Bio-Diversity Conservation and Agroforestry Research Cabanatuan, The Philippines Funded by: KEIDANREN Implemented by: ICA Japan, Wesleyan University, and local people
This research studied the actual extent of environmental destruction in Rio Chico, Nueva Ecija in coordination with Wesleyan University. Most of the farmable lowland in Rio Chico belongs to a few landlords, and many landless poor peasants can only earn income through illegal logging of the highlands. The forests around Rio Chico have almost disappeared, endangering village's existence due to loss of income and the rise of flash floods. Limited environmental educational programs in the region contributes to a low awareness of environmental preservation. Staff of ICA Japan and local forestry experts comprehensively discussed regional issues with villagers and upland minorities, and planned to implement an agroforestry and environmental education project for environmental preservation, and to protect minority's interests. People are now preparing for participatory afforestation, training in agroforestry, well construction, and literacy education.
	2. Dean Eliezer Nasino, Dean of the Wesleyan School of Agriculture welcomes the reforestation team from Japan.
	3. Dean Nasino presented his vision for a dynamic reforestation extension service which will use students, residents of villages near the forests, and tribal people living in the forests as the key resources for a new citizen-based reforestation program.
	4. Students from the Philippines and from Japan began implementing their reforestation dream by planting trees near the university.
	5. Villagers have been involved in cutting the trees; in this meeting with the villagers, they have the opportunity to present their ideas for assisting with re-forestation.
	6. The villagers of Rio Chico tell us they need a source of income and appropriate education for their children so that they do not have to depend upon illegal logging for their livelyhood. They are very enthusiastic about the possibility of helping with reforestation.
	7. The research team, villagers, and tribal folks from the targeted reforestation area are ready to travel to the 1000 hectre site using a ten wheel drive transport truck.
	8. On the way to the site, we pass lands rented by rich ranchers who destroyed the forests through careless ranching. They need to learn to do tree planting on their ranches.
	9. After going part of the way by truck, the road becomes impassable, and the team sets out on foot.
	10. At the bottom of this valley is the official reforestation station which is too small to control the illegal logging and to plant many trees. Notice that most of the nearby hills are barren of trees.
	11. This is the DENR station at Bignay where there appears to be only one person assigned to take care of this hugh area.
	12. We watch as an illegal logger floats his raft of wood to the market below. The DENR staff are afraid to interfere, and so they just give a friendly greeting to them. Usually young children guide these rafts so that the authorities will not want to bother with them.
	13. The staff continue to use burning to control weeds, and contribute to the erosion.
	14. Life here is simple; they make their rice flour by hand pounding.
	15. This is the family kitchen. The staff person lives here with his family of three children.
	16. Soon many people from the surrounding area joined the reforestation team for a quick lunch before the long climb to the project area. It was a great opportunity to talk sincerely with them.
	17. This is another view of the devastated forest, near Bignay, looking down on the Rio Chico River.
	18. From the same place, looking to the left...
	19.?@...and to the right.
	20. This is the western view from 'Tore ni Mabalas' which is 443 meters above sea level, looking towards the Barangay Rio Chico. We can see that the whole area is in need of tree planting.
	21. This is the souteastern view from Mabalas. It is the northern most point of the project area. In the foreground is land for agroforestry. In the far distance there are the virgin forests that we hope to protect.
	22. These tribal people are quite knowledgeable about the ways of the forest, and hope for a chance to use their knowledge.
	23. This is Mt. Arayat which is halfway between the two reforestation project areas, and can be seem from as far away as northern Manila. Fortunately these fertile rice fields were not destroyed by the Mt. Pinatubo eruption.
	24. Under this lahar, which is far south of Mt. Pinatubo, as far as one can see, the lahar plain exists. In the foregound is the third floor of a new building; the first two floors lie buried.
	25. This entire town is covered deeply by the lahar 'glacier'. A few people are trying to survive in this dusty ghost town, building on top of their old homes!
	26. This is the view from the Nacolcol Resettlement Area, looking directly towards Mr. Pinatubo. The lahar is 20 meters deep in what was a beautiful valley.
	27. This is the highway from here going east towards Mt. Pinatubo.
	28. The Nacolcol Resettlement community is in these hills just above the lahar.
	29. This high school is just across the street from our meeting place.
	30. This is one of the resettlement houses provided by the government. The people have houses, but no jobs, and the government aid ends in about six months!
	31. This is a closeup of the same home with a view of the family and their living conditions.
	32. The research team is learning from the Nacolcol people and helping to plan their future.
	33. They worked in two teams, one to plan about reforestation . . .
	34.?@. . . and the second team was thinking about agroforestry in the Mango grove area.
	35. These are the famous 'giant' mangos. 40 Km away on the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo the resettled people have land for Mangos and for their reforestation project.
	36. The farmers demonstrated how to spray mangos to force the trees to bear fruit, and to protect them from insects.
	37. The whole team has finished their research and are ready to make plans for the future.

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