A Local Initiative to Achieve Global Forest and Landscape Restoration Challenge—Lessons Learned from a Community-Based Forest Restoration Project in Biliran Province, Philippines

Abstract

Forest and landscape restoration in the tropics is often undertaken by groups of smallholders and communities whose livelihoods are primarily agricultural and forest-based. In the Philippines, the implementation of forest restoration programs involving people’s organizations showed mixed results. We present a case study of a pilot community-based forest restoration project that was undertaken in Biliran Province to understand the impediments, and pilot test interventions to improve restoration outcomes. The project was designed using systems thinking, employing smallholder-based best-practice, and applying the principles of a participatory approach. The results revealed that the initial participation of smallholders is mostly driven by short-term financial incentives. However, long-term commitment to managing the trees is attributed mainly to sustainable livelihood, land and tree rights, equitable sharing of benefits, strong leadership, effective governance and improved human and social capitals. The support of extension officers, use of high-quality seedlings, and participation of women are essential for community-based forest restoration success. Key lessons from our research could contribute to fulfilling the forest and landscape restoration commitments of developing countries in the tropics.

Achieving Quality Forest and Landscape Restoration in the Tropics

“…Case studies focused only on ecological restoration with no regards to the social and institutional landscapes were not considered. Four of the case studies presented at the conference are published in this special issue [28][29][30][31]. The author of the case study in China was originally supposed to have presented a project that took place in a tropical area, but changed the focus of the presentation.…”

Competition in a Mixed-Species Planting With Four Contrasting Species

“…Prior work with mixed-species plantings has revealed important interactions between nitrogen-fixing and other species (e.g., Forrester et al 2006), and this influenced our decision to create a contrast between nitrogen-fixing and non-leguminous trees, and between exotic and native species. Species selection was guided by the popularity of species in smallholder tree farming and reforestation programs in the Philippines (Gregorio et al 2020, Le et al 2021, and by the preferences of the landowner where the trial was established. The final choice was also partly influenced by the availability of seedlings suited to the site.…”

Creating a culture of caretaking through restoring ecosystems and landscapes

“…This view also recognizes the role of external factors that influence inputs and outputs of restoration processes, including policies and incentives, supply and market chains, and financing mechanisms. 9 Time-bound, projectbased activities can be undertaken as components within a processoriented framework.…”

“…Achieving goals of restoration depends on social, human, and political capital, as well as natural and financial capital. 9 These paths create local enabling conditions for long-term sustainability and adaptive management of restoration interventions.…”