PAPUA NEW GUINEA This country report is prepared as a contribution to the FAO publication, The Report on the State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources. The content and the structure are in accordance with the recommendations and guidelines given by FAO in the document Guidelines for Preparation of Country Reports for the State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources (2010). These guidelines set out recommendations for the objective, scope and structure of the country reports. Countries were requested to consider the current state of knowledge of forest genetic diversity, including: Between and within species diversity List of priority species; their roles and values and importance List of threatened/endangered species Threats, opportunities and challenges for the conservation, use and development of forest genetic resources These reports were submitted to FAO as official government documents. The report is presented on www. fao.org/documents as supportive and contextual information to be used in conjunction with other documentation on world forest genetic resources. The content and the views expressed in this report are the responsibility of the entity submitting the report to FAO. FAO may not be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained in this report. Government of Papua New Guinea CC OOUUNNTTRRYY RREEPPOORRTT OONN TTHHEE SSTTAATTUUSS OOFF FFOORREESSTT GGEENNEETTIICC RREESSOOUURRCCEESS IINN PPAAPPUUAA NNEEWW GGUUIINNEEAA COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATUS OF FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA Simon Saulei, Robert Kiapranis and Anton Lata PNG Forest Research Institute, Lae PNG Forest Authority November 2012 i Contents Acronyms .......................................................................................................................................... vii Acknowledgment .................................................................................................................................. viii Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ix I. Introduction to the country and forest sector .................................................................... 1 II. Geological history ................................................................................................................ 1 III. Climate ................................................................................................................................ 2 IV. Forests ................................................................................................................................. 2 V. Forest and Economy ............................................................................................................ 3 VI. Cultural Dimensions and Population ................................................................................... 4 VII. Challenges for the Future .................................................................................................... 5 Chapter 1: The Current State of the Forest Genetic Resources in Papua New Guinea ......................... 6 1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 6 1.2 Diversity within and between forest main ecosystems ........................................................ 7 1.3 Local Forest Types and Global Ecological Zones ............................................................. 10 1.4 Main value of forest genetic resources .............................................................................. 12 1.5 Factors influencing the state of forest genetics in Papua New Guinea ............................. 13 1.6 Managed Forests for Environmental Services ................................................................... 16 1.7 Future Needs and Priorities ............................................................................................... 18 Chapter 2: The State of in situ Genetic Conservation ........................................................................... 20 2.1 Species in actively managed in situ conservation programmes. ....................................... 20 2.2 Categories of in situ conservation areas or protection ....................................................... 21 2.3 Actions taken to sustain and improve inventories of forest genetic resources in in situ collections .......................................................................................................................... 26 2.4 Actions taken for promoting in situ conservation ............................................................. 27 2.5 Constraints to improving in situ conservation in the country ............................................ 28 2.6 Priorities for future in situ conservation actions ................................................................ 28 ii 2.7 Capacity-building needs and priorities for in situ conservation actions ............................ 29 2.8 Research priorities to support in situ conservation ............................................................ 29 2.9 Policy development to support in situ conservation actions .............................................. 29 Chapter 3: The State of ex situ Forest Genetic Resource Conservation ............................................... 30 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 30 3.2 Plantation development ..................................................................................................... 30 3.3 Trials of native and exotic tree species .............................................................................. 31 3.4 Means of germplasm conservation .................................................................................... 31 3.5 Infrastructure capacity for ex situ conservation ................................................................. 32 3.6 Ex situ conservation stands ................................................................................................ 32 3.7 Arboreta and botanic gardens ............................................................................................ 33 3.8 Use and transfer of germlasms .......................................................................................... 34 3.9 Documentation and characterization ................................................................................. 34 3.10 Maintenance of ex situ stands ............................................................................................ 35 3.10.1 Seed source for plantation ................................................................................................. 35 3.10.2 Clonal propagation ............................................................................................................ 35 3.11 Promotion of ex situ stands for conservation .................................................................... 36 3.12 Private sector involvement in ex situ conservation ........................................................... 36 3.13 State involvement in ex situ conservation ......................................................................... 36 3.14 Constraints for improving ex situ conservation stands ...................................................... 37 3.14.1 Lack of improved facilities ................................................................................................ 37 3.14.2 Lack of funding ................................................................................................................. 38 3.14.3 Shortage of trained personnel ............................................................................................ 38 3.14.4 Land availability ................................................................................................................ 39 3.14.5 Need for awareness on ex situ conservation ...................................................................... 39 3.15 Priorities for future ex situ conservation actions ............................................................... 39 3.16 Capacity building needs and priorities for ex situ conservation actions ............................ 40 iii Chapter 4: The State of Use and Sustainable Management of Forest Genetic Resources .................... 41 4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 41 4.2 Seeds transferred internationally ....................................................................................... 41 4.3 Forest species presently subject to tree improvement programmes .................................. 44 4.4 Tree improvement trials .................................................................................................... 44 4.5 Seed orchards .................................................................................................................... 46 4.6 Types of reproductive materials ........................................................................................ 46 4.7 Information system for tree breeding improvement projects ............................................ 48 4.8 Commercial use of the genetic resources and management. ............................................. 48 4.9 Future improvement on genetic resources and conservation ............................................