Focus Crop: Aquilaria spp. (Agarwood)
Target: Agarwood farmers, plantation supervisors, cooperatives, investors, LGUs, extension workers
Format: 40% classroom · 60% field & demo plantation
Certification: Certificate in Agarwood Carbon Farming (Intensive)
COURSE PURPOSE
This intensive course equips participants to:
- Manage agarwood plantations as high-carbon, climate-resilient systems
- Increase soil and biomass carbon while protecting resin productivity
- Align agarwood farming with ESG, carbon markets, and traceability systems
- Prepare plantations for future carbon credit or premium buyer programs
AGARWOOD & CARBON FARMING FOUNDATIONS
Module 1: Carbon Farming for Agarwood Growers
Key Topics:
- Climate change explained for tree farmers
- Carbon cycle: atmosphere → Aquilaria trees → soil
- Why agarwood plantations are naturally carbon-positive
- Carbon farming myths vs facts (“carbon credits are instant cash”)
Activity:
- Identify where carbon is stored in an agarwood plantation
Module 2: Soil Carbon Management in Agarwood Farms
Key Topics:
- Soil organic carbon under agarwood trees
- Importance of ground cover and leaf litter
- Reduced tillage and root protection
- Compost, organic fertilizers, and biochar (agarwood-safe use)
Hands-on:
- Soil color, moisture, and structure assessment under agarwood
Practical Session: Building Soil Carbon Without Harming Trees
- Mulching using on-farm biomass
- Compost placement around agarwood root zones
- Do’s and don’ts of soil disturbance
TREE CARBON, PLANTATION DESIGN & RESIN SAFETY
Module 3: Agarwood Trees as Long-Term Carbon Banks
Key Topics:
- Carbon storage in trunk, roots, and canopy
- Tree age, diameter, and carbon accumulation
- Spacing, density, and survival vs carbon trade-offs
- Why premature harvesting destroys carbon value
Module 4: Carbon-Smart Agarwood Plantation Design
Key Topics:
- Monocrop vs diversified agarwood systems
- Companion trees and understory plants (carbon & soil support)
- Water, shade, and erosion control
- Plantation zoning (production, protection, regeneration)
Workshop:
- Simple plantation mapping and spacing design
Practical Session: Resin Induction with Carbon Protection
- Timing of induction vs carbon maturity
- Avoiding over-induction and tree mortality
- Healing, recovery, and regeneration cycles
- Maintaining biomass after resin harvesting
MEASUREMENT, TRACEABILITY & CARBON INCOME
Module 5: Measuring Carbon in Agarwood Plantations (Simple MRV)
Key Topics:
- What needs to be measured (trees, soil, survival)
- Tree inventory basics (age, DBH, survival rate)
- Simple soil carbon indicators
- Why records protect farmers
Activity:
- Fill out an agarwood carbon baseline sheet
Module 6: Traceability, ESG & Buyer Requirements
Key Topics:
- Plantation-to-market traceability
- QR codes and digital farm records (intro)
- ESG requirements for agarwood buyers
- Avoiding illegal harvest and reputational risk
Module 7: Carbon Credits & Premium Markets for Agarwood
Key Topics:
- Why tree-based carbon works best
- Bundling agarwood farms into carbon projects
- Carbon credits vs premium traceable agarwood pricing
- Risks, permanence, and long-term commitments
Case Example:
- Agarwood plantation linked to ESG buyers or carbon programs
CORE MESSAGE TO AGARWOOD FARMERS
Protect the tree. Protect the soil. Protect the future value.
Agarwood farming done right stores carbon, builds trust with buyers, and secures long-term income.
This agarwood-only intensive is ideal for plantation licensing, ESG-aligned buyers, carbon-ready projects, and institutional partnerships.