permaculture

Workshop Module 8: Forests, Tree Crops, and Bamboo 233

Field activity : Visit forest and tree crop examples

Method : Field visit, observation exercise

Tools : See preparation below

References : PC Book MOD 8 - Forests, Tree Crops, and Bamboo

Objective : Participants learn about community forestry options

Field visits are excellent for bringing what the participants have learned into
a practical framework.

Preparation

• Identify sites that provide good examples of sustainable tree crop management
  and sustainable community forest management.


• Identify people involved in the development, management, or ownership of the
  sites. These people could be:
  
  
  • Land owners.
  
  
  • Site workers.
  
  
  • Community leaders.
  
  
  • Project managers, etc.
  
  
  
  


• Speak to these people about the hope to conduct a field visit to their area/
  project and the objectives of the field visit. Ask them if they would be willing
  to share their knowledge and participate in the workshop by being available to
  explain the forest management systems and answer participants’ questions.


• Make an agreement about the date and time for the site visit, ideally just
  following the presentations and practical exercises on this topic.


• Organise vehicles for transportation and water, snacks, or meals for the
  participants if the field visit is longer than 2 hours.


• Organise clipboard, paper, and pens for the participants so that they can write
  notes, draw sketches, maps, etc during the field visit.

Running this exercise

• At the arranged time, go to the site and let the guides walk the participants
  around the site, explaining the plants, plans, and techniques used.


• Encourage the participants to write notes, draw sketches, maps, etc, and to ask
  as many as questions as possible. Encourage them to critically analyze the site
  as well (every site and project can be improved).


• After (or during) the field visit, the facilitator can conduct a group discussion
  where the participants can share what they learned and the facilitator can
  answer any further questions and add ideas if needed.

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