The National Clonal Forestry Program is designed to naturally enmesh itself into existing programs of the DENR that require quality clonal seedlings. A clone seedling is the exact copy of the original individual tree. Such programs, example, as the Watershed Resources Development Project (WRDP), Community Base Forest Management (CBFM),IFMP, NIPAS, Coastal Mangrove Rehabilitation and Urban Forestry will all benefit from the quality clones that will be the direct output of the clonal program together with the ensuing practice of clonal forestry.

I. OBJECTIVES:

A. General

     To support the National Forestation Program for the Philippines through the production of genetically supervisor clonal seedlings of forest trees and other equally important plant species, and to institutionalize the practice of clonal forestry in gearing up to a higher level the development of forestry sector.

B. Specific

• To establish state-of-the-art clonal nurseries nationwide;


• To develop and apply protocol procedures for clonal propagation and disseminate the cloned seedlings through acceptable mechanism/s;


• To transfer the technology and create awareness on clonal technology among DENR personnel, LGUs, NGOs, Pos, and other private individuals; and


• To generate additional source of livelihood for the communities.

II. CHOICE OF SPECIES

     The selection of species for clonal propagation shall primarily consider the site conditions, market needs and other priority forestation projects/programs of the respective regions. Enumerated below are considerations for the choice of appropriate species of trees that would be cloned:

• For watershed rehabilitation: to bring back the protective forest cover of vital watersheds particularly those harnessed for household, communal irrigation, power supply, recreation, inland fisheries and others. Choice of species should favor the one that has multiple and complementary functions of soil control and water retention or similar feature.
  
  
• For establishment of forest tree plantations/tree plantation corridors: to produce sawtimber, pulpwood, fuelwood and for such other special purposes as wood carving, poles & piles, banana props, etc. Choice of species should consider the combination or mix of climax tree species with rotation of 20 to 50 years and fast-growing tree species with rotation of 8 to 10 years.
  
  
• For community-based forest management projects: to make productive the multi-purpose tree species preferred by farmers, as well as other industrial plantation type of trees and other tree crops. It will help to have a combination of short-rotation trees and non-timber forest products that could provide quick income or incentive to communities. Medicinal plants and other edible trees and shrubs, either for their fruits, seeds or leaves, must be considered.
  
  
• For urban forestry: to enhance eco-tourism and recreation areas such as provincial, municipal, city, or barangay parks and mini-forests, including roads and highways and other NIPAS areas. Tree species that are evergreen or shrubs with bright flowers and beautiful foliage that can enhance urban landscape, absorb carbon dioxide or abate pollution are prime importance.
  
  
• For mangrove and coastal management: to rehabilitate depleted mangrove forests both for the direct economic benefit from the planted cloned trees, and for the indirect benefit like improving the breeding and feeding grounds for fish and other marine life. For beach forest, the species should be suitable for sandy and brackish areas and can withstand strong winds, tides and coastal current.

      Initially for CY 2002, each region (DENR) shall produce at least 200,000 seedlings of various forest tree species, of which 20% shall be produced through clonal propagation and the balance shall be by the traditional of seedling production. In the ensuing years, the production of cloned seedlings shall be increased gradually until such time that all of the planting materials are produced from clones. However, by the end of the third year, all clonal facility complexes should be fully operational such that all of the needed clones must be made available for large and commercial plantings of trees as well as for the other purposes. Nevertheless, seedlings grown from seeds may still be raised on need basis only.

IV. STRATEGY OF IMPLEMENTATION

      The Clonal Forestry Program shall cater to the seedling requirements of the different forestation /plantation development programs and projects of the country It shall pave a way to make available clonal seedlings of trees for the forestation requirements of the government, quasi-government or private individuals and groups. The DENR shall encourage all government reforestation projects and all other stakeholders to prioritize the production and use of clonal seedlings in order to help meet the growing wood and forest-based needs of the country

A. Modalities of Implementation

1. DENR-Managed Forestation Projects

      It shall be the policy of the DENR to produce the clonelings of trees needed in all of its forestation projects throughout the country. At the regional level including the NCR, CAR and ARMM, each DENR Regional Office shall establish their respective state-of-the-art clonal nursery complex to produce the clonal seedlings of forest tree species and other equally important plant species. This clonal nursery complex shall serve as the show window of the appropriate technology on clonal propagation that may be used as a learning center for other projects in which the DENR has only collaborative or cooperative links.

2. DENR-Private Partnership

      The DENR may enter into a scheme with a purely private individual or corporation to immediately execute the production of clonal seedlings meanwhile that the clonal nursery set-up of the Regional DENR is not yet in place. A scheme of this nature is being worked out through the efforts of the DENR Region –IV in collaboration with a purely private corporation, the Bonifacio Trees & Green Corporation (BTGC). The BTGC operates a 36-hectare nursery using state-of-the-art technology in the production of landscaping planting which is located at Barangay Sinturisan, San Antonio, Tiaong, Quezon. Its nursery is ISO 9002 registered.

3. DENR-LGU Co-Management

      The DENR may enter into an agreement with the LGU for the co-management of a clonal nursery within a public land. An example of this scheme is the DENR-City Government of Muñoz project in Nueva Ecija. The DENR provides the land and technical and financial assistance. The LGU provides the manpower requirements and counterpart funds. Eighty percent (80%) of the annual cloneling production shall be turned over to DENR and the remaining 20% shall be retained by the LGU to support its reforestation program.

4. DENR-LGU-PO Partnership

      The DENR may enter into an agreement with interested local government unit together with the People’s Organization to establish a clonal nursery. The DENR will provide the technology and technical assistance, while the LGU may wholly provide the funding requirements. Cloned seedlings produced from this partnership will be distributed or disseminated to Pos or their constituents engaged in tree planting projects through several possible modes of distribution (e.g. plant now, pay later). An example of this scheme is the debt-for-nature swap with a model area in Quirino province. Likewise, the ITTO-funded CBFM project in Buenavista, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya exemplifies this scheme.

5. Private Initiative

      Another modality of implementation is one that is truly initiated by a private group or individual. The private group, upon consultation with the DENR, shall be provided with technical assistance upon request. An example of this is the San Roque project in Itogon, Benguet.

B. Clonal Forestry Program Activities:

      The activities of the Clonal Forestry Program will have to be phased in accordance with priority of the operation. The guidelines listed below shall be observed.

      On infrastructure establishment: the priorities are listed as numbered. (Electrical, plumbing and drainage systems go along with the infrastructure. Equipment, furniture, fixtures, and other paraphernalia similarly go along with the infrastructure).

First Priority:

Macro-somatic Clonal Laboratory (Rooting House, Preparation Shed, Powerhouse, Water Tanks and Misting System).

Second priority:

1. Materials Depot and Potting Area
2. Recovery Shed (Expandable area to later accommodate the outputs from the Tissue Culture Laboratory)
3. Hardening area (Also expandable as above)
4. Tissue Culture Laboratory

Third priority:

1. Seed Storage and Laboratory


2. Greenhouse for Seed Germination and Testing


3. Fencing, Walkways and Paved Access Road

On activities and operations: the priorities are also listed as numbered.

First priority:

1. Cloning of plant material that is already available and alleged to have been obtained from better performing phenotypes.


2. Identification and documentation of Seed Production Areas (SPAs) and tree plantations or natural stands with potential trees that might be classified as CPTs for possible germplasm collection.


3. Establishment of RMG for the selected CPTs.

Second priority:

1. Germplasm scoring and initial evaluation


2. Establishment of clonal tests


3. In vitro storage of germplasm

Third priority:

Creation of new gene recombinants

V. PROGRAM COMPONENT

A. PRODUCTION/PROCEDURE

1. Germplasm Scoring

     A system of assessing provenances and individual trees as CPT will be developed for each species of forest crop that is included in the list for mass production of clonal seedling. Guidelines shall be prepared to generate information pertinent to physical attributes, geographic data, economic uses, phenology, cultural practices and other relevant information. Analysis of this mass of data will be critical in screening germplasm for mass production.

2. Exploration, Selection and Collection of Germplasm and Provenances of Forest Trees, Including Other Agro-forest Species

     The best existing genotypes available should be discovered and found through meticulous exploration work. The germplasm scoring system developed in Section 1 above will be applied to mark the CPTs to be selected. Following procedures of germplasm collection, fresh materials will be taken out from the chosen CPTs and brought to the clonal laboratories for mass production.

     A centralized system of data storing and control shall be developed critical to the over-all operation of the Clonal Forestry Program. This kind of data management will also be extended to cover the other aspects of the clonal operations.

3. In Vitro and In Vivo storage of Forest Tree Germplasm and other Agro-forest Species

In Vitro Storage of Germplasm

     Fresh plant collected in the field will be processed to pass through a series of steps and treatment procedures. After which, the appropriate plant parts will be exercised, and the explants maintained alive and meristematic in vitro. The right nutrition and conditions for growth will be provided to the explants in a controlled growth room.

4. Mass Production of Clones

In Vitro Approach of Mass Production

     The explants to be used in the micropropagation procedures for mass production of clonal seedlings shall be taken from microshoots that area already induced in the laboratory. In this way, no further sterilization will be needed. The micro shoots are provided with necessary culture medium and appropriate conditions for growth maintenance.

Mass Production by Macro-somatic Cloning

     A practical approach of cloning forest trees and other important plants shall be set up to complement the more sophisticated procedure of tissue culture. Known as macro-somatic cloning, this type of vegetative mass propagation similarly utilizes meristematic cells found in the growing tips of shoots. However, instead of growing the delicate young cells in an artificial laboratory, the whole tender shoot itself becomes the laboratory that nurtures the growing and dividing cells. The shoot tips will be grown in the macro-somatic laboratory to induce development of one or several adventitious roots that, in the end, will take the equivalent of one or several adventitious roots that, in the end, will take the equivalent of primary root. In a matter of weeks, the rooted shoot tips will be transferred to a recovery shed and then finally to a hardening area.

5. Inter-and Intra-Specific Recombination Genetics

     The Clonal Forestry Program will later gear into the creation of new combination of genes through any possible means, either by the traditional controlled pollination technique, or by the more exacting protoplasmic transfer. A clonal arboretum for the purpose shall be established. In such arboretum, the natural system of genetic recombination shall be exercised. Meanwhile, a close collaboration with academic institutions having biotechnology capability shall be arranged in order to carry out the difficult protoplasmic and/or nuclear fusion of cells.

B. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

     The practice of cloning will require support infrastructure including buildings, facilities and access to premises. Whatever set up is required by the Regional DENR shall be provided, in proper phasing. In any case, the list of infrastructure and other support facilities that may be needed include the following:

1. A tissue culture (TC) laboratory with administrative office that is either built-in or separate.


2. Power house and electrical facility.


3. Water storage tank and distribution system.


4. Rooting house for macro-somatic cloning (McC).


5. Raw materials depot and storage facility.


6. Media preparation shed and facility.


7. Recovery house common to both TC and McC.
8. Hardening areas for fully recovered young clones.

C. TRAINING

1. Macro-somatic Cloning

     The Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) prepared a training program intended to strengthen the technical know-how of regional technical personnel. The training program focuses on clonal propagation technique as a tool for mass production of high quality planting materials of some indigenous tree species. This training includes an in-depth series of lectures on the following topics:

1. plus tree selection,


2. establishment and management of clonal multiplication garden,


3. rooting hormones – concept and its application,


4. nursery site selection,


5. planning and designing a clonal nursery,


6. nursery cultural management practices,


7. establishment and management of clonal plantation; and


8. hands-on experience on the detailed procedure of the non-mist
9. clonal nursery.

All of the above will be prepared for efficient programming of activities on clonal propagation techniques at the region.

2. Tissue Culture

     The training module for workers who will conduct propagation in vitro will equip the participants with the knowledge and skills regarding tissue culture of forest trees. The training involves lectures and demonstration of the different aspects of the laboratory procedure; but a major portion will involve hands-on activities for the participants. The topics included in the training are: (a) definition and uses of micropropagation; (b) basic requirements of a tissue culture laboratory; (c) culture media formulations and preparation; (d) sterilization agents and procedure; (e) explant processing and inoculation; (f) inoculation and sub-culture of explants; and (h) acclimatization of microshoots.

D. INFORMATION, EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION

     Nationwide awareness campaign shall be carried out targeting the different levels of the society through entertainment. Appropriate IEC and materials shall be disseminated (tri-media) to elevate general awareness and appreciation for clonal forestry concepts, principles and practices; and build up the technical capability of all sectors participating in the Program (e.g. DENR, LGUs, local communities, NGOs, policy makers and implementors, and private entities).

E. DISPOSITION OF SEEDLINGS

     The DENR clonal forestry centers shall make available, through appropriate mechanism/instrument, the genetically superior seedlings of forest trees and other equally important plant species to all forestation and plantation projects such as IFMA, SIFMA, PFDA, CBFM, watershed projects and private tree farmers and non-government organizations.

     The clonal forestry center may also provide seedlings in limited quantities, free of charge, to researchers and institution for experimental purposes, upon request.

F. MONITORING AND EVALUATION

     A system of computerized monitoring and evaluation shall be installed for the Clonal Forestry Program. It shall include inter-related processes concerned with the collection and analyses of information relevant to current and completed clonal propagation and plantation development activities.

     The FMB and ERDB shall formulate the systems/procedures for the conduct of M & E for all clonal programs, in coordination with DENR field offices and other DENR units.

     The ERDB shall conduct monitoring and evaluation of field performance, focusing on the application of clonal technology, e.g. growth and survival of treated micro-somatic cloned materials to assess the actual performance of the applied technologies and determine the training needs of the Program.

G. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

     The EMB, in proper coordination with the FMB, ERDB and the regional offices shall undertake that will focus on the effect and impact of the Clonal Forestry Program.

VII. ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT

     The Program Steering Committee (PSC) was created with the DENR Secretary as the Chairperson, and the Directors of FMB, ERDB, representative from OSEC, and a Forestry Consultant as members.

     A National Technical Working Group (NTWG) and a Secretariat chaired by the FMB Assistant Director and co-chaired by the ERDB Assistant Director with representatives from the Office of USEC for FO, ERDB, academe, PWPA, FMB technical staff and other concerned agencies/organizations as members shall assist the PSC.

     In the field level, a Technical Working Group called the Project Management Staff (PMS) to be directly reporting under the Regional Executive Director (RED)shall be created. It shall be composed of a focal person, representatives from FMS and ERDS, the PENRO and CENRO where the clonal nursery is located, and the academe. The PMS shall be supported by a Secretariat to be designated by the RED concerned.

VIII. FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS

     For CY-2002, the DENR budget shall be reprogrammed to include the amount for the implementation of the Clonal Forestry Program. Thereafter, the amount for the Program shall be included in the regular appropriations of the Department.

IX. QUALITY STANDARDS (ISO 9002)

     All regional clonal nurseries will be centrally monitored and required to conform to certain standards of practices and procedures acceptable under strict review of an authorized body, like the SGS Philippines for international standardization.

     All the regional level, the RED and the PMS shall be responsible in strictly implementing the required standards of practices and procedures for a clonal nursery.

FACTS ABOUT CLONAL FORESTRY

• A clone is an exact copy of the original individual tree. It possesses all the genes of the original and will respond to the environment or stimuli in the same way as that of the original.


• In cloning an individual tree is duplicated many times, and the duplicates grow to become independent trees themselves. The duplicates are called clones of the original individual tree.


• With the use of clonal seedlings, the magnitude and level of cultural treatment in the plantation can be easily identified and applied.


• With the use of clonal seedlings, the production or yield per hectare per year will be more accurate because of uniform size of trees.


• Production of cloned seedlings can be done anytime of the year and can produce any volume of seedlings


• Cloning can prevent the spread of disease by producing disease-free and pest resistant clone
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