Resources appraisal, valuation, and productivity of the upland ecosystem in Bondoc Peninsula, Philippines

Most areas are in slope 15-35% and have low nutrient levels. Biomass is significantly influenced by number of trees. Productivity in pesos/ha/year is affected by number of nuts/tree, number of trees, and weight of corn ears. Generally, productivity in pesos/ha/year (P12,950) is low in BTs [belt transects]. Low productivity is unduly agravated by the unusually dry periods due to El Nino. Total biomass (15.0 ton/ha) is highest in coconut-corn intercropping and lowest in corn monocrop. Income, however, is greatly increased with the inclusion of corn in the cropping system. Thus, corn and corn-coconut systems have a much higher gross and net income than coconut alone. Pure coconut has very low cost of production indicating that the crop is not given much importance by farmers, probably because its income potential is also very limited. H [plant genetic diversity] is influenced by evenness (J) and crop cover. Monocropping practices reduce H. Original tree species (keystone species) are lost. Few financially important species affect productivity. Farmers in BTs are mostly tenants (58%) with average landholdings of 2.8 hectares. The three cropping systems are practised under rainfed conditions. Maximum tillage is along contour without soil conservation. Selling corn and copra to local traders at prices P5/kg lower than selling price of feedmillers and oil millers inhibits capital build-up. Off-farm activities and livestock production are for subsistence. Basic infrastructure, support, and institutional services are lacking. Farmers are willing to pay and accept compensation for conservation but do not know the details fo the program. Farmers spend 25%-31% of annual total working days in production resulting to low labor efficiency. Most of them use hybrid seeds and chemicals. There is no deforestation in the BTs. In monocropping corn, H is low (1.15) and soil erosion (Qs) is high (120 tons/ha/yr worth P5,487). Whereas, in monocropping coconut, H (1.62) is significantly higher and Qs (3.0 ton/ha/yr) is lower. Coconut is an ideal species for soil and water conservation