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

  • IPGRI
  • ACIAR
  • NZAID
  • CTA
  • SPC
  • PAPGREN
  • CEPaCT

     genebank locations
    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

     

  •  

    Wednesday, October 19, 2005


    Regional Sandalwood Workshop

    SPC Land Resources Division will be convening a regional workshop on “Sandalwood Research, Development and Extension in the Pacific Islands and Asia” from 28 November to 01 December 2005, in Nadi, Fiji.

    OBJECTIVES
    • Share and discuss the latest sandalwood research and development, and extension work undertaken by Pacific island countries and territories and other regional programmes and agencies.
    • Discuss ways on how results of the above research and development work could be applied to support efforts towards sustainable rural development.
    • Strengthen and explore opportunities for collaboration amongst PICTs and other organisations present.

    THEME

    “Enhancing Sandalwood contribution to sustainable rural development through better research and development, and extension”.

    BACKGROUND

    Sandalwood (Santalum spp) has considerable cultural and economic importance to many communities in Pacific island countries and territories. It is for this reason that conservation of the species is an important issue and deserves added input to ensure its sustainable management. The species high economic value coupled with its amenability to cultivation, in agroforestry systems and in plantations, has the potential to make a significant contribution to rural economies.

    Sandalwood was heavily exploited in the past in the Pacific during the first half of the 19th Century. However its initial trade commenced with the introduction of Buddhism into China from India in the first century and with it came the practice of burning incense (produced from sandalwood) in temples. Later the trade expanded to the Pacific when Americans and Australians began trading with China. This trade led to the discovery of sandalwood in the Pacific, including Hawaii, and Australia. Sandalwood has also been used and traded in Indonesia for over 1000 years.

    As much of the initial stands have been exploited through the Pacific, there is concern now for its survival and the habitat in which it grows. The natural regeneration or artificial establishment is dependent on suitable host plants as well as a suitable forest and agricultural environment. As Santalum species usually grow in drier open forest and woodland communities, their conservation and management will determine the conservation status of many of the Santalum species in Asia-Pacific. Santalum is generally vulnerable to fire and grazing animals, both of which are common in its habitats. For this reason, greater research and input into ways of improving stand management, introducing sandalwood in agroforestry systems, and policy requirements to conserve both the species and its habit are required.

    Over the last decade, CIRAD-Foret in New Caledonia, ACIAR in Australia and Indonesia, CSIRO/SPRIG in the Pacific region and several other PICs have been carrying out research and undertaking field plantings of sandalwood. In August 1994, a regional workshop was organised by the South Pacific Forestry Development Programme in association with CIRAD-Foret and ACIAR in Noumea, New Caledonia to provide “hands-on” training on sandalwood seed, nursery and planting technology.

    In 2002, SPC, with the support of CSIRO/SPRIG, ISSS-Australia, CIRAD-Foret – France, CIFOR and IAC – New Caledonia, organised a regional workshop on sandalwood which brought together participants from sandalwood-growing countries of the Pacific and Asia with the main aim of reviewing existing sandalwood research and development activities and to determine future prospects. This workshop was presented with a lot of useful work in progress, and provided an ideal opportunity to discuss this work. The workshop also made recommendations on areas that needed urgent attention.

    Since 2002, a lot of work has progressed both in research and development and also extension. The planned regional workshop this year will be a timely opportunity for the relevant PICTs and agencies to present and discuss current developments with a view to determine future areas of focus.

    VENUE

    The workshop will be held at the Mocambo Hotel in Nadi, Fiji Islands.

    DATES

    The workshop will be held from 28 November – 01 December 2005.

    PROGRAMME

    The provisional programme is being worked out in consultation with relevant PICTs and agencies, but will be based on the following draft agenda items:

    • Overview of sandalwood management and use worldwide
    • Pacific perspectives
    • Country reports
    • Agency reports
    • Technical presentations
    • Field visits/demonstrations
    • Discussions on how sandalwood work can be further expanded in the Pacific Islands
    • Identify common grounds and agreement on a possible regional project

    STRUCTURE

    • The first and third days of the workshop will be set aside for presentations of country reports, agency reports, technical presentations, and follow-on discussions
    • The second day will be field visits.
    • The final day of the workshop has been set aside to develop recommendations for future direction, and a possible regional project to implement recommended further work on sandalwood.

    SPONSORS/ORGANISERS

    The workshop will be organised by the SPC Land Resources Division, and with funding support from the following programmes and agencies:

    • SPC/GTZ-Pacific German Regional Forestry Project
    • SPRIG/AusAID
    • ACIAR
    • IAC – New Caledonia


    PARTICIPANTS

    Participants will be from the Pacific island countries and territories, including Cook Islands, Fiji Islands, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Niue, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu and Wallis & Futuna. In addition, representatives from Australia, Indonesia, Hawaii and Timor Leste will also be invited to participate in the workshop. The main target group will be technical officers of the respective forestry agencies who are currently involved in sandalwood research and development, and extension work in their countries and territories.

    FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

    The SPC Land Resources Division with funding support from the SPC/GTZ-Pacific German Regional Forestry Project, SPRIG/AusAID, ACIAR and IAC will sponsor the participation of all of the government nominated participants from the invited Pacific island countries. The number of participants from each participating country will be specified in the invitation letter, forming the covering letter to this Announcement. The sponsorship will include:

    • A round trip or return airticket by the most direct and economical route from his/her capital town to Nadi. All tickets must be used as issued or authorized.
    • Accommodation on a single or twin-share basis at the Mocambo Hotel.
    • An allowance to cover all food and other personal expenses.
    • An allowance to cover food, accommodation and other expenses for obligatory stopovers to and from the meeting on the basis of the travel itinerary booked by the SPC Land Resources Division.

    All other participants will have to participate in the workshop at their own expense, but will still need to submit a completed registration form.

    FURTHER INFORMATION

    SPC Forests and Trees Adviser: spforest@spc.int

     
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