ABSTRACT To understand the potential role of forest products in household livelihoods, a study of the woodcraft industry in Zimbabwe was initiated. The woodcraft industry has increased steadily since the late 1980s. The factors driving the upsurge in the woodcraft industry are (a) the increased demand by tourists and (b) the need by rural households to find cash income sources. The structural adjustment programme, with one of its emphases being the decontrol of the currency, has probably played a key role in driving the rise in woodcraft production. Although all markets have a committee and all have some basic rules governing their operations, few of the rules are strictly enforced. There is also a lack of enforcement of the national legislation that governs the use of the tree resources. The local traditional rules governing resource use from the commons are also not strong. Given the problems in the national legislation and in the local rules, it is difficult to see how the resource can be managed on a sustainable basis. It appears that the benefits from the industry may not be substantial, given the lack of interest in the market from outsiders and the various elites who could monopolise the trade given the lack of enforcement structures in place. In communal areas, where deforestation is advanced, the selective use of certain species for carving is likely to drive the species to local extinction. The carvers are likely to switch to different tree species in order to maintain their production levels.

ABSTRACT The economic and social interactions of tree planting on farms in Haryana were investigated by means of a pilot survey followed by the issue of a questionnaire. Virtually all farmers in three villages in N Haryana were interviewed. The three main crop plants were sugarcane, rice and wheat, with maize and mustard being important secondary species. Populus deltoides vars. were planted on the majority of farm boundaries with Eucalyptus spp. on a minority. The data were used to generate Farm Household Models. The aim of the study was to optimise, using five possible situations, the most suitable balance in socio-economic terms of crops and trees. First year plantings were separated from annualised plantings and both were investigated under situations where capital borrowing was either restricted or unrestricted. Growing trees only on boundaries would result in a substantial increase in gross margins. A comparison of woodlot and alley plantings with boundary or no tree planting indicated that a combin...

ABSTRACT Traditional shifting cultivation is only sustainable with long fallow periods. In many upland areas of Southeast Asia, fallow lengths have shortened to a point where the objective of the fallow, to restore soil fertility, is not being met, and shifting cultivation is no longer sustainable, either economically or environmentally. On steeply sloping land, soil erosion is substantial, especially as soil fertility declines. ‘Improved’ fallows can hasten the process of soil fertility recovery, and provide alternative products for market. A bioeconomic analysis of one such improved fallow—namely a fallow involving a Gliricidia plantation on Imperata grassland—is reported here. A Gliricidia fallow system is not commonly practiced by smallholders. It is modelled here to assess its potential as an alternative to traditional shifting cultivation systems on steeply sloping land. The analysis is undertaken using a computer model, which is an amalgamation of an existing biophysical, agroforestry model (SCUAF version 4), and an associated economic spreadsheet model. The model predicted that a Gliricidia fallow can increase soil nutrient concentrations (carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus) and reduce soil erosion. This contrasts with the negative effects of an Imperata fallow. As well as enhancing maize production by maintaining higher soil fertility, Gliricidia fallows offer revenue from other products, such as firewood. Although the Gliricidia fallow system does require significantly more labour to operate than the Imperata system, this is compensated by the higher level of productivity and revenue from other products. Overall, the Gliricidia fallow system is potentially more profitable and more productive than the Imperata fallow system, especially where there is a reasonable market for firewood. The time taken to establish the Gliricidia fallow system in the first instance is an important factor in adoption by smallholders. During the conversion period, smallholders will incur a loss in the first year, and it will take approximately four years for smallholders to begin making a profit above that which is achievable with the Imperata fallow system. The approach to evaluation reported in this paper has merit in being relatively inexpensive, yet powerful. However, the time frame and cost of this analysis are minute in comparison to what would be involved in field experiments.

ABSTRACT The Naalad system is an indigenous agroforestry practice developed by farmers more than 100 years ago in a small village in central Philippines. This study is the first attempt to scientifically document and evaluate the system. Six farm parcels at different stages of fallow and cultivation were selected as case studies. Farmers' practices were documented through interviews and record keeping. Soil samples were collected and selected chemical properties and bulk density were analyzed. Carbon (C) storage and sequestration were estimated by converting existing biomass data to C content. Results showed that there are two modifications in the Naalad system compared with common shifting cultivation systems in the Philippines. First, Leucaena leucocephala trees are planted in the fallow fields to shorten the fallow period to 5–6 years. The fallow field is also used as a source of fodder for cattle. Second, branches of Leucaena are used in the cultivated fields to serve as a fascine-like structure called balabag. These structures help to conserve the soil. Soil analysis revealed that there were no significant changes in soil properties within the fallow and cultivated fields over time. Similarly, there appeared to be no differences in the soil properties between the cultivated and fallow fields. The low levels of soil organic matter, P and K in the soil could indicate that the soils are being progressively depleted, albeit very slowly. Fallow fields are estimated to contain an average of 16 t C ha-1 in above-ground biomass, and sequester 5.3 t C ha-1 yr-1.

SUMMARY Litter dynamics and associated nutrient turnover were studied in 4–5 yr-old silvopastoral systems involving four fast growing multipurpose tree species (Leucaena leucocephala, Casuarina equisetifolia, Acacia auriculiformis and Ailanthus triphysa). Our objectives were to characterise the variations in amount and quality of litter, decay rates and release of nutrients through litter decomposition, and to evaluate the possible cumulative influence on soil physico-chemical properties. Annual addition of litter ranged from 1.92–6.25 Mg ha-1. Leucaena showed the highest NPK levels in leaf litter and Ailanthus the least. Results of a litter bag study revealed that residual litter mass declined either exponentially or linearly with time. Casuarina and Leucaena litter decomposed completely within 6-7 months. Regardless of species, K remaining in the decomposing litter mass showed an exponential decline over time while both N and P had brief accumulation phases during the course of decomposition. Five years of tree growth has apparently improved the soil organic C, N, P and K content.

SUMMARY Large areas which have been deteriorated due to soil salinity/alkalinity and waterlogging can be utilized with the planting of salt-tolerant tree species and by making some modifications in land configuration. In the case of alkali soil, the pit auger hole and furrow method is recommended over the pit planting method. The dimension of auger holes will depend on the local soil conditions. The use of soil amendment and farmyard manure (FYM) is necessary to counteract the harmful effect of exchangeable sodium and also to meet plants, nutritional requirements. In contrast to alkali soils, there is no need to have deeper auger holes, and soil amendments such as gypsum, pyrite or sulphuric acid for the establishment of plantations, in saline soils. Even the use of FYM may be avoided. The furrow planting method is preferred over other planting methods. Most of the tree species which were tolerant to alkali soil were also found suitable for saline conditions. Nevertheless, screening of tree species for sp...

SUMMARY An agroforestry approach for rehabilitation of degraded village community lands was developed and tested in a mid-altitude village (1200 m amsl.) in the Garhwal Himalaya. Components of the rehabilitation project were based on informal discussions with villagers. The approach involved creation of supplemental irrigation capacity through water-harvesting tank technology and planting of native multipurpose trees, and economically important crops preferred by the local communities. Involvement of the whole village community in the decision making process was identified as a potential mechanism of securing local participation. Supplemental irrigation improved survival and growth of tree species, and also crop yield. The increase in survival of trees ranged from 39% in Albizzia lebbek to 164% in Boehmeria rugulosa. Growth response to irrigation was most prominent in Grewia oppnsitifolia, in terms of height, and in B. rugulosa, in terms of diameter at collar height. Irrigation enabled higher crop yields ...