PAFERN Conducts National Training on Agroforestry Landscape Analysis

One of the project themes of the Southeast Asian Network for Agroforestry Education (SEANAFE)-Phase II is Agroforestry Landscape Analysis (AFLA). This project generally aims to: 1) review and understand principles on how agroforestry landscapes function; 2) identify and characterize key drivers behind landscape change and be able to use participatory tools and methods for studying agroforestry landscape dynamics; 3) strengthen the teaching of Landscape Agroforestry in universities and colleges in Southeast Asia by developing teaching materials, and; 4) enhance the teaching capacity in Landscape Agroforestry. The first phase of the AFLA project, undertaken in 2007, focused on case study/research. The AFLA Phase II commenced in April 2008. The second phase of the project revolves around teaching materials development and case study analysis, with emphasis on the research results generated by the AFLA Project-Phase 1.

A National Training on AFLA was conducted by the Philippine Team on September 1-5, 2008 at TREES-College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Banos, College, Laguna. This in-country training was organized to: 1) provide new teaching materials and curriculum modules developed in the AFLA Project Phase 1; 2) enhance technical capabilities and teaching skills on agroforestry landscape analysis; and 3) develop individual actional plans that would mainstream the use of the AFLA project outputs in agroforestry education, research and extension activities of the PAFERN member-institutions.

The four-day training dwelled on the following modules: Introduction to Agroforestry Landscape Concepts and Principles; Agroforestry Landscape Analysis Curricular Framework; Characterizing Agroforestry Landscape; Drivers of Landscape Change; Tools, Methods and Approaches in Agroforestry Landscape Analysis; and, Management of Agroforestry Landscape. The training was also highlighted by the Case Study Analysis, Visit to the Cambantoc Watershed in Barangay Bagong Silang, Bay, Laguna, and Action Planning Towards Mainstreaming AFLA in the curricular frameworks of the PAFERN member-institutions.

The national training was organized by PAFERN, through the AFLA Philippine Team composed of Dr. Roberto G. Visco (University of the Philippines Los Banos), Dr. Wilfredo M. Carandang (University of the Philippines Los Banos), Prof. Ronald C. Estoque (Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University), and Ms. Pia Fleur Kristine Noriel (Visayas State University). The AFLA Philippine Team served as the lecturers and resource persons to the 28 faculty members representing the different PAFERN member-institutions.

AFLA Phase 2 is being funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) through the SEANAFE.