Pacific Islands FORESTS & TREES m2TE)

Incorporating SPRIG, ACIAR Pacific Forestry Update & PNG-ACIAR Forest Domestication Project AusAID

No. 2/02 ISSN 1605-5462

UPDATES FROM THE COUNTRIES:

of Ethnobotanical Information com- INSIDE menced operation in November 2001. PANDANUS CONSERVATION PROJECT IN The specific objectives and outputs of Pages the Project include; 2 Continuation of Country To establish field genebanks and Updates : to propagate planting materials to Kiribati; Tonga; ; assist food security and exchange ; Wallis & Futuna important species with other and Solomon Is countries in the future 6 Other Regional News - To provide Pandanus-planting An Extract from materials to generate nutritious Overstory # 103 and Vitamin -rich foods to overcome various nutrition - 8 SPRIG News - Phase 2 related illness (such as Vitamin A deficiency, anaemia, diabetes, 12 ACIAR Pacific Forestry high blood pressure and obesity). Update Pandanus or screw pine (Pandanus To protect and propagate tectorius) is a very important part !- of cultivars of economic, cultural 14 PNG-ACIAR Forest Kiribati life and culture. Pandanus and ecological importance for Domestication Project grows wild in all the islands of Kiribati medicinal purposes in an effort to and due to many uses including food, increase self-reliance in Kiribati. 16 Technical Assistance to materials and handi- medicine, building To conserve important Pandanus Samoa crafts etc, life would be more difficult cultivars for future generations without it in Kiribati.

The Kiribati Ministry of Natural Re- sources Development assessment of the QUOTE standing (natural) stock indicates the Pandanus resource is now endangered and threatened with extinction (due to increased human population pressure). "A sense of duty is useful in In this respect, it was imperative that work, but offensive in personal measures for conservation and replen- relations. People wish to be ishment is developed and implemented. liked, not to be endured with patient resignation." With the generous financial support (USD 11,000) from SPC and FAO, the Project titled Pandanus Varietal Col- Bertrand Russell lection, Conservation and Recording June 2002 Pacific Islands Forests & Trees

PROJECT NEWS following membership; To facilitate the implementation of the TONGA Project, technical training and support Director of Agriculture and Forestry - were provided by Professor Randy NATIONAL AGRO-FORESTRY Chairman Thaman of the University of the South TRAINING WORKSHOP Head of Forestry Division - Pacific, Dr Lex Thompson, Project Team Secretary Leader of the SPRIG Project and Mr. The Forestry Division of the Ministry Chief Executive Extension Unit - Kanawi Pouru of the SPC Forests & of Agriculture and Forestry, in Tonga Member Trees Programme. The Project is being conducted a national training workshop Chief Executive Research Unit - managed by Ms TearimawaNatake and on agro-forestry in September 2001 with Member assisted by Ms Kinaai Kairo of the Ag- the support and assistance of the Sec- Agro-forestry Specialist - riculture Division of the Ministry of retariat of the Pacific Community's For- Member Natural Resources Development. ests and Trees Programme based in Director of FSP Tonga Trust - Suva, . The workshop was held at Member Since commencing the Project, field col- the national Agriculture Research Sta- Chief Executive Information Unit - lection and recording of pandanus in- tion at Vaini, on Tongatapu Island. Member formation has covered seven village Department of Environment - communities on the island of Butaritari The training workshop was officiated Member where men and women were interviewed by Mr. Haniteli Fa'anunu, the Director on names and used of the various vari of the Ministry of Agriculture and For- iv. That the revised National eties of pandanus. Similar interviews estry. The principle resource persons Agro-forestry Masterplan and information gathering is being were from the Ministry of Agriculture (1997) and the Rolling Plan are planned for the islands Marakei, and Forestry and FSP Tonga Trust. submitted to Government Abemama and Tamana. (Cabinet) for approval; A total of 30 participants attended the v. That Vava'u MAF supply A field gene bank has been established national workshop and they were mainly compost materials to Niva at Bikenibeu, and 27 cultivars of 11 vari- forestry and agriculture extension offic- Toputapu and Nivafo'ou for eties of pandanus have been planted ers from the main and outer islands of nursery operations. and are growing. Tongatapu, Eua, Ha'apai, Vava'u, Niva vi. That the vacant agroforestry Toputapu and Nivafo'ou. positions in Tongatapu, Eua, Ha'apai, Niva Toputapu and The principle objectives of the work- Nivafo'ou are filled so that the shop were: Extension Units can provide to promote and develop strategies (on -going) training in for tree planting, agro-forestry prac- agroforestry assistance to tices and conservation; communities. to review and revise the existing vii. That the PRAP coordinated national agro-forestry master plan Agroforestry Information Kit to ensure it is still applicable and is translated into the Tongan responsive to present needs and language and is modified to situations; suit the local situations; to formulate a National Plan of Ac- That agroforestry is tion for agro-forestry in Tonga. recognised and included as an integral part of MAF major re- Some of the main outcomes and recom- search programmes; Cultivar at Bikenibeu Field Genebank mendations of the workshop included; IX. That a follow-up national agroforestry training work- i. The revision of the 1997 na- shop is conducted in Vava'u Submitted By: tional agro-forestry master in the next fiscal year 2002-03; plan for Tonga; x That a budget is provided in Tearimawa Natake and Kinaai Kairo The formulation of a national the 2002-2003 fiscal year to Project Officers action plan for agro-forestry implement the national Division of. Agriculture iii. The establishment of an agroforestry master -plan and Agro-forestry Steering related national activities; Committee which include the

2 Pacific Islands Iforest!; & laccs June 2002 Project News

is customary owned, it became neces- planted to recover the vegetation. sary to conduct a community education and awareness for the surrounding vil- Representatives from the Samoa Water lages. Authority, the Electric Power Corpora- tion and the Fisheries Division were also A 2 day workshop with the purpose invited and presented at the workshop. of educating and providing relevant in- A total of th irty participants from seven formation and types of actions to be villages (Falevao, Lalomauga, Manunu, taken for the protection, conservation Sauniatu, Falefa, Lufilufi, Faleapuna, and management of the watershed area Forestry Integrated Nursery (Tongatapu) and Saluafata) attended the 2day work- to the "pulen' u and the high chiefs" was shop. organised by the Division of Forests with support from the SPC Forests and Some of the workshop outcomes and Trees Programme in Suva, Fiji. recommendations included;

The focus of the workshop was to similar workshops should be con- raise the understanding of the commu- ducted for the different groups in nity and especially the "Chiefs" on the the communities so that the impor- importance of maintaining and healthy tance of the watershed and its main- watershed area and consequential out- tenance is further understood and comes. This would assist the Chiefs Kauri integrated with Coconut, Pandanus appreciated for preservation; and community leaders in facilitating the and other Trees Species (Tongatapu) landowners recognise and support decisions regarding the management of community based forest activities the watershed. Submitted By: and requested replanting of open land areas. They were willing to be The workshop was opened by Taniela Hoponoa involved in community oriented Afamasaga Sami Lemalu, the Assistant Of activities that would promote and Director of Forests and covered vari- Division of Forestry safeguard the Falefa watershed ous topics including; management area.

SAMOA Natural Calamities - destruction caused by cyclones, strong FALEFAWATERSHEDCOMMUNITY winds, fires, tlood or earthquakes. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS Human Activities- WORKSHOP-SAMOA destruction caused by forest clearance for livestock, subsistence, fuelwood, The Falefa watershed area is one of settlement and use of chemical and the five defined watershed areas in Sa- weedicides. moa. This watershed area is located on Water quality and flow the northeastern region of the Island on Upolu. The area was identified during Soil and vegetation retention and an evaluation survey funded by FAO/ Rehabilitation and stabilising UNDP in 1983. options for river banks, slopes, roads etc. Falefa Watershed Management Area The Division of Forestry is presently (Upolu) managing the Falefa watershed manage- A field tour of the watershed area was ment area and water from there is being also organised to show participants fea- channeled to supply a hydro power tures of importance and demonstration Submitted By: plant and the surrounding villages. One plots and tree planting areas at Magiagi of the main problems being faced is silt- village, the stabilisation of river banks Maturo Paniani ation, which affects the flow and qual- and slopes at Alaoa, an agroforestry Senior Watershed Management ity of water. Siltation is resulting from plot (contour plantings) at Malololelei Officer human activities within the watershed and the Afiamalu Water Intake site Division of Forestry area. Since most of the surrounding land where a twenty hectare area was re-

3 June 2002 Pacific Islands Forests & Trees Project News

TUVALU The manual and video on the NATIONAL AGROFORESTRY construction and maintenance TRAINING WORKSHOP of drum oven should be pub- lished and distributed to all A national training workshop on atoll countries; agroforestry, non -timber forest product, and construction of wood -fired drum The SPC should initiate collec- oven was organised and conducted by tion of information on effi- the Department of Agriculture with sup- ciency of the drum oven, in port from the SPC Forests & Trees particular the type and amount Programme. of fuel used, types of food to be cooked and time spent. The workshop was opened by the Min- ister for Agriculture, the Hon. Sam P Teo, Submitted by : and 24 participants from the outer is- land of Vaiputu and the host island, Mr. Uatea Vave attended. Competent resource Senior Agricultural Officer & persons were drawn from the agricul- Workshop Coordinator ture, environment, PICCAP and waste management Ministries to conduct the training workshop. Wallis & Futuna - New Appointment

The objectives and focus of the train- Mr Atoloto Malau replaces Mr Frederic ing conducted covered; Source: F & T Library Dentand as the national forestry repre- sentative in Wallis & Futuna. Mr. Malau The status and development Atoll Islands should initiate has worked closely with Frederic on for- of agroforestry systems in local studies to determine and estry matters and he is also associated atoll islands document the economic value with plant protection and quarantine. Mr Malau is stationed on the island of Nursery practices of the main plants and trees vital for the livelihoods of the Wallis and he will be assisted by messers Propagation and processing of people; Guy Ramanantsoa and Aselemo Morinda citrifolia (Noni) Fakatika from Futuna. Training of extension officers Construction and maintenance at national and sub -regional of wood -fired drum oven One of the main forestry programs he level should continue to en- and his colleagues will be working hard sure sustainability and avail- The sessions on agroforestry systems at is to introduce integration of indig- ability of national trainers; and nursery practices in atoll islands enous hardwood species among the were conducted over six days and the existing Pine forests. The species they b) Morinda citrifolia -Nursery session on construction and mainte- will be look at among which include san- Practices, Planting, and Pro- nance of drum ovens was held during dalwood species and Intsia bijuga. cessing the last four days. All sessions included A survey or study to initiate both theory and practical work and were Mr. Malau can be contacted at this ad- conducted in Tuvaluan language. and determine future market dress: demand and price for Morinda from atoll islands should Some of the workshop outcomes and juice Service de l'economie rurale be done by SPC; recommendations include; Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna Any current information avail- BP 19, Mata'utu a) Agroforestry Systems and Nursery able on Morinda in the region 98600 Uvea Practices for Atoll Environ- should be published and dis- Tel: (681)720400 ment; seminated to all countries Fax:(681) 720404 Agroforestry systems and Email: [email protected] nursery practices should con- c) Construction and Maintenance of tinue to form the core of future Drum Oven Continued on page 16 agroforestry training;

4 Pacific Islands Forests & Trees .lone 2002

Project News

Solomon Islands SIG for economic growth. Introduction of support for re forestation as a new activity; It was noted that the FMP is not con- A few notes on the Solomon Islands Scholarships were affected by tributing to the high and unsustainable Forestry Management Project (FMP): the cessation of AusAID's rates of harvesting. These were in place scholarship program for since before the Project and continued The FMP is an AusAID development Solomon Islanders. Neverthe during the ethnic tensions when the new cooperation project in Solomon Islands less, two women are receiving Forestry Act was and the forestry. The Project Design Document not gazetted overseas training. old Forestry Act was The (PDD) described a project estimated to revived. Project has helped SIG and landowners cost AUD4.9 million to the Government Informal training has been delivered in to better recover full resource rent from of Australia with duration of three years. the log operations area, and commercial the harvest regime. The events of June The Project has a focus on institutional and licensing unit. strengthening and human resource de- 2000 and subsequently have cost the Project by delaying inputs and lost coun- velopment in the FD. It targets sustain- terpart time. Much of the work of the able management of forests and the Farewell to Mr. Keith Dolman - the out- maximisation of revenue and resource first 12 months in institutional strength- going Project Manager who has com- ening and staff capacity building is be- rent to forest owners and SIG. The pleted his three year contract with FMP, ing repeated. The Project continued its Project commenced in August 1999. and now plans to move on to Malawi. small works program of assistance with infrastructure After reasonable progress, project ac- rehabilitation and repair, and replacement or procurement tivities were interrupted in June 2000 of needed equipment when ethnic tensions forced the resig- that improved func- tionality and nation of the Government and installa- appearance of FD facili- ties. The focus in this period tion of an interim body. Soon after, the was inten- sification of log export monitoring. SIG postponed implementation of the new Forestry Act and amended legisla- Achievements in an environment tion to expedite the release of new log- of uncertainty include: ging licenses to increase export duty revenue flows from log exports. The Project's activities of the first year were A new Forests Act was drafted lost or interrupted as only low activity and approved but not gazet was possible after June 2000. Effec- ted, and early progress made tively, the FMP was set back at least in training and awareness of one year. the incoming legislation; The Commercial Section and A key outcome of an AusAID commis- Licensing Unit was estab sioned review of the FMP in 2002 was fished in FD; an agreement to extend the programme Resumption of log pricing ca of assistance for a further two years. pacity; The Review Team was impressed with A networked computer capa the positive comments of key stakehold- bility, and return and enhance ers on FD performance and its impact ment of the log export database on realising the priority SIG objective to the FD; of maximising revenue from log exports. An increase in intensity and Revenues receipts from logs are cur- rently around SBD4-5 million per week quality of log export monitor ing and represent up to 90 per cent of for- in the provinces resulting eign exchange earnings. Log monitor- in increased capture of re ing with FMP assistance raised SIG rev- source rents at positive ben efit-cost; enues by up to 5 per cent per month in late 2001. Given the prolonged interrup- Substantial upgrading of facili tion to FMP in 2000-I, the FMP is as- ties in Honiara and provinces, sessed as well timed and relevant in and supply of equipment, in design to assist immediate needs of the support of field monitoring;

5 June 2002 Pacific Islands Forests & Trees OTHER REGIONAL NEWS

NEW APPROACH TO SOIL AND jective is of course the welfare of the land management methods, so the fo- WATERCONSERVATION people. Taking land resources as an cus will be on selected ideas which hold alternative focus, however, provides a promise for the future. A framework is (This is an extract from the edition of. powerful means to integrate production provided by the three major production The Overstory #103) with conservation, and so to lead systems - croplands, rangelands, and towqards sustainability. forests - together with the new sci- INTRODUCTION ence of agroforestry which overlaps The older approach to land manage- A set of new ideas on land management these. ment, based on the transfer of Western has taken the place of the older ap- proach, which was based on high lev- technologies, has been replaced by a LAND HUSBANDRY els inputs and transfer Western new set of ideas. For management of of of (the new approach to soil and water the croplands, new approaches include technologies to the developing world. conservation ) the land husbandry basis for soil con- The new approach has two common themes or principles. The first is to make servation, low -input sustainable agricul- In the older, or conventional, approach ture, and small-scale irrigation. On open use of external inputs, but at moderate to soil conservation, the objective was levels and with higher efficiency. To rangelands, reconciling the extreme to reduce soil loss, measured as tonnes achieve this objective means working complexity of land management needs per hectare. This was achieved by means in with processes the with communal tenure raises problems conjunction of of earth structures: either terraces, or natural ecosystems. The second prin- which are almost insuperable. Multiple - combinations of contour -aligned banks purpose forest management has re- ciple is to implement changes through (often called bunds) with ditches. Wa- collaboration with the people, the ap- placed the earlier focus on wood pro- ter runoff was reduced either by caus- proach of participatory development. duction. Agroforestry has helped to di- ing it to sink in, as with terrace systems, Underlying these is a fundamental three - versify farm production, and offered or by diverting it into controlled water- new means of soil management. stage approach: ways. Conservation of this type became a branch of civil engineering; manuals These new approaches have a number to understand the functioning were published on how to build such of the natural ecosystem, of ideas in common: understanding the structures for local conditions of rain- soils, water, plants, animals; processes in the soil, water, and plant fall, slope, and soil. Under the former ecosystem, as a basis for their modifi- system of land capability classification, this as a cation; adapting management methods taking understanding only gentle slopes were classed as suit- a sustain to the infinite variety of local condi- basis, to construct able for arable use; all steeper land was tions; and increasing production not by able managed ecosystem, a allocated to grazing, forestry, or conser- land use system that will both taking in more land nor with higher in- vation.' Agricultural extension work was be productive and conserve or puts, but by using soils, water, fertiliz- based on the view that soil conserva- improve the resource base; ers, and plant resources with greater tion should come first, as a prerequisite efficiency. Finally, it has invariably been for agricultural improvements. It was to reconcile the management found that best results come from a par- commonly conducted on the basis of a needs for sustainable produc ticipatory approach, implementing prohibitive policy, either by forbidding tion with economic and social changes through the joint efforts of re- cultivation of steeply sloping land or source scientists and the knowledge requirements and constraints. by legally enforced requirements for the and skills of the local people. construction of conservation works. Because the environmental conditions The fundamental principle of land man- vary widely, standard recommendations, Devised initially for farming conditions or extension 'packages', are not enough. agement is sustainability, the combina- in the USA, the conventional approach Management methods have to be con- tion of production with conservation. to conservation is technically success- stantly adapted to the site conditions Given the extent of poverty, the urgency ful in reducing runoff and erosion. As of climate, water, soil, and vegetation, of the food situation in the developing regards adoption it had some notable not only to their variation in space but world, and the present low level of pro- successes, in Zimbabwe for example, also their changes over time. Farmers ductivity of many farming systems, the where some landscapes of bunds, wa- have always made such adaptations, priority must be to increase production. terways, etc. looked from the air like a and extension staff should do so. This has to be achieved in ways that do conservation textbook. In Asia, some not degrade, and where possible im- extensive terracing systems were con- Much has been learnt about land man- prove, the land resource base on which structed, for example in Taiwan. agement based on these principles. It is production depends. The primary ob- But, in many cases, the older approach impossible to review the whole range of

6 Pacific Islands Forests & Trees June 2002 Other Regional News to conservation simply did not work. A * In extension, it is recognized that con- CONCLUSION clear example of failure is the case of servation can only be achieved through Land husbandry, integrated plant nutri- Jamaica. Repeated attempts were made the willing participation of farmers. For tion, small-scale irrigation, communal to introduce terrace systems to the hill this to occur, they must be able to see management of rangelands, multiple -use lands, through a series of externally benefits. It follows that conservation forest management, agroforestry - funded projects. These have not been should not be a separate element, but these are only a selection from the many maintained, and are largely abandoned. an integral part of improved farming new approaches to land resource man- In many countries, land shortage has systems. agement. There is the need to under- enforced widespread cultivation of slop- stand the functioning of natural ecosys- ing lands, and to prohibit this is both Thus there are two basic elements to tems - soils, water, and plants - as a economically and socially unrealistic. In land husbandry, technical and social. basis for their sustainable management. the Ethiopian highlands, whole commu- There is no doctrinaire reason to favour nities have their land on steep hillsides. biological methods over earth structures This management must be jointly for In Malawi in 1960, cultivation stopped if the latter are agreed to be the best production at the present and conser- at the foot of the hills; by the mid- 1970s, solution, but the cost and labour in- vation to meet the needs of the future; cultivation had extended up the hills and volved in their construction, and more and, as the natural environment is infi- onto the steeply dissected rift valley importantly maintenance, mitigate nitely variable, the best methods of scarp areas. It is difficult to enforce leg- against their use. Taken to its extreme, management will differ from place to islative penalties. Farmers' co-operation their should be no soil conservation place. Another need is to meet require- could not be obtained unless they could projects - only projects to improve ments for increased production not by see an immediate benefit in terms of sustainable production, in which con- taking in new land, nor by adding higher higher crop yields, and, when conser- servation forms an element. In a project levels of inputs, but by using resources vation is carried out in isolation from for the central hill lands ofJamaica, the with greater efficiency. A further theme other improvements, no such benefits primary, and explicit, objective is to im- is the active involvement of local people occur. prove production of perennial crops, in land management. coffee and cacao. More productive crop Out of the failures of the former system varieties, better managed, produce more The participatory approach has a social a new approach to conservation arose, leaf litter, and the only specific conser- value, helping to direct attention to the commonly called land husbandry. Fea- vation -directed element of management needs of the rural poor; it can equally tures of this approach are: is to ensure that this litter remains on well be justified on pragmatic grounds, the soil. in that no other approach to land re-

* The focus of attention is not upon source management works so effec- soil loss as such, but on its effects on The current need is human and institu- tively. production; these arise principally tional. Existing staff of conservation through loss, in eroded soil, of organic departments will require retraining. Edu- Publisher: matter and nutrients. cation in conservation has to be con- siderably broadened from its former, Permanent Agriculture Resources, * More attention is given to biological engineering, basis, to include skills in P.O. Box 428, methods of conservation, especially the use of biological methods, greater Holualoa, HI, 96725 USA; maintenance of a soil cover, including awareness of the wider problems of Tel: 808-324-4427; through agroforestry. Earth structures, farming, and practical training in partici- Fax: 808-324-4129; whilst by no means excluded, receive patory extension. E-mail: [email protected]; less emphasis. Website: http://www.agroforestry.net There is a need to consider how far soil * In dry lands, there is greater integra- conservation departments should re- tion between soil and water conserva- main separate. One solution is to abol- Editors: tion. Farmers are able to see more imme- ish them, and incorporate technical con- Craig R. Elevitch and diate benefits from conserving water. servation specialists within the general Kim M. Wilkinson agricultural extension service. The im- * It is recognized as politically and so- proved opportunities which are offered cially unacceptable to forbid the culti- by land husbandry can only achieve vation of sloping land. Ways have to their potential through well-educated be found to make such cultivation envi- staff and effective institutions. ronmentally acceptable.

7 June 2002 Pacific Islands Forests & Trees South Pacific Regional Initiatives on AusAID Forest Genetic Resources (SPRIG) SPRIG PHASE II NEWS A 2 -week course on "Computer Tech- do a class presentation using niques for Forest Genetic Resource Powerpoint to report on the trial that Project Management Work" was held over the period 8-19 they had analysed during the course. April 2002, at the Vaini Research Sta- Field days were organised to look at field Letter of Agreement between SPC tion, in the Kingdom of Nuku'alofa trials and community forestry. An over- and CSIRO Tonga. The course presenters were Kron night trip was organised to look at field Aken and Bronwyn Clarke (CSIRO For- trials on Eua. Tevita Fa'akosi, Sitiveni A letter of agreement covering collabo- Forest Products, Australia), estry and Harmai, and Masahiko Saito provided rative work on management of forest and Tom Stanjovic (Leaf Computing) and information during the field visits. We tree genetic resources in the South Pa- Ken Robson (Queensland Department visited a Pinus caribaea plantation with cific Region has been signed between -Forestry). The of Primary Industry abundant regeneration ofSantalum yasi SPC and CSIRO Forestry and Forest course was sponsored by the SPRIG2 stimulated by removal of the under- products as managing agent for SPRIG. project and was organised by the SPRIG growth. We also looked at the use of The purpose of the LoA is to clarify the Team Leader, Lex Thomson, in conjunc- Casuarina equisetifolia in an area af- nature of collaboration and the commit- tion with Tevita Faka'osi and Viliami fected by salt spray and dominated with ments of each partner. The LoA was Manu from the Tonga, Ministry of Ag- guava species, a Toona ciliata prov- signed in May in Canberra during a visit riculture (MAF). MAF provided the enance trial, and the spectacular coastal by the Director -General of SPC (Ms venue and provided administrative sup- views of Eua National park. Lourdes Pangelinan) and the Chief of port throughout the duration of the CSIRO FFP (Dr Paul Cotterill). course. A total of 17 participants at- Another half day field trip during the tended with SPRIG/AusAID supporting second week was spent looking at: It is proposed to strengthen the collabo- participants from Tonga, Fiji, Solomon ration between SPRIG and SPC in Phase Island, Samoa and Vanuatu. 2 through the SPRIG Project Team The course focused on participants be- the MAF Forestry Department's Leader (PTL) working with the SPC- coming competent in using computers. nursery; F&TP Office for six weeks each year on Most of the course participants have private agroforestry farm near areas of mutual interest. These areas used computers before but the level of Tokomolo where timber species (eg. include natural forest management and their computing skills varied. There were Agathis and Cordia) are interplanted conservation, agroforestry and devel- sufficient computers for everybody to with pineapple, pandanus and va- opment of tree resources for the atoll use. Most people had a laptop to them- nilla; island countries, better use and devel- selves, but at times people had to share opment of non -wood forest products a computer because of the interest in species of cultural significance such from indigenous species, research meth- the course and the extra people from as Helaila species; and ods, development of forest and tree ge- Vaini Research Station who attended a coastal reforestation project using netic resources including access issues some sessions. Casuarina equisetifolia trees to re- and intellectual property rights, and duce salt spray. market information for forest products The first week was spent with Kron and NWFPs. Aken who covered topics on computer basics, file management, Microsoft As each SPRIG member country has Excel, Microsoft been provided with a digital camera, a Annual Plan for Year 2 Word, Microsoft The draft annual plan for the second Powerpoint, working with images, session on how to use the camera was for data analysis. During year of SPRIG Phase 2, including change DataPlus and Genstat organised. the field days and frame items, was submitted to AusAID In the second week Tom Stojanovic cov- towards the end of the course, partici- ered Excel, concentrating on pants were shown how to use the Nikon in April and is currently being appraised. Microsoft AusAID has provisionally agreed to graphing, and Microsoft Access. digital camera and how to download support most of the change frame items Bronwyn Clarke took us through the the pictures onto their computers. In which were put forward. SPRIG Species Database explaining how class they were shown how to reduce to enter data and use the database. Par- the picture size suitable for use in TRAINING COURSES ticipants that stayed at the Heilaila Powerpoint presentations and for send- Guesthouse had access to course pre- ing by email. senters in the evenings, and were able 1. Computer Techniques For Forest A pre- and post course assessment was to get help with trial analysis and revi- Genetic Resources Work held in Vaini, carried out. All course participants im- Tonga sion. During the second week, partici- pants from each SPRIG country had to

8 l'ucitic Islands Forests & Trees tune 2002 SPRIG News proved their skills after attending the species for agroforestry plantings in screening the collection for tolerance to Kiribati. brackish/saline water, including water- course. A few participants even ob- logging, to identify more salt-tolerant tained a perfect score in the final test. The main findings and recommenda- varieties. Such studies would be best Participants are now more confident in tions from this visit were as follows: conducted under controlled conditions, using computers for their routine work. with promising cultivars then field They are also able to enter an experi- I . Pandanusfield gene bank - 2-3 plants tested. ment into DataPlus, generate Genstat of more than 15 cultivars have been es- programs and run different types of tablished from several islands and are 4. A number of fruits trees have been analysis such as an analysis of variance growing well at Bikenibeu. identified which are very well -suited to (ANOVA). Participants also understand the atoll island conditions of the central the structure of the SPRIG Species Da- 2. Pandanus morphological descrip- Pacific and these ought to be more tabase, how to use the database and tors - A number of the morphological widely promoted within Kiribati. enter species information. descriptors which had been chosen to Submitted by: characterize Pandanus cultivars were These trees include Rangpur lime (Cit- not useful for various reasons includ- rus sp.),West Indian lime (Citrus Leimon Kalomor ing: difficult to assess (e.g. bark charac- aurantifolia), cut nut (Barringtonia Forest Officer Conservation ters), too much variation within an indi- procera), sapodilla (Manilkara zapota) Vanuatu vidual plant/cultivar (e.g. phalange and jujube (Zizyphus mauritiania). Es- shape and spacing of marginal spines) pecially remarkable is the good perfor- and some characters invariant across mance of the Mediterranean fig (Ficus 2. Conservation of Arboreal cultivars. Following the visit the list of carica) with delicious fruit well suited Biodiversity morphological descriptors was reduced to preservation. to those that have proven to useful in Pandanus There is to This short course will be held in Vanuatu differentiation of cultivars. outstanding potential intro- the the human (Efate and Santo) from June 6-20, 2002. fruits are equivalent of duce better types of nut varieties of I use appearance and a broad range Participants will include SPRIG conser- face and -Kiribati fruit Terminalia catappa mango vation counterparts from the five SPRIG as a key character to distinguish variet- of germplasm should be tested ies. It is recommended that a library of for adaptability under Kiribati condi- countries as well as a participant from photos panda- tions. Kiribati (funded by SPC). good quality digital of nus fruits (including whole fruit and The course will cover community sur- close up of phalanges) of all collected 5. Several species of bamboo introduced is used as a into an SPC/QFRI vey techniques and participatory meth- cultivars developed and ref- Kiribati following ods for assessing biodiversity. The erence in future documentation work. training course have grown exception- These include course presenters will be Professor ally well. Dendrocalamus Randy Thaman (USP) and Dr Lex 3. Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is one largiflorens and Bambusa oldhamii. Thomson, with the Conservation Unit of the most important tree species on These bamboos have the potential to but in some areas tree are in- many basic needs in of the Department of Forests (Mr Chanel Kiribati, provide Kiribati and Sam and Ms Leimon Kalomor) provid- creasingly being adversely impacted by including building materials fishing ing training in methods of botanical sur- tidal surges and rising brackish water rod canes. tables. Several varieties introduced from the breadfruit collection maintained at 6. Seed of two Australian acacia spe- VISITS TO PACIFIC ISLANDS BY the National Tropical Botanical Garden, cies, Acacia ampliceps and A. PROJECT STAFF in 1994 have performed well and crassicarpa, was pre-treated for sow- similar to or better than local varieties: ing during the visit. A. ampliceps is an 1. Visit to Kiribati these include Yuley (ex Yap, overall con- exceptionally salt, alkaline and drought sidered the best with large tasty fruits); tolerant nitrogen fixing tree, capable of The SPRIG PTL visited Kiribati for a and Afara, Roi ha'h and Pu'upu'u (ex providing animal fodder and green ma- week in April mainly to review work be- Society Islands, French ). nure for swamp taro pits and alike. A. ing undertaken in the Pandanus project crassicarpa produces good quality tim- (Varietal Collection, Conservation and The time would be right to make more ber for local uses, but is only likely to Recording of Ethnobotanical Informa- trial introductions from the now very - be well -suited to wetter atoll island en- tion; see separate report this issue), and well documented Hawaiian collection. vironments such as Butaribati. also to review and provide advice on Consideration should be given to

9 June 2002 Pacific Islands Forests & Trees SPRIG News

3. Yuley, a highly successful varietal in- Fig 1. Dendrocalamus largijlorens, a large Fig 2. Preparing branch cuttings of se- Fig stemmed bamboo successfully introduced lected cultivars of Pandanus on Butaritari troduction of Breadfruit from Yap introduced at Tanaea, South Tarawa, Kiribatifollow- atollfor transfer to field gene bank on South at Bikenibeu, South Tarawa, Kiribati in trial ing SPC training course (with Ms Tarawa in 1994. Teariwama Natake)

Submitted by: the Forestry Division have their own is 2. Visit to Solomon Islands nursery, and trials. Montose Lomae Dr. Lex Thomson in charge of operations at Poitete and Tim Vercoe (SPRIG Project Director) and Team Leader took us to view three species/prov- Sarah Whitfeld (SPRIG Project Scientist SPRIG PROJECT enance trials of Pterocarpus and an- for Solomon Islands) travelled to the other of Vitex coffassus that were estab- Solomon Islands in late March 2002 to few months. The three main local spe- lished two years ago as part of SPRIG assess progress of SPRIG activities and cies that the Forestry Station plans to Phase 1.

review plans for Years 1 and 2. focus on are G. moluccana, Calophyllum peekeli and Pometia Discussions were also held with the We travelled with Basil Gua, SPRIG pinnata. Basil is about to be relocated NGO Solomon Island Development Project Officer at Munda, to view the to Honiara and Phillip Zekele will be Trust (SIDT) regarding the development current activities in Western Province. taking over R&D activities (including of a conservation strategy for Basil and the SI Forestry Division have SPRIG) based at Munda. Xanthostemon species. This species is been encouraging local communities to referred to as 'Queen of Ebony' and is a grow economically -important tree species On Kolombangara we met with Jim very important carving timber. The dis- such as Tectona grandis (teak), Sandon (Manager of Kolombangara tribution of this species is restricted to Swietenia macrophylla (mahogany) and Forest Products Ltd, KFLP, and Dou- only a couple of islands in locations Eucalyptus deglupta (kamarere) in order glas Poa (Senior Research Officer, where logging and nickel mining opera- to supplement their future income. We KFPL). KFPL is keen to work with the tions are about to commence. SIDT has were able to visit two village communi- Forestry Division and together they been co-opted to identify all areas where ties that have been successfully carry- have already established a teak prov- this species is found and the extent of ing out such plantings on former logging enance trial as part of the Teak Im- the resource as well as conducting ini- sites. provement Program initiated during tial surveys on the use of this species

Phase 1 of SPRIG. The growth rate at in villages in these areas. The Forestry Office at Munda had just this site was impressive. After one year completed a collection of Terminalia the trees at were already 4m in height. The first Project Co-ordinated Commit- catappa seed and Gmelina moluccana tee meeting for phase 2 of SPRIG for the seed collections will commence in the next We also visited Poitete (Gizo) where Solomon Islands was held in Honiara to

10 Pacific Islands Forests & Trees June 2002 SPRIG News review progress and plan future activi- in November 2001, the overgrown and established into family hedges. ties. hedges of malili at Masamasa were cut These trees will now be cut down and back. These hedges were now ready to hedged to encourage coppice shoots to be set as cuttings in September this collect from. year. A new mist house has been planned for the An afternoon was spent making up a nursery. This will enable several thousand suitable potting mix to use in the propa- cuttings to be taken. When this is com- gator. The mix consisted of approxi- pleted a clonal forestry program can be mately one third of river sand, implemented. composted sawdust and soil.

Fig 4. One year Teak provenance trial on Kolombangara (with from left, TimVercoe, Basil Gua and Douglas Poa)

Figure 2: Malili hedges ready to take cut- Submitted by: Figure 1: Masamasa nursery (Savaii, Sa- tings moa) staffsetting cuttings of Terminalia richii, Whitfeld Sarah from family hedges. Submitted by: SPRIG SI Project Scientist A morning was spent setting over 300 Ken Robson SPRIG Network and Propagation 3. Visit to Samoa cuttings from four clones in the Malili family hedges. These cuttings will be Specialist, Mr Ken Robson, SPRIG Propagation established into a family clonal trial with specialist, conducted a weeklong seedlings as controls. The nursery has Seed matters project visit to Samoa in April. The main sown 5 new batches of Mahogany aim of the visit was to instigate produc- (Swietenia macrophylla). These seed- I. Establishment of heilala gene conserva- tion of cuttings of Malili (Terminalia lings are now ready for planting out. tion stand on Vava'u, Tonga. A gene conser- richii). A battery and solar panel was MAF will be establishing these into vation/seed stand of heilala (Garcinia Sessilis) purchased for the porta propagator. provenance block plantings. With a has been established on Vava'u. This fol- The propagator is situated at Masamasa continuing need for seed these areas lows one of the recommendations of the re- nursery on Savai' i. Due to lack of use, may be turned into provenance seed- cent heilala strategy developed by the For- estry and Conservation Division in collabo- the porta-propagator plastic was cov- ling seed orchards in the future. As part ration with SPRIG and SPC. ered in thick mould growth. Time was of the SPRIG propagation programme, spent cleaning this off. A few pieces of 20 of the best seedlings will be taken 2. Terminalia catappa seed supplied to Tonga piping were replaced that were split. The 5 and from each of the seed batches Seed new battery was connected and every- - collections of beach almond established into family hedges. These (Terminalia catappa) trees selected for de- thing worked. A few of the sprinklers cuttings will be established into a fam- sirable nut characteristics have been under- were blocked and these were cleaned. ily clonal trial with seedlings as controls. taken in the Solomon Islands and Papua New The nursery has sown 5 new batches of Guinea, and the seed supplied to Tonga. The During a project visit in November 2001 Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla). seed has been distributed to three island a small coppice trial was established that These seedlings are now ready for groups to maximise the development and looked at girdling of Terminalia richii planting out. MAF will be establishing extension benefits of this germplasm and seedlings are presently being propagated on to encourage coppice shoots. After 5 these into provenance block plantings. Tongatapu, Ha'apai and Vava'u. months, on most trees, the girdled sec- With a continuing need for seed these tions had callused over without send- areas may be turned into provenance Compiled by: SPRIG Project Staff ing out shoots. However, one tree did seedling seed orchards in the future. As and coppice. An additional treatment was part of the SPRIG propagation Collaborators bending/pushing trees over. All of these programme, 20 of the best seedlings will trees sent up prolific side shoots. Also be taken from each of the 5 seed batches

11 June 2002 Pacific Islands Forests & Trees ACIAR Pacific Forestry Update

ACIAR Tree Nutrition Project Comes The three main research outcomes were: Kolombangara Forest Products Ltd, to a Successful Completion Solomon Islands; Solomon Islands Forestry 1. Identification of likely nutri- Department; Department of Forestry, The ACIAR Tree Nutrition Project' , ent deficiencies in a range of soils: Vanuatu; Department of Agriculture, Fish- which began in 1992, will finish at the About 42 soils from Australia and the eries and Forestry, Niue; Papua end of June this year. The project in- south-western Pacific were tested for Forest Research Institute; Fiji Ministry of Forests; Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, volved a number of south-western Pa- their ability to supply sufficient nutri- Fisheries and Meteorology, Samoa. cific countries and a large number of ents for growth of young trees. Only collaborators. Some of the major out- one soil, a volcanic ash soil from comes of the project were improved Vanuatu had sufficient quantities of all nursery nutrition of seedlings resulting essential nutrients to support maximum Table 1: Summary of nutrient deficien- in better early growth in the field, as- rate of growth without the addition of cies that are likely to be encountered on sessment of the nutritional fertilisers. All other soils tested required soil derived from different parent mate- sustainability of timber production, and the addition of at least one, and some- rials improved skill-base of collaborators time more, essential nutrient to achieve workshops. There are through training maximum growth. The nutrient(s) re- Past Ntrtaial Efiderof Inds(oildihoxl a a number of publications that are di- quired varied with soils but it was com- WsTYFO Hi FtwitditY rect result of the project; one is a book mon to find soils based on the same Bawit rwat of nutrient deficiency symptoms in ma- parent material often had deficiencies dtgr P NS KZri hogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and of the same essential nutrient. Because West Indian cedar (Cedrela odorata). of this, it has been possible to draw a M r P t NKSZn simple risk table based on a combina- Gale P NCAS Kadi Project coverage tion of the severity of a deficiency and its frequency (Table 1). For example, Med Aluitrn The project has involved collaboration older soils derived from basalt are highly rndl dared N K qS dared P S with various forestry organisations in likely to be deficient in P for good tree pmrty N K the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, growth. Thus this table can be used as Aid Vdcaics Niue, Samoa and a 'first guess' in determining the cause Australia. Mostly the collaboration was of nutrient deficiencies in a new LirrEstcngara rriambial N K Zrt 10-1 with government forestry organisations, plantation area. BEE& Rctgs N P.S Zr1MdK however, in the Solomon Islands we also collaborated with Kolombangara Forest VzicaicAthAcchre ril ril ril Products Ltd. The project has also had the & Trees strong links with Forest ' The first phase project involved various 2. Improved Nursery Nutrition: program in SPC as well as FORSPA/FAO. forestry organisations in the Solomon Is- Substantial improvements in nursery Indeed, most of the nursery work in Fiji land, Niue, Vanuatu and . have been demonstrated in all and Samoa was funded by FORSPA. In Australia both the CSIRO and the QFRI media were the local partners. The second phase countries. Common practice in many The research covered nutrition through project (1998 onwards) involved the was to use forest soil with soluble Solomon Islands, Fiji and Samoa most aspects of plantation forestry but fertilisers. The improvement in nursery media has been achieved through a focussed more closely in two main ar- Species: balsa (Ochroma lagopus), teak locally eas: combination of using available (Tectona grandis), white teak (Gmelina organic media and slow -release nursery and early establishment nutri- arborea), whitewood (Endospermum fertilisers. For example, in the Solomon tion, and medullosum), poumuli (Flueggiallexuosa). KFPL, which was nutrient removal through harvesting West Indian cedar (Cedrela odorata), Aus- Islands, already us- tralia red cedar (Toona ciliata), kauri (A gat his ing coir, found poor growth of seed- with soluble a re- A wide range of species were studied robusta), black bean (Castanspermum lings fertilisers. As with the most common being mahogany, australe), Queensland maple (Flindersia sult of this research, they have now brayleyana), ma'ali (Canarium vitiense), white teak, and kamarere. been using coir with long-term slow re- tava (Pometia pinnata), kamarere (Eucalyp- lease fertilisers for a number of years. tus deglupta). Project Outcomes Because the slow -release fertilisers last Institutions involved (1992-2002): CSIRO longer than the nursery residence time For- Land & Water, Australia; Queensland and are planted with the root ball, they Research est Research Institute, Australia;

12 Pacific Islands Forests & Trees June 2002

ACIAR - Pacific Forestry Update continue to provide nutrients for a number of months after planting. As a result, Training KFPL no longer adds fertiliser at planting (Fig. 1). A number of formal and informal train- ing workshops were conducted. These In both Fiji and Samoa, the benefits of coir and other organic potting media (saw- covered the whole range of subjects dust, composted mahogany pods) have also been demonstrated when a suitable involved in conducting research. Thus slow -release fertiliser has been added. Indeed, in Samoa, these trails have been these topics ranged from how to think carried out on an operational scale in their four main production nurseries. about and design an experiment, This technique has been documented in a number of publications (see Pacific through to statistical analysis and in- Islands Forest and Trees December 1998, March 1999, June 2000; Reddell et a1,1999) terpretation, and even to report writing. One of the other benefits of using local materials, is that locals get paid for its One spin-off of these smaller ACIAR production. This is certainly better than sending money overseas to buy imported workshops was the funding of a larger products such as peat. regional workshop on research tech- niques by the South Pacific Forest and Trees Programme, FORSPA and FAO.

Communications The project contributed regular items to the Pacific Islands Forest and Trees Newsletter as well as articles in scien- tific journals and at conferences. There was even the occasional television and radio segment (including Radio Figure 1: Canopy cover of Gmelina arborea 18 months after planting. No fertilisers were Australia's Pacific Beat). The latest added in the .field. Left, original nursery nutrition; Right, new nursery nutrition. publication is a 'picture' book on visual symptoms of nutrient deficiencies in 3 Nutrient Removal through Harvesting: mahogany and West Indian cedar. Listed We now have quite detailed knowledge of how much nutrient is removed from below are selected publications directly harvesting site in logs and bark and how this compares with the total site nutrient related to this project. Most of these capital. Somewhat surprising was the discovery that, although the bark is only articles or a complete list of publications about 10% of the total biomass of a kamere tree, it contains almost half of the Ca in (46) are available from Mike Webb' on that tree (Fig. 2). This has important implications for management of non-commer- request . cial components such as bark in the context of nutritional sustainability for that Acknowledgements site. Biomass (2.7 t) Calcium (3.6 kg) This project has been funded mainly by ACIAR, CSIRO and the local institutions in our partner countries. Other organisations Merchantable Log that have provided cash as well as in -kind support include: FORSPA, FAO, SPC's Forest and Trees Support Programme, and Bark from Merchantable Log The Crawford Fund for International Agri- Twigs and Leaves cultural Research. The generosity of these organisations, our partner institutions, and Brandies, non -Merchantable Log their staff is greatly appreciated.

We would also like to pass on our warmest Figure 2. Distribution of biomass and Ca in kamarere grown on thanks to all our colleagues we worked with Kolombagara, Solomon Island. and got to know. You kindness and friend- ship will always be remembered. Thanyou.

Indeed, when similar studies were done on regrowth trees growing on a meta- Submitted by : morphic soil in Australia, it was found that the amount of Ca in 50 trees was Michael Webb, CSIRO Land & Water, almost half of the total Ca in one ha of forest. Townsville, and Paul Reddell, CSIRO Tropical Forest Research Centre, Similar studies in Samoa and Fiji also revealed that Ca export from harvesting Atherton. operations is probably the most critical factor in nutritional sustainability of these operations.

13 June 2002 Pacific Islands Forests & Trees

PNG - ACIAR Forest Domestication Project 0 111*C-1....A4 rycpA Table 2: Summary of flowering, fruiting Phenological studies of Papua New tions were made at regular monthly in- including peak periods for five important Guinea rainforest species tervals to record foliage development species at Gogol Forest for deciduous trees, flowering, fruit ma- Two years of phenological data have turity and fruit shed. The number of Species Flowering Fruiting been analysed in order to provide infor- trees observed per species varied from Draconto- mation on flowering and fruiting times 1 to 127. melon dao July* July -Apr* for 141 Papua New Guinea (PNG) (Nov -Dec) (July) 1986 rainforest tree species. Between At the species level, there appears to Ficus melio- and 1992, phenological studies where be a lack of consistency in phenologi- nocarpa Sep -Nov Oct -May* undertaken in a 300 ha unlogged natu- cal activities between individual trees (Oct) (Feb) ral mixed lowland tropical rainforest within most species. Table 1 provides Gastonia known as Gogol Forest in Madang Prov- information on flowering and fruiting spectahilis May -Oct July* ince, by staff from the PNG National times for ten trees of Litsea timoriana (Aug) (Nov) Forest Service based in Madang. Data observed between 1986 and 1987. Spondia dulcis Aug*(Oct) .Ian -Dec collected during 1986 and 1987 have Table 1. Example phenological variation *(Feb) been used to provide information on of between 10 trees within Litsea timoriana ob- Terminalia flowering and seeding times. This ar- served between 1986 & 1987. sepicana Aug -Oct ticle presents information on the phe- (Sep) .Ian -Nov nological study and provides examples *(Oct) of flowering and fruiting times for five Tree No Flowering Fruiting species. Sep *: Sporadic flowering or fruiting 2 Oct Nov -Jan 0: Peak flowering or fruiting The site of the phenological survey is 3 Aug -Sep Oct -Nov and Gogol at the confluence of the Sapi and 4 July -Aug Sep -Oct For most of the species flowering Rivers latitude 5 '14'S, longitude fruiting indicated a sporadic trend with the elevation at about 5 Oct 145°28'E throughout the year without any clear 110m asl. The topography comprises 0 peaks. The results which only reflect flood plain and low ridges. The rainfall 7 May June -July observations over two years highlight between 1986 and 1987 averaged 3,279 8 May June -Aug the need for phenological studies on the year with over mm falling throughout be 9 tropical rainforest tree species to 200 mm on average per month falling carried out over many years (5 -7 years between November and May. The for- 10 Sep -Oct Dec minimum) in order to detect whether est area referred to as mixed lowland there is variation between years and (Johns 1977) is very diverse rainforest whether there are cyclical patterns. The in composition. The forest is comprised The results of the analysis indicate that data should also be linked to climatic mainly with large buttresses peak flowering periods occur mainly of trees data when drawing conclusions. which reach a canopy height of 45 m. during the second half of the year cor- The canopy and sub -canopy of this for- responding with a decrease in the The analysis of the field data has been est type contain more than eighty gen- monthly rainfall between June and Oc- prepared as part of phenological activi- era and over 1,200 tree species. tober. Fruiting periods, in contrast, do ties on PNG forest species identified Amongst the most common tree genera not show any clear pattern, and the re- under the Project " Domestication of which are also contained in the phenol- lationship between fruiting and climatic PNG's Indigenous Forest Species". A ogy data includes Alstonia, Celtis, factors is less clear. Clear peaks are complete summary of the flowering and Cryptocarya, Dracontomelon, shown for both flowering and fruiting fruiting times of the 141 species will be Elaeocarpus, Ficus, Maniltoa, phases (see details on Table 2). published in a manual on propagation Pometia, Pterocarpus, Terminalia, of PNG forest species due to be pub- Tristiropsis, Sloanea and Vitex. conttinued next column: lished under the project at the end of 2003. In setting up the phenological study Submitted by: area, a series of strip lines 30 m apart LITERATURE CITED were laid out in the forest running at Annonciata Uwamariya and right angles to a base line and between Johns, R.J. 1977. The vegetation of Papua Brian Gunn 50 -60 m in length. Trees were mapped New Guinea. Part one: An introduction to CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products either side of the strip line. Observa- the vegetation. Training Manual for the For- PO Box E4008 Kingston ACT 2604 estry College. Vol.10.

14 Pacific Islands Forests & Trees June 2002

PNG - ACIAR Forest Domestication Project Seed Collection to trial planting of of observing the phenological develop- which has a short storage life, required Calophyllum euryphyllum ment. The land owner responsible for to be sown immediately into the FRI (Kalophilum) in Papua New Guinea taking the specimens was initially trained nursery. Initial germination occurred by the author in collecting and process- after six to ten days with seedlings Calophyllum euryphyllum (Guttiferae) ing specimens. After recording fruit (3,181) ready to plant after approxi- commonly referred to as New Guinea development the specimens were depos- mately 8 - 12 weeks. Germination initia- Kalophilum (PNG Pidgin), is a highly ited in the FRI herbarium in Lae. The tion was observed even during trans- commercial indigenous tree species en- time taken from fruit initiation to fruit portation from the collection site to Lae demic to specific lowland forests in maturity was about four months. By nursery. Papua New Guinea (PNG). The distri- November the fruit had reached about 5 bution in PNG is discontinuous occur- cm in diameter and did not increase in A provenance/ progeny trial using the ring on Manus Islands, Mussau Island size any further through to the stage of seedlings was established at Markham in ; Open Bay and Pulie maturity in January 2002. During the Bridge trial site near Lae in May 2002. River in ; Laplap and Mabi time between November - January, the The trial design consists of an incom- River on Siassi Island, Morobe; Cape embryo developed from being soft and plete block design comprising 40 treat- Vogel, Milne Bay and Yellow River, Sepik watery to becoming firm and fully ments, 36 of which are family identified (Stevens 1974, 1980, Thomson 2000). formed inside the seed coat, a signal that and four bulk seedlots (8 incomplete Apart from a few reforestation plantings the seed was fully mature. In a country blocks with 5 treatments/ incomplete in parts of PNG that showed promise as like PNG where transport costs are very blocks and 5 replicates). Trial spacing a plantation crop, the genetic resources high and difficult to arrange, the method is 3m x 3m and encompasses an area of of NG Kalophilum remains largely unex- of arranging for trained land owners to 1.25 ha in total. plored. undertake botanical collections on a regular basis and have them freighted References A single provenance seed collection of to the seed collector is a very cost ef- Kalophilum was undertaken on Manus fective and reliable method of determin- Stevens, P.F. (1974). A revision of Island by PNG Forest Research Insti- ing seeding times. Calophyllum L. (Guttiferae) in tute (FRI) in January 2000. The seed Papusia. Aust. J. Bot. 22: 349- collection comprising 14 families was Once the seed crops on Manus were 412. established as a progeny trial at Bumsi determined as having matured, a series near Lae. This was followed by seed of field trips were undertaken involv- Stevens, P.F. (1980). A revision of the collections from five different prov- ing, air, sea and road travel in order to old world species of enances across the species natural dis- access the five different populations Calophyllum (Guttiferae). tribution in PNG between January and between mid January to April 2002. Seed Journal of the Arnold Arbore- April 2002 as part of the current ACIAR collections started in Open Bay (East tum, 61: 117-699. domestication project. The collections New Britain), followed by Nohang and were developed in partnership with of- Rambutso islands (Manus), Mussau Thomson, L.A.J. (2000). Monographs ficers from the National Forest Service Islands and Kaut (New Ireland) and on four domestication forest (NFS) in the New Guinea islands regions Laplap-Mabi River on Siassi islands species: Calophyllum and the resource owners. (Morobe) involving staff from FRI and euryphyllum, Casuarina the National Tree Seed Centre. In the oligodon, Dracontomelon In order to determine timing of the seed case of Mussau, a distance of approxi- dao, Pometiapinnata and two collections, trees on were mately 250 km east of Manus, the crops conservation species under monitored on a regular monthly basis had all but shed when visited in the the project: Aquilaria filaria commencing in October 2001 when the third week of February 2002. There were (gyrinops ledermannii) and seeds were 6-9 mm in diameter. Flower- clear signs on the ground of the fruit Santalum macgregorii. 2000. ing was observed to have occurred be- having been recently eaten by flying tween August and September 2001. The foxes and or birds. By contrast, some Submitted by: author's extended family on Manus Is- crops in the area of Kaut approximately land collected botanical specimens con- 200 km SE of Mussau were still imma- Michael POESI taining leaves, flowers and or fruit on a ture when visit in late February as evi- Project Scientist regular monthly basis from the same denced by the soft seed embryos. A trees at two locations. Once pressed, total of over 1,000 kg of seed was col- Picture the specimens were taken by speed for story on page 16: lected from the five locations. boat, a two hour trip before being air freighted to the author in Lae as a means Following the collection, the seed,

15 June 2002 Pacific Islands Forests & Trees

Continued from Page 4 Technical Assistance to macrophylla). The second part of the pro- Samoa Forestry gram was conducted and completed in May - We would like to take this opportunity June. This phase involved volume regres- belated thank you to Mr sion analysis and development of the vol- to send our The forestry division of Samoa has an ex- table. Frederic Dentand for his cooperation tensive program for forest plantation estab- ume and support to regional forestry lishment using exotic and indigenous timber was programme and we wish him and family species. However, for the division to effec- The program successfully completed with the handing over of the Mahogany tree well in France. On the same token, we tively manage these plantations, a number volume table and the statistica software to look forward to a continued coopera- of management tools are crucial. One of the Assistant Director of Forestry, Mr Sami these management tool is having volume tion with Mr Malau and his staff. The software will enable the trained tables for each species planted that will en- Lemalu. the Forestry Division to develop able them to reliably forecast production staff of volume tables for the other plantation spe- quantity of the standing stock. From the Programme's Desk cies. Having realized this constrain, the Assis- I would like to acknowledge and thank the tant Director of the Forestry Division, Mr SPC Forestry Program, the Assistant Di- Sami Lemalu and his chief research officer, rector and staff of the Samoa Forestry Divi- Continued from Page 15: Mr Tolusina Pouli requested the Secretariat sion and the Director of PNGFRI for their of the Pacific Community's Forestry Pro- support and guidance during this challeng- gram to assist in the development of the ing experience. volume tables.

Through the SPC Pacific islands forestry network, the Papua New Guinea Forest Research Institute (PNGFRI) was identi- fied to have technical capacity. A formal request was forwarded by SPC to the Di- rector of the PNGFRI, Mr. Terry Warra and he agreed to release a technical officer, Mr Mondo Karmar to facilitate the volume table development and undertake staff training.

The program was divided into two parts. The first part was conduced in December 2001 which involved field data collection Submitted by: (PNG) with seed collection of Team on Manus (sectional measurements), data input and Mondo Karmar Calophyllum Euryphyllum. Each bag repre- initial analysis. Training was a major part sents seed from a separate tree. Scientific Officer as sectional measurements of at least 200 PNG Forest Research Institute trees were required. The species that was targeted was Mahogany (Sweitenia

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Pacific Islands FORESTS & TREES The views expressed in this newsletter are those of the respective authors and Mt not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Programme, SPC, UNDP or AusAID. This newsletter is published quarterly by the SPC Forests & Trees Programme.

We welcome any news or articles on forests, trees and related activities. Please send your contributions to the :

Forests & Trees Adviser, Forestry Programme, SPC, Private Mail Rug, Suva, Fiji or Fax to (679) 330 5212 or 337 0021 (SP(,)

Our off ice is located at Forum Secretariat Complex, Rota Subunit Road, Suva, Fiji.

Phone no.: (679)330 0432, Email: spinewsletter(Ospc. int

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