Economic and environmental impact evaluation of the integrated social forestry program in Isabela Province, Philippines

Results of the study showed that ISFP [integrated social forestry program] as a soil conservation strategy has positive impact. Generally, ISF farms were found to have higher rice and corn yields than non-ISF farms. Although soil analysis indicated that the differences in the amounts soil macronutrients in the ISFP and non-ISFP were not significant, the higher yield could be due to the presence of micronutrients and other forms of organic matter resulting in the higher soil fertility level of ISF farms. The ISFP also has positive contribution to carbon sequestration potential. However, this was not as large as the potential of protection forest or other forest land uses. The BCA [benefit cost analysis] indicated that the overall farm productivity in ISF areas was higher than in non-ISF areas. In addition to annual crops, forest and fruit tree species contributed to higher NPV [net present value] and IRR [internal rate of return]. This was due to the greater number of trees planted in the ISF farms. Results also revealed that the ISF sites showed a more equal income distribution than their non-ISF counterparts and that poverty incidence among ISF farmers was lower than the non-ISF farmers. Likewise, the differences between the actual income of farmers and the poverty threshold income were smaller in the ISF sites than in non-ISF sites. While it appears that the ISFP in Isabela Province has positive economic and environmental contributions, the program must be strenghtened through the following: (1) more widespread adoption of agroforestry among the upland communities; (2) sustained technical and financial assistance to upland communities adopting the agroforestry technology; and (3) strengthening of the upland community organizations through a continuous capability-building program