Firelines constructed along boundaries (For. Emma N. Castillo (Department of Environment and Natural Resources))
Firebreaks are 1,000-meter long, ten meters wide, located in the periphery/boundary and/or top of the ridge as barriers to slow or stop the progress of a fire. Greenbreaks are formed within the firebreaks by planting fire-resistant species in the gap portions such as kakawate (Gliricidia sepium), banana (Musa) abaca (Musa textilis), malunggay (Moringa oleifera), and cassava (Manihot esculenta). As a practice, fire breaks are established in every ten hectares to form a block, but it can vary depending on the slope of the area. Fires tend to spread quickly in higher slopes compared to flat areas, thus, more firebreaks are recommended.
Purpose of the Technology: Firebreaks/greenbreaks are established to protect the forest trees and wildlings from disturbances and wildfire. In case of forest fire, firebreaks/green breaks prevent the spread of fire from one block to another. Wildlings are seedlings derived from seeds scattered by birds, insects, animals and wind without human intervention, and allowed to grow naturally in the forest. The green breaks are planted with cash crops as immediate source of food and additional income for the land users.
Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The first step in creating fire breaks is the removal of all combustible materials such as deadwoods and cogon grasses (Imperata cylindrica) by using hoe or plow. Then, fire-resistant plant species such as kakawate (Gliricidia sepium) cuttings (i.e. 1-meter high) are staked at 1.5- meter spacing on both sides of the 10-meter wide firebreak. Kakawate is the preferred plant species because the leaves have high Nitrogen content and resistant to fire and drought. Maintenance of firebreaks/green breaks is done before the onset of the dry season. It is done through brushing of invasive weeds and plating of root crops. The pruning of kakawate is done every three years." Bayanihan" (rotational schedule of labour), a traditional communal concept of voluntary work is practiced during the establishment of the technology.
Natural / human environment: The area is part of the forest reserve in Danao, Bohol primarily intended for nature conservation and protection. It is about 100-500 m.a.s.l with moderately rolling to hilly slopes. It is under humid tropics climate with an average annual rainfall of 1500-2000 mm per year. The soil is loam, shallow depth, low fertility, with good drainage and medium water storage capacity. The area has high biodiversity as indicated by the presence of different indigenous trees and plants species, and wild animals and birds. The land users who apply the technology are small-holder farmers.These are members of a local cooperative. The population density is about 10-50 persons per sq. km. Since extraction of resources from the forest is prohibited, off-farm income is very important to the land users. Access to basic services and infrastructures are low.
Lugar: Danao, Bohol, Brgy. San Miguel, Filipinas
No. de sitios de Tecnología analizados:
Difusión de la Tecnología: distribuida parejamente sobre un área (3.6 km²)
¿En un área de protección permanente?:
Fecha de la implementación: hace más de 50 años atrás (tradicional)
Tipo de introducción
| Especifique insumo | Unidad | Cantidad | Costos por unidad (n.d.) | Costos totales por insumo (n.d.) | % de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras |
| Mano de obra | |||||
| clearing of cogon grass in the firelines and Planting of kakawate cuttings | ha | 1,0 | 26,66 | 26,66 | 100,0 |
| Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología | 26.66 | ||||
| Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología en USD | 26.66 | ||||
| Especifique insumo | Unidad | Cantidad | Costos por unidad (n.d.) | Costos totales por insumo (n.d.) | % de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras |
| Mano de obra | |||||
| brushing/clearing as well as pruning of kakawate/per year | ha | 1,0 | 31,1 | 31,1 | 100,0 |
| Indique los costos totales para mantenecer la Tecnología | 31.1 | ||||
| Costos totales para mantener la Tecnología en USD | 31.1 | ||||
Through the technology, People's Organization (PO) members were encouraged to plant cash crops as greenbreaks as an immediate source of food and additional income.
