tree species were identified that they utilize, plant, or protect on their land, the majority of which are native to Panama. The farmers had diverse reasons for maintaining trees, including improving the environment, providing food and shade for cattle, and generating a source of wood for construction, furniture, and firewood. Most of the trees mentioned in the study provide multiple uses and values and the majority of farmers wanted to plant additional trees. Some differences in species preferences and motivations for planting and protecting trees were seen between sites, thereby suggesting that land restoration and tree planting projects should be site specific. Our data indicate that there are ample opportunities to increase native tree cover in our study sites and highlight the need to incorporate farmer input into project design, implementation, and evaluation as a necessary and continuous feature throughout projects.