FMB Technical Bulletin

STANDARD COST AND DESIGN FOR FOREST PROTECTION

AND SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION (SWC) MEASURES No.13
1 The Technical Bulletin:
This Technical Bulletin enumerates some of the forest protection and soil and water conservation
measures commonly used to ensure the effective management and maintenance of established plan-
tations. This will serve as guide to all regions and field offices for their formulation of annual Work and
Financial Plan. It provides standard cost for their targets on soil and water conservation and infra-
structure development under watershed rehabilitation and protection. In addition, this endeavour will
benefit the communities within certain watershed to enhance and stabilize the condition of soil and
provide enough water supply in the area.

2 Scope and Coverage

This Technical Bulletin shall apply to all components of all forestland development programs and
projects.

3 Users of this Technical Bulletin

The intended users of this technical bulletin are personnel of DENR field offices who are involved in
planning, implementing and managing of forest resources and forestlands.

4 Definition of terms
4.1 Soil Conservation refers to land-based management practices for minimizing, if not totally
eliminating, soil erosion and movements from higher to lower slopes to maintain fertility and pro-
ductivity of the land. Soil conservation techniques may be in the form of vegetative, structural and
combination of vegetative and structural approaches/measures.

4.2 Rill Erosion are narrow drainage lines less than 30cm deep and progressed when surface
water concentrates in depressions or low points through paddocks and erodes the soil. It com-
monly occur in bare agricultural land, particularly overgrazed land, and in freshly cultivated soil
where the soil structure has been loosened.

4.3 Gully Erosion are channels deeper than 30cm that cannot be removed by normal cultiva-
tion. It occurs when smaller water flows concentrate and cut a channel through the soil.

4.4 Sheet Erosion is the removal of soil in thin layers due to impacts of raindrops and shallow
surface flow during rainy season. It can cause nutrient and organic matter loss of the soil.

4.5 River Bank Erosion is the removal of soil/scouring due to the intensity of flowing water
along riverbank. It can be observed by erosion on the outside of a bend and deposited materials
on the inside bends of the river.
5 Types of Forest Protection and Soil and Water Conservation Measures
SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES

1. Structural Measures structures constructed in more advanced stages/severe cases of ero-

sion such as gullies and rills in stream/river channels. Vegetative measures in this case may
be inappropriate as they cannot control and hold the soil in place. Severe erosion can be found
along barren areas, road cuts, and steep slopes devoid of vegetation that need urgent remedial
measures in view of the effect of run-off or overflow from hillside down to the riverbank. Application/
establishment of gabions, check dams, riprap/stonewalls and water impounding system can
help eliminate and reduce impacts of flooding and severe cases of soil erosion.
Engineering Structure Description
are cage-like baskets constructed on a non-corro-
sive wire and filled with rock. The water flows eas-
ily through this type of structure. By the time the
1.1 Gabions
gabions have reached their final stability, fill rocks
will have combined with soil and vegetation into
permanent structure (refer to Figure 1).
is a small dam, which can be either temporary
or permanent. It is built across a minor chan-
nel/river, irrigation canal or drainage ditch. Es-
1.2 Check Dam
tablished to reduce erosion and gullying in the
channel and lower the speed of water flow dur-
ing heavy rain (refer to Figure 2 and 2.1).
are foundation or sustaining wall of stones or
chunks of concrete established commonly on
1.3 Riprap/Stone Walls
any waterway or water containment where there
is potential water erosion (refer to Figure 3).
is a box-type structure built across a narrow de-
pression or valley to restrain water and develop a
reservoir that will store rainfall and run-off during
the rainy season for immediate or future use. It pro-
vides water for supplemental irrigation, domestic
1.4 Water Impounding purposes and livestock production in critical, less
System/Tank accessible upland areas. However, if the purpose
of construction is to provide potable/drinking water
from springs to the surrounding communities, it is
suggested that the water undergo appropriate wa-
ter treatment process in order to ensure the health
and safety of the community (refer to Figure 4).
2. Vegetative Measures work measures done in gradually eroded areas where sheet erosion is most
likely to occur. This measure involves the applications of grading and terracing through natural vegetative
strips/ hedgerows, wattling and grass/cogon matting; and reforestation (planting of forest species).
Vegetative Structure Description
are natural strips of vegetation in cultivated farms
or along the contour. Planted approximately one-
meter wide strip following the contour preferably
ten (10) meters apart in 15-20% slopes and closer
in steeper slopes to regulate water and help pre-
2.1 Hedgerows/Natural Vegetated Strips vent soil loss and reduce flooding. This will serve
as “filter” of eroded soil particles from upslope of
cultivated farm lots and prevent them from reach-
ing streams, rivers and creeks. Preferred hedgerow
species are Madre de Cacao, Flamingia macrophyl-
la, Desmodium renzonii and Pennisetum purpureum.

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 is established through construction of poles/
pegs intertwined with twigs or branches used
for walls and fences. The most common species
used and suitable for wattling is Kakawate, for it
2.2 Wattling
has the ability to coppice. Cogon, napier, talahib
or sometimes sunflower can also be used in-
stead of branches/twigs and this is called modi-
fied wattling (refer to Figures 5 and 5.1).
is a method to stabilize the soil along riverbank.
The preferred species to be planted on both
sides of river or stream is bamboo specifically
Kauayan (Bambusa spinosa), Kawayan killing
2.3 Riverbank Stabilization (Bambusa vulgaris) and Boho (Schizostachyum lu-
mampao), wherein the roots hold the soil in place
and eventually reduce the impact of water flow
thereby preventing the streams from being erod-
ed or scoured and it has economic value.
is a measure to stabilize an eroded area which
includes planting of cover crops such as cen-
trozema, kudzu, collopogonium and the like. Es-
2.4 Hillside Work/
tablishment of cover crops as an erosion control
Stabilization
is preferably done together with other vegetative
measure such as wattling, terracing and installa-
tion of matting.

FOREST PROTECTION MEASURES

3. Infrastructure Development for this purpose is defined as one of the forest protection strate-
gies used for monitoring and evaluation of established plantations for forestland development pro-
grams and projects. This includes establishment of graded foot trail, fire lines and look-out tower to
prevent the occurrence of fire and for maintenance and protection of established plantations

Infrastructure Description
is approximately 1-meter wide maintained ac-
cess path which facilitate the transport of seed-
Graded Trail/Foot Trail lings from the nursery to planting site. This foot
trail provides easier project supervision, moni-
toring and evaluation.
is a small building, usually constructed at strate-
gic places such as high vantage point in order to
maximize the viewing distance and range; from
Look-out Tower
this vantage point the personnel that manned
the tower will detect early the occurrence of for-
est fire in the plantation site.
are strips established around or following the
perimeter of the plantation to prevent the oc-
currence of fire coming from adjacent area. It is
Fire Lines
commonly done on the onset of dry season to
clear the plantation from all combustible materi-
als such as grasses, plant debris, etc.

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 6 Standard Cost for some Forest Protection and Soil and Water Conservation Measures
The activities stipulated hereunder, specifically on structural measures and infrastructure develop-
ment, are computed including costs of labor and materials for construction:

Activities Unit of Work Measure Unit Cost (Php)

I. Construction of Soil and Water Conservation

1. Structural Measures

1.1 Gabion check dams Cubic meter 3,000.00

1.2 Mixed boulder and concrete check dams Cubic meter 4,000.00

1.3 Grouted Riprap or stone walls Cubic meter 3,200.00

1.4 Water Impounding System/Tank Cubic meter 18,300.00

2. Vegetative Measures
2.1 Hedgerows/ Natural Vegetated Strips
(Madre de Cacao / Flamingia macrophylla / Cuttings 6.00
Desmodium renzonii / Pennisetum purpureum)
2.1 Wattling (Kakawate+twigs/branches) Cuttings 5.00
2.2 Modified Wattling
Cuttings/Bundle 15.00
(Kakawate+Napier/Talahib/Cogon)
2.3 Riverbank Stabilization (Bamboo) Culm 35.00
2.4 Hillside work/stabilization
Linear meter 5.00
(centrozem/Kudzu/Collopogonium spp.)
2.5 Planting of forest species
Seedling 6.00
(Ipil-ipil/Hauili/Tibig; Leguminous spp.)
II. Infrastructure Development

Graded trail/foot trail (1 m wide) Kilometer 9,000.00

Construction of look-out tower Unit 20,000.00

Combination of look-out tower and range

Unit 600,000.00
station

Fire line construction 10m width, 120m/manday **

Fire line maintenance 200sq. m/ manday **

** Depends on the existing minimum wage in a particular area (attached is the list of minimum wage per region as published
by DOLE, August 2014)

References: DMC No. 11 series of 1988 with inflation rate of 3% per year
FMB Technical Bulletin No. 10 Standard seedling cost and unit cost of activities of the National Greening Program
Approved Five-Year National Forest Protection Program, 2014
Submitted Watershed Management Plans
Unit of Work Measure for 2014
Southern Philippines Irrigation Sector Project (SPISP) Submitted Management Plans
DMC 2000-19 Forestry Sector Project (Policies and Guidelines) p.237
Department of Labor and Employment website (Summary of Minimum Wage per Region)
Agpoa, A. et. al (1976). Manual of Reforestation and Erosion Control for the Philippines as compiled by H.J. Weidelt.

Refer to FMB Technical Bulletin No.10 Standard Seedling Cost and Unit Cost of Activities of the National
Greening Program for reference on the costing of preparatory activities such as site preparation and
site validation, assessment and planning.
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Figure 1. Examples of constructed gabion chekdam.

Figure 2. Check dam (Option 1)

.

Figure 2.1 Check dam (Option 2)

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 Source: Solana Cagayan Valley, Region 2

Figure 3 Examples of constructed grouted riprap or stonewalls

Figure 4. Water Impounding System

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 Top View

Front View
Side View

Figure 5. Examples of established wattling

Top View

Side View
Front View

Figure 5.1 Examples of established modified wattling

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This material is produced by the Forest Management Bureau, Department of Environment and
Natural Resources, FMB Building, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines. June 2016