Ecological features of swidden fragments in the biodiversity corridor of southern Batangas Luzon Island (Phlippines)
2008
Caringal, A.M., Batangas State Univ.-Lobo Campus, Masaguitsit, Lobo, Batangas 4229 (Philippines). Tropical Forestry | Panganiban, M.G., Batangas State Univ.-Lobo Campus, Masagujitsit, Lobo, Batangas 4229 (Philippines). Agricultural Sciences and Technology Program
Based on field evidences and local knowledge, this paper examines the ecological nature of swidden agriculture as a temporal land use. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among individual mountain farmers to gather information on the extent of swidden cultivation in southern Batangas. Sixteen swidden fragments (= kaingin plots) located between 400-700 meters above sea level were documented through direct observations and photographs. The floristic composition of the swidden and was inventoried while the evolution of swidden further land-use conversions were reconstructed based on oral accounts and ocular observation. In swidden agriculture, mountain farmers create swiddens for diverse food crop production and in the process preserving indigenous species, allowing for the natural agents of seeds and fruit dispersal to happen and recycling agricultural wastes, and helping to mitigate micro climate change. In contrast to ecologically risky sugar apple production in Batangas, swidden agriculture is found to maintain higher levels of plant diversity and to produce a number of potential niche products. The floristic compositions of the swidden include a total of 53 species in 52 genera distributed to 30 families. Swiddens were found to be an important reserve for at least 10 species and 6 families of vegetables, 7 species and 6 families of root crops, 13 fruit trees by 10 families, 5 species of legumes and pulses under 2 families, 7 species under 4 genera and 3 families and 7 species of valuable crops.The system and fodder plantation can then compensate in the long run the ecological impact of slash-and-burning during the swidden conversion from secondary forest thus consequently providing economic benefits to the swidden practitioners.
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