A blog maintained by Tevita Kete, PGR Officer Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji Islands
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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
PAPGREN partners Mr William Wigmore Mr Adelino S. Lorens Dr Lois Englberger Mr Apisai Ucuboi Dr Maurice Wong Mr Tianeti Beenna Ioane Mr Frederick Muller Mr Herman Francisco Ms Rosa Kambuou Ms Laisene Samuelu Mr Jimi Saelea Mr Tony Jansen Mr Finao Pole Mr Frazer Bule Lehi Other CROP agencies Pacific biodiversity Other Pacific organizations Pacific news Interested in GIS?
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Sunday, July 02, 2006 Posted 1:57 PM by Luigi
Indigenous Peoples Group CINE Visits Pohnpei By Amy Levendusky, Kaselehlie Press. From June 3-9, 2006, Professor Harriet Kuhnlein from the Centre of Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment (CINE), McGill University, Canada and Chief Bill Erasmus, Regional Chief, Assembly of First Nations, Northwest Territories, Canada and Chair of the CINE governing board visited Pohnpei. The purpose of their visit was to assist with “The Traditional Food System of Pohnpei” project. This project is documenting and promoting the traditional foods of Pohnpei in the village of Mand, Madolenihmw, as coordinated by the Island Food Community of Pohnpei (IFCP) and local agencies. Pohnpei was selected as the 12th case study in a global health project led by CINE. The other case studies in the project include indigenous groups in Canada, Peru, Colombia, Japan, Kenya, India, Nigeria, and Thailand. The overall purpose of the project is to increase the production and consumption of locally grown foods and to improve health, conducting also scientific research to show the impact of this and presenting these results to the United Nations in order to help indigenous peoples. The 2 year project began in May 2005 and will be completed by September 2007. This project includes two phases. Phase 1, the documentation of the traditional food system began in May 2005 and was completed August 2005. Phase 2, which began in September 2005, is an intervention (using a mixture of methods) promoting those foods in Mand with the highest potential health benefits and greatest acceptability. On June 5, 2006, Professor Harriet and Chief Bill attended a strategy planning workshop at the Pohnpei Agriculture office, organized by IFCP. Twenty-nine people from government and non-government sectors, including community members of Mand, attended the workshop. Professor Harriet stressed how impressed she was with the great effort and progress brought forth by the Mand community members in implementing the project and looks forward to further progress in the future. Chief Bill emphasized, “My people in Canada have gone away from our local foods to eating a more western diet. With this change in diet, we’re seeing an increase in health problems like diabetes.” During their visit, Professor Harriet and Chief Bill had the opportunity to meet with Governor Johnny P. David and representatives from the Office of Economic Affairs, the College of Micronesia-FSM, and the Departments of Health and Education. They also attended a charcoal oven demonstration in Mand. One of the cultural highlights of their visit was observing the traditional pounding of breadfruit ceremony, lihli, at the residence of Deacon Lorens in Saladak. IFCP thanks the Mand community and our collaborating partners and support agencies, including the Pohnpei Office of Economic Affairs, Departments of Health and Education, Department of Land and Natural Resources, COM/FSM Land Grant, Natural Resource Conservation Service, CINE, Sight and Life, New Zealand and Australian Embassies, the Global Environmental Fund, and Pacific German Regional Forestry Project (PGRFP). Lois Englberger, PhD Island Food Community of Pohnpei P. O. Box 2299 Kolonia, Pohnpei 96941 FM Tel: 691-320-8639 Fax: 691-320-4647 Website: http://www.islandfood.org |
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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.
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