Australian Government i#) Pacific Islands AusAID FOREST and TREES Incorporating SPRIG, ACIAR-PNG Forest Domestication Project, SPC/GTZ Pacific German Regional Forestry Project and Pacific Forestry Updates. No. 1/05 ISSN: 1605 - 5462 From the Programme Desk Page/s Contents In this first issue for 2005, we Since this year's mode of operation of 1-6 Country Updates introduce some of the main activities the Land Resources Division is totally that the SPC Forests and Trees new, we expect to encounter some Programme Activities Programme plans to implement teething problems as we move forward Kiribati Pandanus Poster during the year. In line with the in implementing our planned activities. Pacific Coconut Timber Strategic Plan for 2005-2008 which But we are very excited about this new Group was endorsed last year for SPC's new development, and it is our intention RILSIM Training integrated Land Resources Division, to give it our maximum support to which now includes the Forests and ensure its success for the benefit of Trees Programme, our planned all our Pacific Island communities. News activities will fall under the following Optimising spacing regimes two main objectives of the plan: To our donors, collaborators and for whitewood plantations partners, we thank you for your in Vanuatu Sustainable management of continued faith in us, and we request Saving PNG Sandalwood integrated forest and your understanding and support as from extinction agricultural systems we travel together this new path for Improved biosecurity and LRD to provide better and more 11-16 PGRFP Updates trade facilitation effective services to our member countries and territories. Landowners enter the business world In pursuing the better integration of Integrated Land Use agriculture and forestry for the This first issue for 2005 is the first time Planning in the `Drawa effective provision of our services to that we have produced the newsletter Block' our member countries and territories, in colour, reflecting the exciting East Melanesian Islands the Land Resources Division has directions that we are moving in. We identified as a new organised itself into expert teams hope that our readers will continue to biodiversity hotspot under a number of thematic areas find the newsletter useful, with its new targeting the two above objectives. and more interesting look. QUOTE In implementing this strategy our forests and trees activities planned "Command them to do good, to for this year are included under a Main programme activities for be rich in good works, to be which number of thematic groups, 2005 generous and ready to share with include: others. In this way they will store In addition to activities specifically up for themselves a treasure Forests and trees planned for some selected countries which will be a solid foundation Forests and Diversification and territories, the following regional for thefuture. And then they will Genetic resources activities are also going to be to win the life which is Biosecurity and trade be able organised during the year: Crop production true life." Plant health !Timothy 6:8 Pacific Islands Forests and Trees March 2005 Launching of the partnership finance, national planning and importance to many communities agreement between SPC public service ministries of the in the Pacific Island countries and and NFPF target countries. territories. It is for this reason that A request for a partnership conservation of the species is an between SPC and the National Over the years, a main obstacle that important issue. Sandalwood Forest Programme Facility (NFPF) has been reported by PICTs as the deserves added input to ensure its managed by FAO in Rome was reason for the slow sustainable management. recently accepted by the Facility. implementation of activities Sandalwood's high economic Both parties have already endorsed towards SFM has been the lack value, coupled with its amenability the partnership agreement, and a resources allocated to national to cultivation, in agroforestry launching will be held in Suva, agencies responsible for the systems and in plantations, has Fiji Islands 26-27 April 2005. countries' forests and trees sectors. the potential to make significant This was despite the high number contributions to rural economies. The main purpose of the launch of awareness workshops and is to give the opportunity to all meetings organised on the subject In 2002, SPC, with the support the main stakeholders to know in the past. of CSIRO/SPRIG, ISSS- more about the partnership and Australia, CIRAD-Foret, CIFOR, the kind of activities that can be Recently it has been observed that and IAC-New Caledonia, supported. Because of the limited perhaps one reason these organised a regional workshop on funding available for the launch, workshops and meetings were not sandalwood which brought only PNG, Solomon Islands and resulting in any increases to the together participants from Vanuatu, in addition to Fiji, are resources being allocated to the sandalwood -growing countries of going to be invited to participate sector was because people who the Pacific and Asia with the main in the launch. This is also made decisions on the allocation of aim of reviewing existing because the main focus of the resources were not participating. sandalwood research and agreement will be sustainable Our target group had been the development activities and to forest management in the larger "converted" - the people already determine future prospects. The island countries. Nevertheless, working in the sector. workshop was presented with a the other PICTs are not going to lot of very useful information on be completely excluded as SPC This regional workshop is going to work being done at the time, and will represent their interests change that: the overall intention is provided an ideal opportunity for during the launch to ensure that to try and enhance this new target participants to discuss these activities agreed to will also group's understanding of the results and to recommend areas include those for these other forests and trees sector's roles in that needed urgent attention. member countries and territories. supporting livelihood strategies, poverty alleviation, and Since the above workshop, The partnership will be for three environmental protection, and the considerable work on years, and the total funding need for adequate resources to be sandalwood has continued, both available for supporting the allocated for the implementation of in research as well as in agreed activities during the period national forest programmes. It is development areas. A regional will be USD300,000. hoped that the enhanced workshop that will provide the understanding of the importance of forum where all these Regional SFM Awareness the forests and trees sector by developments can be reported, Workshop people who are responsible for discussed and shared by the A major regional activity to be allocating government resources countries is being proposed for implemented under the above will result in a more informed early October this year. A proposal NFPF partnership agreement consideration of Forestry on the workshop has been with SPC is the organisation of Department's budget submissions. submitted to a number of potential one regional sustainable forest co-sponsors, and we hope to management (SFM) awareness Regional workshop on finalise it by the end of the current raising workshop targeting sandalwood in the Pacific quarter. senior government non -forestry Sandalwood (Santalum spp.) has by Sairusi Bulai officers, mainly from the considerable cultural and economic Programme Adviser 2 Pacific Islands Forests and -I eCes March 2005 Country Updates Kiribati Pandanus Poster The new Kiribati pandanus poster Some of the officers involved in this project included: Tianeti loanne, Tokamai is unique. Not only does it feature Tokintekai, Mamarau Kairiete, Tinai Iuta, Teebure Tiroia, and Betarim Rimon. colour photographs of eight varieties of edible Kiribati The other sponsors of this project were the Secretariat of the Pacific Community pandanus fruit; it also presents Forests and Trees Programme, SPRIG, PAPGREN, Centers for Disease Control information on the nutrient and Prevention, United Nations Children's Fund, and Sight and Life. The content and primary identifying carotenoid analysis work was carried out by the laboratories of the Institute of characteristics of the varieties, Applied Sciences/University of the South Pacific, Fiji Islands, and the DSM including bunch and key size and Nutritional Products, Switzerland. the colour of the edible flesh. This was the first time that these varieties had been analysed for nutrient content. Pandanus is one of the three most important traditional foods of Kiribati is presently distributing the posters to all ministries and departments, Kiribati, along with coconut and primary and secondary schools, supermarkets, island councils, and churches. It giant swamp taro. For those not is hoped that this poster campaign may lead to more discussion and familiar with pandanus, a bunch is understanding of Kiribati pandanus fruit and to greater production and the large composite fruit, and a key consumption. is one of the small pieces that make up the composite fruit. Thanks are extended again to all supporting agencies and sponsors in this exciting project! The poster is in both English and by Dr Lois Englberger I -Kiribati and presents this simple Email : nutrition at message: Grow and eat deep - coloured pandanus to help protect TE TOU, KANAM NI KAKAKIBOTU