Determining the carrying capacity of the AFO-CBFM area in Talisay City and Minglanilla, Cebu, Philippines

摘要

This study determined the carrying capacity of Arthur's Farmers Organization - Community-Based Forest Management (AFO-CBFM) area to ascertain the maximum number of families that can be accommodated in the CBFM area without endangering its ecological sustainability and at the same time, meeting and satisfying the social and economic needs of the CBFM beneficiaries. Using Slovin's formula to determine the sample size of respondents, 246 were randomly selected and interviewed. Interview results were classified into socio-demographic, farming systems, psycho-social perception, and limiting factors influencing farmlot productivity. These were then used as bases in determining the CBFM area's carrying capacity model, as well as, the standard area requirement for each AFO-CBFM beneficiary to be able to live a decent life. Using the modified BoulIon's formula, the same results were used in determining the area's Potential Carrying Capacity (PCC) and Real Carrying Capacity (RCC). The PCC computed value is 420 families while the RCC computed value is 323 families when areas 50% and above and existing plantation are incorporated. The PCC result shows that in AFO's 1,374-ha CBFM area, ideally only 420 families could be accommodated out of its population of 877 families. However, in the case of AFO-CBFM area, the PCC value can be raised higher since majority of beneficiaries derive.