FPRDI and FMB sign pact for a research project
April 4, 2012
The Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Forest Management Bureau (FMB) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) last 08 March 2011 for the project “Study on the Heating Value of Selected Fuelwood Tree Species”. Signed by FPRDI Director Romulo T. Aggangan and FMB OIC-Director Neria A. Andin, the project entails a budget of Php 200,000 and will be implemented until 31 October 2012.
According to Engr. Belen B. Bisana, Chief of FPRDI’s Bio-energy and Equipment Development Section, the project aims to determine the amount of heat released by different wood species during combustion. “The higher the heating value, the more suitable the wood species is for fuelwood. With this project, we hope to recommend the best species for fuelwood production specifically in Tagkawayan, Quezon,” added Bisana. The giant ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala), Benguet pine (Pinus insularis), yemane (Gmelina arborea), and mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) are just among the many species that would be studied.
A component of FMB’s project “Addressing Climate Change through Community-Based Fuelwood Plantation Development and Management”, the study is funded by the Korea Forest Service in support to the government’s National Greening Program. ### (Belen B. Bisana and Apple Jean C. Martin, 30 March 2012)
