Implementing Agency:
Department For International Development (PAND)

Managing Institute:
UK Federation for the Peoples of the South Pacific (UKFSP)

Contractor:
Tribal Co-operative for Rural Development (TRICORD)

Project Code: 172-680-009	Start Date: 20/09/1994	End Date: 31/03/1998
Commitment: £35,597	Status: Awaiting Confirmation of Completion	Type of Funding: Bilateral - JFS

Project Background:
Today, the valley and flatlands of Nueva Vizcaya that are along river systems can be irrigated and are devoted to rice farming. However, the steep mountain slopes remain bare. There have been some Government reafforestaton efforts, but these have been few and with limited success.

Although the indigenous methods of farming and gathering wild forest products were sustainable, the environmental and cultural changes in the area made these methods untenable. Due to the forest destruction, the wild products were no longer available to supply the nutritional needs of the people. As the land "opened up," families had to plant larger areas of ground with vegetables, some of which were converted into cash necessary to buy meat, fish and rice.

This economic and ecological situation continues to encourage the further loss of forested land. In order to keep up food production, new areas must continually be cleared as fertility drops in the colder farms. Despite laws which penalise those caught burning and clearing, the practice continues, especially in inaccessible areas. It is particularly destructive as the fires sometimes get out of hand, burning much more land than is needed for cultivation.

For three years now TRICORD has been building political and ecological awareness among the tribal people of the area. Now the tribes want to work to save what little remains of the forest and begin to regenerate the denuded slopes.

Project Objectives:
For TRICORD and community residents to reforest and protect at least 100 hectares of denuded and grass-covered upland at Sinapaoan, Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya.

Intended Outputs:
Revegetate 100 hectares of grassland with a mixture of yamane, narra, acacia and local fruit-bearing trees to at least 1,000 trees per hectare.

Cultivate additional tree species that are naturally occurring in the area to increase the tree population to at least 1,200 trees per hectare.

Increase the level of awareness and active participation of tribal people as the proper authorities in the quest to protect and regenerate rainforest.

Provide employment and cash income for upland residents.

Attract local, regional and national attention as a project handled entirely by tribal peoples.