1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Bureau of Soils and Water Management (Bureau of Soils and Water Management) - Philippines

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Danao Municipality - Philippines

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Forest Management Bureau (Forest Management Bureau) - Philippines

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Gaps in vegetation or other combustible material that act as barriers to prevent and/ or control the spreading of forest fires to other areas.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

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.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• more than 50 years ago (traditional)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

• DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) protocol on reforestration

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Forest fire, competition with weedy species

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): spread of invasive alien species

Other type of forest: tree regeneration

Problems / comments regarding forest use: Increase of biodiversity (Wildlife)

Forest products and services: fruits and nuts, other forest products / uses (honey, medical, etc.)

Number of growing seasons per year: 2

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• natural and semi-natural forest management

• Firebreak

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: vegetative measures

Specification of other vegetative measures: Pruning of kakawate, root crop planting

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -along boundary

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Bf: detrimental effects of fires

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Bc: reduction of vegetation cover, Bh: loss of habitats

Main causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: prevention of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	clearing of cogon grass in the firelines	February
2.	Planting of kakawate cuttings	on set of rainy season

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	clearing of cogon grass in the firelines and Planting of kakawate cuttings	ha	1.0	26.66	26.66	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					26.66
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					26.66

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 3 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	brushing/clearing	Every after 4 months
2.	Pruning of kakawate/per year	every 3 years

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	brushing/clearing as well as pruning of kakawate/per year	ha	1.0	31.1	31.1	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					31.1
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					31.1

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: 101-500 m a.s.l. (220m)

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil vertility is medium
Soil drainage/infiltration is medium
Soil water storage capacity is medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users
Population density: 10-50 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 1% - 2%; 1%
100% of the land users are poor and own 100% of the land.
Market orientation of production system: Forest conservation and self subsistence ( Green breaks planted as cash crop )

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• state

Land use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	not known
local windstorm	not known

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	not known

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• > 50%

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 0-10%

Comments:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provided financial and technical support in the establishment of the technology.

Comments on spontaneous adoption: No spontaneous adoption was recorded without the support of the government (DENR) or private agencies.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The technology does not require heavy equipment and instrument during the establishment How can they be sustained / enhanced? Use of indigenous tools during establishment such as hoe and plows

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Relative small financial input in the establishment of the technology How can they be sustained / enhanced? Regular clearing of firebreaks

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Fires could cross on the firebreaks because of big and overlapping canopies.	Regular trimming on the canopies of trees near the firelines and brushing of weeds/grasses.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information