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Industrial Tree Plantation (ITP)
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Industrial Tree Plantation (ITP) Industry Profile

Industrial tree plantations (ITP), as defined by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, are lands planted mainly for timber producing species, primarily to supply the raw materials requirements of existing or proposed wood processing plants and related industries. The Philippine wood industry had its “golden era” during the 1980s, but extraction of wood from natural forests has been regulated and eventually banned which stifled the development of the industry. Currently, Mindanao, especially the Caraga Region or famously known as the “Timber Corridor”, has been developing their ITP industry. DENR reported that the Philippines produces 1 million cubic meters of lumber annually, but the demand is 5 million cubic meters. This leads to the importation of lumber.

Wood processors, farmers, seedlings providers, traders, furniture makers, and other end-users are the various stakeholders benefiting from wood processing. Two of the most widely planted species in ITP are Falcata (Falcataria moluccana [Miq.]) and Yemane (Gmelina arborea). Falcata is primarily used for veneer and plywood manufacturing, poles, pulp, paper, furniture, wood crafts, and wood-based kitchen utensils. It is also used as a substitute for premium tree species. On the other hand, Yemane is a source of raw materials for the furniture industry, and can be used for pulpwood production.

Problems in the Industry

The problems in the ITP industry include insufficient sources of certified seed sources, and quality planting materials; low field survival rate because of the absence of management intervention after field planting; less to none interventions on the use of wood wastes for other high value products; and incomplete information on supply and demand for ITP. While the Industrial Tree Plantation Center stated the following issues faced by ITP:

  • insufficient system for the production of quality planting materials
  • insufficient information on the identification/optimization of technologies for the control of diseases (such as gall rust, pink canker, stem borer, etc.)
  • low productivity due to wood effects
  • lack of new technologies for value-added products
  • limited satellite laboratories
  • conflicting/overlapping policies
  • lack of livelihood programs and marketing system
 

ISP for Industrial Tree Plantation (ITP)

The ISP on ITP has come up with strategies that will focus on improvement of variable yield and good quality. It aims to increase yield per hectare (m3/ha), establish sustainable  income for ITP dependent tree farmers in the countryside, and reduce log importation with the increased plantation-sourced timber for the domestic market.

Strategic R&D

Strategic R&D is DOST-PCAARRD’s banner program comprising all R&D activities that are intended to
generate outputs geared towards maximum economic and social benefits

Technologies

Products, equipment, and protocols or process innovations developed to improve productivity, efficiency,
quality, and profitability in the agriculture and aquatic industries, and to achieve sustainable
utilization and management of natural resources

Technology Transfer Initiatives

Technology transfer initiatives ensure that the outputs of R&D and innovations are transformed
into viable and applicable technologies that help intended users

Capacity Building

Capacity building efforts of DOST-PCAARRD seek to develop and enhance the R&D capabilities of researchers
and academic or research institutions through graduate assistantships & non-degree trainings
and development and/or upgrading of research facilities

Infrastructure Development

Manpower Development

Policy Research & Advocacy

Analysis of policy concerns and advocacy of science-informed policies ensures that the AANR policy environment is conducive for S&T development
and investments

Challenges and Recommendations in the Industrial Tree Plantations (ITP)

To enable the ITP industry to realize its significant economic contributions particularly in providing employment and increasing rural incomes, the challenges in the supply chain must be attended to. On the policy issues, the following are advocated:

  1. To protect the interest of the WPPs and tree farmers, there is a need to review DMO 99-20 and EO 23 and provide a consistent policy in the marketing of cut logs. There is also a need to promote a rewarding environment for the wood industry players with legitimate transactions.
  2. To deter illegal practices, implementation protocols of related policies have to be reviewed for standardization purposes and an effective control system has to be devised. Reforms should include intensive information dissemination to tree farmers, intensive education of DENR employees who are tasked to implement policies, and more transparent guidelines to establish ITP farms and harvest trees.
  3. To improve transparency in the supply chain, guidelines for contract tree farming must be formulated. There is a need to catalyze a coordinated response plan to managing the problems in the wood industry to strengthen existing wood industry organizations and farmer groups. Contract tree farming can help farmers have stable incomes by reducing production risks and ensuring a steady demand of logs from wood processing firms.

Reference:

Jamora, N. (2018). Challenges and Recommendations in the Industrial Tree Plantations. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines: Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources – (Policy Brief)