PGR News from the Pacific

A blog maintained by Tevita Kete, PGR Officer

Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji Islands

This weblog documents the activities of Pacific Agricultural Genetic Resources Network (PAPGREN), along with other information on plant genetic resources (PGR) in the Pacific.

The myriad varieties found within cultivated plants are fundamental to the present and future productivity of agriculture. PAPGREN, which is coordinated by the Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), helps Pacific countries and territories to conserve their crop genetic diversity sustainably, with technical assistance from the Bioversity International (BI) and support from NZAID and ACIAR.

SPC also hosts the Centre of Pacific Crops and Trees (CEPaCT). The CEPaCT maintains regional in vitro collections of crops important to the Pacific and carries out research on tissue culture technology. The CEPaCT Adviser is Dr Mary Taylor (MaryT@spc.int), the CEPaCT Curator is Ms Valerie Tuia (ValerieT@spc.int).

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PAPGREN coordination and support

CEPaCT

Click on the thumbnail to see a map of the locations of Pacific genebanks. Click here to download a regional directory of genebanks in the Pacific, including information on their location, contact details and holdings.

PAPGREN partners

Mr William Wigmore
Director of Research
Ministry of Agriculture
Department of Resources & Development
P.O. Box 96
Rarotonga
Cook Islands
Tel: (682) 28711-29720
Fax: (682) 21881
Email: cimoa@oyster.net.ck

Mr Adelino S. Lorens
Chief
Agriculture Pohnpei
Office of Economic Affairs
P.O. Box 1028
Kolonia
Pohnpei 96941
Federated States of Micronesia
Tel: (691) 3202400
Fax: (691) 3202127
Email: pniagriculture@mail.fm

Dr Lois Englberger
Island Food Community of Pohnpei
Research Advisor
P.O. Box 2299
Kolonia
Pohnpei 96941
Federated States of Micronesia
Email: nutrition@mail.fm

Mr Apisai Ucuboi
Director of Research
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forest
Koronivia Research Station
P.O. Box 77
Nausori
Fiji Islands
Tel: (679) 3477044
Fax: (679) 3477546-400262
Email: apisainu@yahoo.com

Dr Maurice Wong
Service du Developpement Rural
B.P. 100
Papeete
Tahiti 98713
French Polynesia
Tel: (689) 42 81 44
Fax: (689) 42 08 31
Email: maurice.wong@rural.gov.pf

Mr Tianeti Beenna Ioane
Head, Research Section
Division of Agriculture
Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development
P.O. Box 267
Tarawa
Kiribati
Tel: (686) 28096-28108-28080
Fax: (686) 28121
Email : agriculture@tskl.net.ki; Beenna_ti@yahoo.com

Mr Frederick Muller
Secretary
Ministry of Resources & Development
P.O. Box 1727
Majuro 96960
Marshall Islands
Tel: (692) 6253206
Fax: (692) 6257471
Email: rndsec@ntamar.net

Mr Herman Francisco
Director
Bureau of Agriculture
Ministry of Resources & Development
P.O. Box 460
Koror 96940
Palau
Tel: (680) 4881517
Fax: (680) 4881725
Email: bnrd@pnccwg.palaunet.com

Ms Rosa Kambuou
Principal Scientist PGR
NARI Dry Lowlands Programme
Laloki Agricultural Research Station
P.O. Box 1828
Boroko
National Capital District
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 3235511
Fax: (675) 3234733
Email: kambuou@global.net.pg

Ms Laisene Samuelu
Principal Crop Development Officer
Crops Division
Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries & Meteorology
P.O. Box 1874
Apia
Samoa
Tel: (685) 23416-20605
Fax: (685) 20607-23996
Email: lsamuelu@lesamoa.net

Mr Jimi Saelea
Director of Research
Department of Agriculture and Livestock
P.O. Box G13
Honiara
Guadalcanal
Solomon Islands
Tel: (677) 27987

Mr Tony Jansen
Planting Materials Network
Kastom Gaden Association
Burns Creek, Honiara
P.O. Box 742
Honiara
Solomon Islands
Tel: (677) 39551
Email: kastomgaden@solomon.com.sb

Mr Finao Pole
Head of Research
Ministry of Agriculture & Forests
P.O. Box 14
Nuku'alofa
Tonga
Tel: (676) 23038
Fax: (676) 24271
Email: thaangana@hotmail.com

Mr Frazer Bule Lehi
Head of Research
Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
Private Mail Bag 040
Port Vila
Vanuatu
Tel: (678) 22525
Fax: (678) 25265
Email: flehi@hotmail.com

Other links

Other CROP agencies
Forum Secretariat
University of the South Pacific
SPREP

Pacific biodiversity
Biodiversity hotspots
Breadfruit Institute
Hawaiian native plants
Intellectual property rights
Nature Conservancy
PBIF
PestNet
SIDS
WWF South Pacific Program

Other Pacific organizations
Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific
Micronesian Seminar
Te Puna web directory

Pacific news
Cafe Pacific
CocoNET Wireless
Island Directory
Pacific Islands News
Pacific Islands Report
Pacific Islands Travel
Pacific Time
South Pacific travel
Time Pacific

Interested in GIS?
DIVA-GIS

Tuesday, July 22, 2003

Posted 3:59 PM by Luigi

Sorry about light blogging lately, took a week off work. But here's a selection of interesting things I've come across lately:

1. a paper on traditional knowledge of the weather in Samoa, and whether there is a role for indigenous knowledge of weather and climate in improving scientific understanding of future changes in the climate
2. a newly-found colony of the Polynesian megapode (Megapodius pritchardii) doubles the number of this extremely endangered South Pacific endemic birds known to exist
3. data on potato production in the South Pacific from the The World Geography of the Potato
4. wetlands in Oceania
5. a paper on Traditional Knowledge of Biodiversity in Asia-Pacific

* Comments:

Post a Comment

Sunday, July 13, 2003

Posted 5:34 PM by Luigi

Nickel, the environment and biodiversity in New Caledonia

International symposium: Ecological conservation and restoration in a tropical mining environment, July 15 to 20, Noumea 2003

This international symposium is organized by the Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), the New Caledonian Institute of Agronomy (IAC-CIRAD) and the University of New Caledonia (UNC) in conjunction with the mining industry federation. Its objectives are twofold: to review the current scientific knowledge on the conservation and restoration of mining sites in the tropics and to make recommendations as to the prospects for furthering research and on applications to mining.

Nickel represents New Caledonia's main wealth. About one-quarter of the world's reserves in that metal are deposited under surface of the country, which is the world's fourth biggest producer. Yet New Caledonia is also an island that bears an unequalled and unique natural heritage and biodiversity. A crucial issue is at stake: the reconciling of a sustainable economic development with conservation of the environment. That is the major challenge being taken up by a partnership being forged between the mining companies, the New Caledonian authorities and scientific organizations.

This meeting is the opportunity to make a thorough up-to-date review, in partnership with the mining industries, of research being conducted in New Caledonia on the soils, water and biodiversity. The following main strands will be examined:

- Biodiversity of ore-bearing sites
- Bio-geochemistry of metal-rich soils
- Water and the mining environment
- Mining area restoration methods
- Case histories of ecological restoration
- Sustainable management in mining

The problems of conservation and restoration of mining sites affect many other countries besides New Caledonia. Consequently, experts from Australasia (Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua-New-Guinea), and also from several other countries (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain, France, Hungary) will present the results of their work. In all, around 150 delegates from 22 countries will be attending.

* Comments:

Post a Comment

Tuesday, July 08, 2003

Posted 9:47 PM by Luigi

Web Atlas for the Pacific

Interesting meeting today with Michael Govorov and Fabrice Lartigou of the UNiversity of the South Pacific, Geography Department. They are developing an "Interactive Pacific Islands Weg GIS Atlas" using GeoMedia WebMap Professional. Should be up in about a year.

* Comments:

Post a Comment

Sunday, July 06, 2003

Posted 9:13 PM by Luigi

Just back from the 3rd conference of the Solomon Islands Planting Materials Network, held in Choiseul. I hope to post some impressions of this very interesting meeting very soon.

In the meantime......

You can get some statistics on Pacific Island Countries and Territories here.

* Comments:

Post a Comment



	A blog maintained by Tevita Kete, PGR Officer Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji Islands
This weblog documents the activities of Pacific Agricultural Genetic Resources Network (PAPGREN), along with other information on plant genetic resources (PGR) in the Pacific. The myriad varieties found within cultivated plants are fundamental to the present and future productivity of agriculture. PAPGREN, which is coordinated by the Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), helps Pacific countries and territories to conserve their crop genetic diversity sustainably, with technical assistance from the Bioversity International (BI) and support from NZAID and ACIAR. SPC also hosts the Centre of Pacific Crops and Trees (CEPaCT). The CEPaCT maintains regional in vitro collections of crops important to the Pacific and carries out research on tissue culture technology. The CEPaCT Adviser is Dr Mary Taylor (MaryT@spc.int), the CEPaCT Curator is Ms Valerie Tuia (ValerieT@spc.int). PAPGREN coordination and support IPGRI ACIAR NZAID CTA SPC PAPGREN CEPaCT Click on the thumbnail to see a map of the locations of Pacific genebanks. Click here to download a regional directory of genebanks in the Pacific, including information on their location, contact details and holdings. PAPGREN partners Mr William Wigmore Director of Research Ministry of Agriculture Department of Resources & Development P.O. Box 96 Rarotonga Cook Islands Tel: (682) 28711-29720 Fax: (682) 21881 Email: cimoa@oyster.net.ck Mr Adelino S. Lorens Chief Agriculture Pohnpei Office of Economic Affairs P.O. Box 1028 Kolonia Pohnpei 96941 Federated States of Micronesia Tel: (691) 3202400 Fax: (691) 3202127 Email: pniagriculture@mail.fm Dr Lois Englberger Island Food Community of Pohnpei Research Advisor P.O. Box 2299 Kolonia Pohnpei 96941 Federated States of Micronesia Email: nutrition@mail.fm Mr Apisai Ucuboi Director of Research Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forest Koronivia Research Station P.O. Box 77 Nausori Fiji Islands Tel: (679) 3477044 Fax: (679) 3477546-400262 Email: apisainu@yahoo.com Dr Maurice Wong Service du Developpement Rural B.P. 100 Papeete Tahiti 98713 French Polynesia Tel: (689) 42 81 44 Fax: (689) 42 08 31 Email: maurice.wong@rural.gov.pf Mr Tianeti Beenna Ioane Head, Research Section Division of Agriculture Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development P.O. Box 267 Tarawa Kiribati Tel: (686) 28096-28108-28080 Fax: (686) 28121 Email : agriculture@tskl.net.ki; Beenna_ti@yahoo.com Mr Frederick Muller Secretary Ministry of Resources & Development P.O. Box 1727 Majuro 96960 Marshall Islands Tel: (692) 6253206 Fax: (692) 6257471 Email: rndsec@ntamar.net Mr Herman Francisco Director Bureau of Agriculture Ministry of Resources & Development P.O. Box 460 Koror 96940 Palau Tel: (680) 4881517 Fax: (680) 4881725 Email: bnrd@pnccwg.palaunet.com Ms Rosa Kambuou Principal Scientist PGR NARI Dry Lowlands Programme Laloki Agricultural Research Station P.O. Box 1828 Boroko National Capital District Papua New Guinea Tel: (675) 3235511 Fax: (675) 3234733 Email: kambuou@global.net.pg Ms Laisene Samuelu Principal Crop Development Officer Crops Division Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries & Meteorology P.O. Box 1874 Apia Samoa Tel: (685) 23416-20605 Fax: (685) 20607-23996 Email: lsamuelu@lesamoa.net Mr Jimi Saelea Director of Research Department of Agriculture and Livestock P.O. Box G13 Honiara Guadalcanal Solomon Islands Tel: (677) 27987 Mr Tony Jansen Planting Materials Network Kastom Gaden Association Burns Creek, Honiara P.O. Box 742 Honiara Solomon Islands Tel: (677) 39551 Email: kastomgaden@solomon.com.sb Mr Finao Pole Head of Research Ministry of Agriculture & Forests P.O. Box 14 Nuku'alofa Tonga Tel: (676) 23038 Fax: (676) 24271 Email: thaangana@hotmail.com Mr Frazer Bule Lehi Head of Research Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Private Mail Bag 040 Port Vila Vanuatu Tel: (678) 22525 Fax: (678) 25265 Email: flehi@hotmail.com Other links Other CROP agencies Forum Secretariat University of the South Pacific SPREP Pacific biodiversity Biodiversity hotspots Breadfruit Institute Hawaiian native plants Intellectual property rights Nature Conservancy PBIF PestNet SIDS WWF South Pacific Program Other Pacific organizations Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific Micronesian Seminar Te Puna web directory Pacific news Cafe Pacific CocoNET Wireless Island Directory Pacific Islands News Pacific Islands Report Pacific Islands Travel Pacific Time South Pacific travel Time Pacific Interested in GIS? DIVA-GIS	Tuesday, July 22, 2003 Posted 3:59 PM by Luigi Sorry about light blogging lately, took a week off work. But here's a selection of interesting things I've come across lately: 1. a paper on traditional knowledge of the weather in Samoa, and whether there is a role for indigenous knowledge of weather and climate in improving scientific understanding of future changes in the climate 2. a newly-found colony of the Polynesian megapode (Megapodius pritchardii) doubles the number of this extremely endangered South Pacific endemic birds known to exist 3. data on potato production in the South Pacific from the The World Geography of the Potato 4. wetlands in Oceania 5. a paper on Traditional Knowledge of Biodiversity in Asia-Pacific * Comments: Post a Comment Sunday, July 13, 2003 Posted 5:34 PM by Luigi Nickel, the environment and biodiversity in New Caledonia International symposium: Ecological conservation and restoration in a tropical mining environment, July 15 to 20, Noumea 2003 This international symposium is organized by the Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), the New Caledonian Institute of Agronomy (IAC-CIRAD) and the University of New Caledonia (UNC) in conjunction with the mining industry federation. Its objectives are twofold: to review the current scientific knowledge on the conservation and restoration of mining sites in the tropics and to make recommendations as to the prospects for furthering research and on applications to mining. Nickel represents New Caledonia's main wealth. About one-quarter of the world's reserves in that metal are deposited under surface of the country, which is the world's fourth biggest producer. Yet New Caledonia is also an island that bears an unequalled and unique natural heritage and biodiversity. A crucial issue is at stake: the reconciling of a sustainable economic development with conservation of the environment. That is the major challenge being taken up by a partnership being forged between the mining companies, the New Caledonian authorities and scientific organizations. This meeting is the opportunity to make a thorough up-to-date review, in partnership with the mining industries, of research being conducted in New Caledonia on the soils, water and biodiversity. The following main strands will be examined: - Biodiversity of ore-bearing sites - Bio-geochemistry of metal-rich soils - Water and the mining environment - Mining area restoration methods - Case histories of ecological restoration - Sustainable management in mining The problems of conservation and restoration of mining sites affect many other countries besides New Caledonia. Consequently, experts from Australasia (Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua-New-Guinea), and also from several other countries (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain, France, Hungary) will present the results of their work. In all, around 150 delegates from 22 countries will be attending. * Comments: Post a Comment Tuesday, July 08, 2003 Posted 9:47 PM by Luigi Web Atlas for the Pacific Interesting meeting today with Michael Govorov and Fabrice Lartigou of the UNiversity of the South Pacific, Geography Department. They are developing an "Interactive Pacific Islands Weg GIS Atlas" using GeoMedia WebMap Professional. Should be up in about a year. * Comments: Post a Comment Sunday, July 06, 2003 Posted 9:13 PM by Luigi Just back from the 3rd conference of the Solomon Islands Planting Materials Network, held in Choiseul. I hope to post some impressions of this very interesting meeting very soon. In the meantime...... You can get some statistics on Pacific Island Countries and Territories here. * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. PestNet: For on-line information, advice and pest identification for the Pacific and beyond. Contact: Grahame Jackson. Pacific Mapper: For on-line mapping of point data over satellite images of the Pacific provided by Google Maps. DIVA-GIS: For free, easy-to-use software for the spatial analysis of biodiversity data.