left: Firelines constructed along

Firebreaks/ Greenbreaks boundaries (Photo: For. Emma N.

Philippines Castillo)
right: Firebreak with a width of six
Gaps in vegetation or other combustible material that act meters that serves as road network
as barriers to prevent and/ or control the spreading of (Photo: Engr. Djolly Ma. P. Dinamling)
forest fires to other areas.
Location: Brgy. San Miguel
Fire breaks are 1,000-meter long, ten meters wide, located in the periphery/boundary Region: Danao, Bohol
and/or top of the ridge as barriers to slow or stop the progress of a fire. Green breaks Technology area: 3.6 km2
are formed within the firebreaks by planting fire-resistant species in the gap portions Conservation measure: vegetative
such as kakawate (Gliricidia sepium), banana (Musa) abaca (Musa textilis), malunggay Stage of intervention: prevention of
(Moringa oleifera), and cassava (Manihot esculenta). As a practice, fire breaks are land degradation
established in every ten hectares to form a block, but it can vary depending on the
Origin: Developed DENR (Department
slope of the area. Fires tend to spread quickly in higher slopes compared to flat areas,
thus, more firebreaks are recommended.
of Environment and Natural Resources)
Fire breaks/green breaks are established to protect the forest trees and wildlings from protocol on reforestration, traditional
disturbances and wildfire. In case of forest fire, firebreaks/green breaks prevent the (>50 years ago)
spread of fire from one block to another. Wildlings are seedlings derived from seeds Land use type:
scattered by birds, insects, animals and wind without human intervention, and allowed Forests / woodlands: Plantations,
to grow naturally in the forest. The green breaks are planted with cash crops as afforestations
immediate source of food and additional income for the land users. Climate: humid, tropics
The first step in creating fire breaks is the removal of all combustible materials such as WOCAT database reference:
deadwoods and cogon grasses (Imperata cylindrica) by using hoe or plow. Then, T_PHI056en
fire-resistant plant species such as kakawate (Gliricidia sepium) cuttings (i.e. 1 meter
Related approach: Assisted Natural
high) are staked at 1.5- meter spacing on both sides of the ten-meter wide firebreak.
Kakawate is the preferred plant species because the leaves have high Nitrogen content
Regeneration (A_PHI010en)
and resistant to fire and drought. Maintenance of firebreaks/green breaks is done Compiled by: Philippine Overview of
before the onset of the dry season. It is done through brushing of invasive weeds and Conservation Approaches and
plating of root crops. The pruning of kakawate is done every three years." Bayanihan" Technologies, Bureau of Soils and
(rotational schedule of labour), a traditional communal concept of voluntary work is Water Management
practiced during the establishment of the technology. Date: 2015-06-11
The area is part of the forest reserve in Danao, Bohol primarily intended for nature Contact person: Emma N. Castillo,
conservation and protection. It is about 100-500 m.a.s.l with moderately rolling to hilly Department of Environment and
slopes. It is under humid tropics climate with an average annual rainfall of 1500-2000 Natural Resources-Forest Management
mm per year. The soil is loam, shallow depth, low fertility, with good drainage and
Bureau,Visayas Avenue, Diliman,
medium water storage capacity. The area has high biodiversity as indicated by the
presence of different indigenous trees and plants species, and wild animals and birds.
Quezon
The land users who apply the technology are small-holder farmers.These are members City,[email protected]
of a local cooperative. The population density is about 10-50 persons per sq. km. Since
extraction of resources from the forest is prohibited, off-farm income is very important
to the land users. Access to basic services and infrastructures are low.

Classification
Land use problems:
- Forest fire, competition with weedy species (expert's point of view)
spread of invasive alien species (land user's point of view)
Land use Climate Degradation Conservation measure

Plantations, afforestations humid Biological degradation: Vegetative: Others (Pruning of

tree regeneration detrimental effects of fires kakawate, root crop planting)
Vegetative: Clearing of
vegetation (eg fire
breaks/reduced fuel)

Stage of intervention Origin Level of technical knowledge

Prevention Land users initiative Agricultural advisor

Mitigation / Reduction Experiments / Research Land user
Rehabilitation Externally introduced
Other: DENR (Department of Environment and
Natural Resources) protocol on reforestration:
traditional (>50 years ago)

Main causes of land degradation:

Direct causes - Human induced: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires)
Main technical functions: Secondary technical functions:
- control of fires - stabilisation of soil (eg by tree roots against land slides)
- reduction of dry material (fuel for wildfires) - sediment retention / trapping, sediment harvesting
- increase of biomass (quantity)
- perimeter dirt road

Environment
Natural Environment
Average annual rainfall Altitude (m a.s.l.) Landform Slope (%)
(mm)

> 4000 mm > 4000 plateau / plains flat

3000-4000 mm 3000-4000 ridges gentle
2000-3000 mm 2500-3000 mountain slopes moderate
1500-2000 mm 2000-2500 hill slopes rolling
1000-1500 mm 1500-2000 footslopes hilly
750-1000 mm 1000-1500 valley floors steep
500-750 mm 500-1000 very steep
250-500 mm 100-500
< 250 mm <100

Soil depth (cm) Growing season(s): 0 days Soil water storage capacity: medium
Soil texture: medium (loam) Ground water table: < 5 m
0-20 Soil fertility: medium Availability of surface water: medium
20-50 Topsoil organic matter: medium (1-3%) Biodiversity: high
50-80 Soil drainage/infiltration: medium
80-120
>120
Tolerant of climatic extremes: temperature increase, droughts / dry spells

Human Environment
Forests / woodlands per Land user: employee (company, government), Importance of off-farm income: :
household (ha) medium scale land users, common / average land Access to service and infrastructure: low:
users, men and women technical assistance, employment (eg off-farm), market,
<0.5 Population density: 10-50 persons/km2 roads & transport, drinking water and sanitation;
0.5-1 Annual population growth: 1% - 2% moderate: health, education, energy
1-2 Land ownership: state Market orientation: subsistence (self-supply)
Land use rights: open access (unorganised) Purpose of forest / woodland use: fruits and nuts,
2-5
Relative level of wealth: poor, which represents other forest products / uses (honey, medical, etc.)
5-15 100% of the land users; 100% of the total area is
15-50 owned by poor land users
50-100
100-500
500-1,000
1,000-10,000
>10,000
 Technical drawing

Firelines established in the ANR site. (Mr.

Patricio A. Yambot)

Implementation activities, inputs and costs

Establishment activities Establishment inputs and costs per ha
- clearing of cogon grass in the firelines Inputs Costs (US$) % met by land
- Planting of kakawate cuttings user
Labour 26.67 100%
TOTAL 26.67 100.00%

Maintenance/recurrent activities Maintenance/recurrent inputs and costs per ha per year

- brushing/clearing Inputs Costs (US$) % met by land
- Pruning of kakawate/per year user
Labour 4.44 100%
TOTAL 4.44 100.00%

Remarks:

Assessment
Impacts of the Technology
Production and socio-economic benefits Production and socio-economic disadvantages

increased fodder production reduced wood production

decreased labour constraints
Socio-cultural benefits Socio-cultural disadvantages

community institution strengthening

improved conservation / erosion knowledge
Ecological benefits Ecological disadvantages

reduced hazard towards adverse events

reduced fire risk
reduced surface runoff
reduced emission of carbon and greenhouse gases
increased plant diversity
increased / maintained habitat diversity
Off-site benefits Off-site disadvantages

reduced damage on public / private infrastructure

Contribution to human well-being / livelihoods

Through the technology, People Organization (PO) members were encouraged to plant cash crops as greenbreaks as
an immediate source of food and additional income.

Benefits /costs according to land user

Benefits compared with costs short-term: long-term:

Establishment slightly negative positive
Maintenance / recurrent positive positive

Acceptance / adoption:
100% of land user families have implemented the technology with external material support. The Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR) provided financial and technical support in the establishment of the technology.
0% of land user families have implemented the technology voluntary. No spontaneous adoption was recorded without the
support of the government (DENR) or private agencies.

Concluding statements
Strengths and how to sustain/improve Weaknesses and how to overcome
Relative small financial input in the establishment of the Fires could cross on the firebreaks because of big and
technology Regular clearing of firebreaks overlapping canopies. Regular trimming on the canopies of
trees near the firelines and brushing of weeds/grasses.
The technology does not require heavy equipment and
instrument during the establishment Use of indigenous tools
during establishment such as hoe and plows

Copyright (c) WOCAT (2016)