2015 Agroforestry initiatives for SPC

Greetings form Secretariat of the Pacific Community!

The Agroforestry activities for the year has been planned out.

The planned activity for Fiji (Labasa demo site) will continue and first mission to the farm will be undertaken between 20th April to 25th April. Another new site in central Vitilevu will be developed this year.

The team has also undertaking agroforestry farm development work for Solomon Island in Choisuel Province. Eight communities will be assisted with this initiatives, thanks to GIZ and USAID.

Fiji is  Also earmarked to have an extra 7.5 million trees spanning six thousand hectares of forestry plantations and woodlots in a major boost for livelihoods in Viti Levu, thanks to a new initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).

The reforest project will also reduce the vulnerability of sugar cane crop to soil erosion and will protect Sugar cane access roads from damages and flooding thus benefitting the farming communities.

Reforest Fiji was launched recently by the Minister for Fisheries and Forests, Hon. Osea Naiqamu, and the head of the European Union Delegation for the Pacific, Ambassador Andrew Jacobs, at one of the project demonstration sites in Vuniyasi, Malolo, Nadi, in Western Viti Levu.

Work in Vanuatu and Tonga is ongoing. 

More updates will be made as the planned work progresses.

Balanced forest policies and strategies are needed for sustainable development

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), in collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has concluded a two weeks long  Executive Forest Policy course in Nadi, Fiji recently.

The course, which is the seventh to be organised in the Asia Pacific region, was opened  by Fiji’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests, Lieutenant Colonel Inia Seruiratu. In his keynote address Minister Seruiratu said that the course provides an excellent opportunity for senior government officials in the region to enhance their policy analysis capability through their in-depth understanding of critical economic, social and environmental issues at the national, regional and global levels.

‘It is common knowledge that climate change is already causing dramatic changes globally, particularly in the small island states, including in the Pacific, which are considered to be some of the most vulnerable places on earth to the adverse effects of climate change,’ Mr Seruiratu said.

‘In fact, climate change is recognised as the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and well-being of the peoples of the Pacific.’

He added that the important role of forests in mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration and carbon sink is well recognised.

‘In addition, forests will be important in ensuring that our Pacific communities are able to adapt to the impacts of climate change because of the many services and products they contribute to our well-being,’ Mr Seruiratu said.

However, he added, this can only be achieved if our forests are managed in a sustainable manner.

‘The Government of Fiji recognises the potential of forestry as a major potential foreign exchange earner that can also provide rural employment, regular income and infrastructure development that promote rural stability towards improving rural living standards.

‘Thus, it is the mandate of my ministry to ensure that these valuable resources are developed and managed to their optimal potential for the benefit of all stakeholders, in a sustainable way.’

Minister Seruiratu further mentioned that the major challenge is how to mainstream sound forest policies into the sustainable development strategies of the country, taking into account demands for economic development and the social and environmental needs of growing populations.

He therefore urged all the participants to take advantage of the opportunity and participate actively in the discussion and share experiences to help their countries and also the region to develop broad-based practical and implementable policies that will effectively support efforts to achieve the goal of sustainable management of the region’s forest resources.

‘We need to be innovative in our ideas and come up with strategies that are going to ensure a very balanced approach to our development. I am hoping that through this course, you will be able to broaden your knowledge to help you come up with new ideas and strategies towards integrating forestry into your overall national sustainable development strategies,’ Mr Seruiratu said.

Minister Seruiratu also challenged the participants to focus not only on issues facing our region but also opportunities that are present to come up with better solutions.

‘It’s time that officials in both the agriculture and forestry ministries start to focus beyond the problems and come up with solutions that will not only benefit the current generation but future generations as well.’

The 7^th forest policy course was supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Lowering Emissions in Asia’s Forests (LEAF), the European Forest Institute (EFI), the EU/FAO Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade programme (EU/FAO FLEGT), and the Asia Pacific Association of Forestry Research Institutions (APAFRI).

[Ends]

SPC supports the region with forest genetic resource reports

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) through its Land Resources Division has been working very closely with the forestry departments of several member countries that are preparing their report for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which is compiling The State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources (FGR).

Some countries — Cook Islands, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu — have completed their draft reports; others are in the process of compiling theirs. FAO has provided financial assistance for this exercise, as FGR reports from the Pacific region will contribute to the preparation of global report. According to Tevita Faka’osi of Tonga’s Forestry Division, compiling this report helped to consolidate the information from various projects and activities that have been undertaken in the past, and this, in turn, indicated a way forward for the country’s forestry sector, particularly the conservation, management and utilisation of its forest genetic resources.

 ‘We need to take stock of what forest genetic materials we have that can be conserved and what needs to be improved, especially when we are faced with issues like climate change,’ Faka’osi said.

 ‘Diversity of our forest genetic resources improves our resilience and adaptation to climate change,’ said Faka’osi. Similar sentiments were echoed by Inoke Wainiqolo of Fiji’s Department of Forests, who said that the report comes at a time when we are faced with immense pressures and challenges.

‘Due to the rapidly increasing population and other developments, there is a crucial need to conserve, manage and sustainably utilise our forest genetic materials. ‘The Convention on Biological Diversity recognises the need to do more in this regard and is fully supportive of increased scientific investigation,’ Mr Wainiqolo said.

He added that the compilation of FGR reports will also assist in access to genetic resources, with fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from it. SPC’s Forest Genetic Resource Officer, Cenon Padolina, has been coordinating the compilation and preparation process with assistance from Vinesh Prasad – Information and Communication assistant. 

 [Ends] 

(For further information please contact Vinesh Prasad on telephone (679)3370733 , email LRD Help Desk or visit the SPC website: www.spc.int.)

Video

Supporting our queens.

One of our member with handcraft made for tourists

It is often said that behind every successful men, there is a women, however, this will only be true if those women are also successful in the communities.

Having this thought, we at "Empowering our queens for successful  nation' in Kenya are steadfast in promoting education, business development and food security amongst our NGO to enable a better and vibrant community.

We look forward towards donors and interested individuals to support our course in building a better and resilient communities.

We shall provide more update on our activities as we progress.

Hand woven basket ready for sales by our women

For more information, please click here!

SPC collaborates in a project to convert senile coconut into veneer and plywood

A new four-year research project aims to develop the technologies, processes and expertise to produce high quality veneer and veneer products from senile coconut trees. 

SPC’s Land Resources Division (LRD) has teamed up with the University of Tasmania’s Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood (CSAW) and the Australian Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) to look into the development of high quality veneer and other products from coconut wood.

The forestry departments of Fiji, Samoa and Solomon Islands and several industrial companies in the region are also collaborating in the project, which is funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).

Speaking at the inception meeting held in Suva, Fiji, the acting Director of LRD, Inoke Ratukalou, said that coconut plays an important role in the socio-cultural and economic life of the Pacific Islanders. ‘It is one of the most important crops in the Pacific Islands, contributing to food and nutritional security, and the socio-economic well-being of our people.

‘Coconut trees also play an important role in the Pacific Islands climate change adaptation strategies and therefore SPC will continue to support the development of this crop,’ he added.

This project, he explained, is a follow-up of an earlier ACIAR-funded project on Improving value and marketability of coconut wood, which aimed at the production of flooring from solid coconut wood for the high quality hardwood flooring market overseas.

‘While that project was able to identify the technology and process required to develop an excellent flooring product, a major issue was the low recovery of the required high density materials, which has implications throughout the supply chain.

Ratukalou said that it was with the flooring project in mind that the idea of investigating the use of senile coconut palms for veneer was born.  ‘We are grateful to our partners in Australia for further developing this idea into a full project proposal, and to ACIAR for agreeing to fund it.’

The four-year project will receive total funding of AUD 1.3 million and is envisaged to assist in coconut rehabilitation work. Finding uses for senile coconut stems has been problematic. 

It is hoped that this income-generating veneer project will encourage communities to replant their old coconut plantations and enhance livelihoods in the Pacific region.

 [Ends]

 (For further information please contact Vinesh Prasad on telephone (679)3370733, email LRD Help Desk on email lrdhelpdesk@spc.int or visit the SPC website: www.spc.int.)

Workshop looks at reducing climate change impact through REDD+

‘Climate change has emerged as perhaps the most important challenge of our time because its impacts will determine the way that we live and survive in the future,’ commented Inoke Ratukalou, acting Director of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Land Resources Division. Mr Ratukalou made the comments at a regional workshop on forest carbon assessment and monitoring in Pacific Island countries and territories currently underway in Nadi, Fiji.

‘The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its 4^th Assessment Report in 2007 described the Pacific Islands as one of the world’s most vulnerable regions with respect to the adverse impacts of climate change.’

‘The effects of climate change are very likely to adversely affect agricultural and forestry production systems in our region, and issues such as food and water security, coastal vulnerability and biodiversity loss, and their socio-economic, environmental and cultural implications, will be important considerations for us over the coming decades,’ Ratukalou said.

In the current international climate change negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the important role of forests and trees in reducing the emissions of carbon dioxide is well recognised.

This, Mr Ratukalou added, has opened up opportunities for new forestry funding through mechanisms such as REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) and REDD+ (which includes the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks). These programmes will enable developing countries, including those in the Pacific, to pursue measures to improve the management of their forest and tree resources.

‘One of the major technical barriers for REDD+ implementation anywhere is the accurate forest and carbon monitoring at the national level, and this will be extra challenging for the Pacific given the fact that most of us have never done any national forest inventory or have not done it to the desired level of acceptability and regularity,’ he said.

The workshop aims to build capacity of key personnel and institutions on forest carbon assessment and monitoring in Pacific Island countries and territories and share information on the latest methodologies and technologies for forest carbon monitoring to identify common challenges.

Other goals of the workshop are to facilitate discussion on the regional standard methodologies, to establish a regional forest carbon monitoring technical group, and to allow continued discussion towards the formulation of the draft Regional Policy Framework for REDD+. The workshop also includes training on development, use and management of relational databases for analysing, storing and reporting of forest information using Microsoft Access.

The week-long workshop, attended by 54 participants/observers, is being supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the European Union African-Caribbean-Pacific Forest Research Network (EU-ACP-FORENET), German technical cooperation agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) via the SPC/GIZ Regional Project on Climate Protection through Forest Conservation in  Pacific Island Countries, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI) of Japan, Forest Research Institute of Papua New Guinea (PNGFRI), Centre for International Forest Research (CIFOR), and Asia Pacific Network on Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet) in Beijing, China.

[Ends]

(For further information please contact Vinesh Prasad on telephone (679)3370733, email LRD Help Desk on email lrdhelpdesk@spc.int or visit the SPC website: www.spc.int.)

REDD+ Meeting in Japan
SPC's Sairusi Bulai attended this meeting in Tokyo, Japan

 http://agriknowledge.affrc.go.jp/RN/5020000136

Wallis and Futuna forestry team to be assisted by SPC

(L-R) Taifisi Folituu, David Devynck and Inoke Ratukalou

                             Bottom right: 

Friday June 1^st , Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC),Suva – ‘We are very grateful to SPC for facilitating our visit to Fiji,’ said David Devynck, a forest engineer with the Wallis and Futuna State Department who, with Taifisi Folituu, a sawmill owner from Wallis, visited Fiji for assistance with the development of their forestry sector, in particular the timber industry.

The two men were in Fiji from 21–26 May and visited staff of SPC’s Land Resources Division (LRD), Fiji’s Forestry Department and various forestry enterprises around Viti Levu, including saw millers, timber exporters and timber value-adding companies, learning more about timber treatment and visual identification of timber species to ensure that they import only species that can withstand the conditions in Wallis and Futuna.

Wallis and Futuna has problems with invasive species such as Falcataria moluccana and they requested LRD for assistance in this area, especially in the mapping of the affected areas. Other areas of support required include the provision of seeds of selected timber tree species, an inventory of their pine plantations, and assistance in improving timber utilisation, especially in the areas of timber processing and treatment.

‘This trip has given us some ideas about what should be best for us in terms of improving timber processing and sustainable management of our forest resources,’ Devynck said.

Inoke Ratukalou, Acting Director of LRD, said that he was pleased to meet the members of the delegation, as it was an opportunity to enhance closer collaboration between SPC and Wallis and Futuna.

Paula Tuiwawa of FD with David of Wallis & Futuna

‘Such collaboration is not only beneficial to Wallis and Futuna; it also allows us to learn from their experiences and serve other member countries better.’

Devnyck said that the visit was very interesting and a huge learning experience for him and his colleague. ‘There are many similarities between our forestry sector and Fiji’s, and I believe we will learn a lot from each other if we work together.

‘We have seen that Fiji’s Forestry Department is well established and we hope to learn a lot from them in our future collaboration, especially with training of some of our nationals at the Timber Industry Training Centre.’

He added that it is always easy to work with other countries in the region through SPC as it is in good position to guide them.

The weeklong trip was facilitated by the LRD’s forestry team and supported by Fiji’s Forestry Department.

[Ends]

*********************************************************************************************French translation

La CPS prête assistance au service forestier de Wallis et Futuna

Vendredi 1er juin, Secrétariat général de la Communauté du Pacifique (CPS), Suva (Fidji) – « Nous sommes très reconnaissants à la CPS d’avoir facilité notre visite à Fidji », a déclaré David Devynck, ingénieur forestier au Service d'État de l'agriculture, de la forêt et de la pêche du Territoire de Wallis et Futuna, qui, en compagnie de Taifisi Folituu, propriétaire d’une scierie à Wallis, s’est rendu aux Fidji afin de bénéficier d’une aide en faveur du développement du secteur forestier, en particulier l’industrie du bois d’œuvre.

Durant leur séjour aux Fidji, du 21 au 26 mai, ils ont rendu visite au personnel de la Division ressources terrestres (DRT) de la CPS, au service forestier des Fidji et à diverses entreprises de sylviculture de Viti Levu, notamment des scieurs, des exportateurs de bois et des entreprises de valorisation du bois. Ils se sont familiarisés avec le traitement du bois et l’identification visuelle des essences, de manière à n’importer que des espèces capables de supporter les conditions climatiques de Wallis et Futuna.

Le Territoire de Wallis et Futuna se heurte à des problèmes d’espèces envahissantes telles que Falcataria moluccana, et il a sollicité l’aide de la DRT pour y remédier, notamment par une cartographie des zones affectées. L’assistance demandée porte en outre sur la fourniture de semences d’essences sélectionnées en vue de la production de bois d’œuvre, un inventaire des plantations de pins, et l’amélioration de l’exploitation du bois, en particulier la transformation et le traitement du bois d’œuvre.

« Cette mission nous a donné des idées sur les méthodes que nous devrions appliquer pour améliorer la transformation du bois et la gestion de nos ressources forestières », a déclaré David Devynck.

Inoke Ratukalou, Directeur de la DRT par intérim, s’est dit heureux d’avoir rencontré les membres de la délégation, et a saisi cette occasion pour resserrer les liens de collaboration entre la CPS et Wallis et Futuna.

« Cette collaboration est non seulement bénéfique à Wallis et Futuna, mais elle nous permet aussi de tirer les enseignements de l’expérience de ce Territoire et de mieux répondre aux besoins d’autres pays membres. »

David Devnyck a estimé que cette intéressante visite était une expérience très enrichissante, pour lui et son collègue. « Il existe de nombreux traits communs entre notre secteur forestier et celui des Fidji, et je pense que nous nous apprendrons beaucoup de choses mutuellement si nous travaillons ensemble. »

« Nous avons constaté que le service forestier des Fidji est bien implanté et nous espérons tirer beaucoup d’enseignements de notre future collaboration, d’autant que certains de nos concitoyens suivront une formation au Centre de formation aux métiers du bois. »

Il a ajouté qu’il est toujours facile de travailler avec d’autres pays de la région par le truchement de la CPS, qui est bien placée pour les guider.

Le voyage d’une semaine a été facilité par l’équipe de la DRT chargée de la foresterie, avec le concours du service forestier des Fidji.

[Fin]

SPC Forestry News: 4th day of training - Some more pictures.

SPC Forestry News: 4th day of training - Some more pictures.

@vineshfiji Twite me!

4th day of training - Some more pictures.

 We have managed to complete three and are in the fourth day. Today we having interesting session on GIS  and data sharing.

SPC conducts training on Web 2.0 tools and social media for information sharing

A training workshop being held in Suva, Fiji for civil servants, is exploring the use of social media and other ‘Web 2.0’ technologies to improve service delivery. The overall objective of this workshop is to discuss the opportunities offered by the social media and also the challenges of using these applications online. More broadly, it will look at the role of the internet and how social media can facilitate information sharing and collaboration.

The director of SPCs Land Resources Division, Inoke Ratukalou, believes that the development of relevant information and communication technology (ICT) policies and the use of ICT are integral to SPC’s obligations to its member countries.

‘SPC wants to continue to ensure that the contributions of ICT, such as the mobile telephone and the many applications of the internet, are fully appreciated and used by the people of Fiji to improve their livelihoods.

‘Unfortunately, slow bandwidth in many Pacific Island countries and territories is a hindrance to fully realising the benefits and capabilities of the different Web 2.0 tools. SPC is currently using Web 2.0 applications in its ICT sector and thereby creating a new environment conducive to economic and social development,’ said Ratukalou.

‘Technology, particularly that relating to the internet and computers, is transforming our lives at unbelievable speed; there are tools now available on the internet that can make conversations, dialogue and interactions possible,’ he added.

He elaborated: ‘Web 2.0 is changing the way we do things and the way we perceive things and it empowers people to create awareness about the impacts of global issues such as climate change, environmental degradation, sea level rise and food security through the use of digital media, social networking tools and e-learning technologies. It also gives a voice to people, especially our youth.’

This workshop has been made possible by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), an institution that was established within the framework of the Lome Convention, a co-operation agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (known collectively as the ACP states) and the European Union.

Ratukalou told the participants that ‘CTA recognises the need to improve the management of agricultural information in ACP countries. CTA is, therefore, at the forefront of Web 2.0 training and applications and will be linking up with its stakeholders in other SPC member countries to conduct similar training in 2012 and beyond.

SPC, in partnership with CTA, has been working on a number of ICT activities related to information sharing, such as the use of mobile telephones to share information about market prices and reporting incidents of pest and disease. The aim of this partnership is to better serve the ever-changing information needs of SPC’s Pacific stakeholders.

The workshop ends on Friday 9th December and it is expected that the discussions on the adoption and further dissemination of appropriate, low cost, simple and replicable internet-based technologies and applications will empower the participants to make a difference in their ministries. 

[Ends]

Training of Fiji Nationals on Web 2.0 Tools

Meeting Venue

Opening Session - Vinesh welcomes the participants and chief guest

Director speaking to the participant

Director LRD delivering opening speech

http://www.spc.int/lrd/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=884:spc-to-improve-biosecurity-in-the-pacific-region&catid=23&Itemid=18

Pacific Island leaders have always considered trade an important aspect of Pacific Island livelihoods and they encourage the relevant agencies to increase the volume and range of commodities being traded. However, with increased trade there is always the issue of pest and disease invasion, which could seriously undermine trade.

These comments were made by Acting Director of SPC’s Land Resources Division (LRD) Mr Inoke Ratukalou, as he officially opened the three-day Pacific Plant Protection Organisation (PPPO) executive committee meeting in Nadi, Fiji.

‘There is an increasing number of plant pests and other invasive alien species being recorded in the Pacific region. They have spread and will continue to spread throughout the region if we are not vigilant enough.

‘The latest pest is the small fire ant recorded on Guam, but the establishment and spread of the cocoa pod borer, the giant African snail, the coconut rhinoceros beetle, papaya crown rot, parthenium weed and meremia vine should be of concern for the region,’ he said.

‘There are many more organisms, such as the Asian longhorn beetle and the khapra beetle, that threaten the region.  Continued surveillance and preparedness must be encouraged among member countries and they must collaborate in their efforts to keep these and other alien species out.’

‘SPC recognises the need for Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) to participate in the World Trade Organization’s international standard setting processes and therefore currently hosts both the PPPO Secretariat, linking it to the International Plant Protection Convention, and the World Organisation for Animal Health.

‘SPC has a memorandum of understanding with both organisations to assist PICTs in plant protection and animal health standard setting and disease reporting systems, as well as in capacity building,’ Ratukalou said.

‘SPC/LRD has been at the forefront of these areas and has assisted PICTs to deal with plant protection, animal health and quarantine issues,’ he said.

Ratukalou also mentioned that SPC-LRD has in the past secured the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER), the Pacific Regional Economic Integration Programme (PREIP) and, more recently, the EU-funded Facilitating Agriculture Commodity Trade (FACT) project and the new ‘aid for trade’ Increasing Agricultural Commodities Trade project (IACT), which will commence soon.

‘This will further strengthen our capacity to assist PICTs in trade facilitation issues, including biosecurity.’

The PPPO was established in 1996 but SPC has a long history of providing technical advice to PICTs since the 1950s, when entomologists and plant protection officers were based in Noumea, later relocated to Suva and recently expanded to Ponhpei.

Eleven participants from ten countries  —  Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Guam, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Solomon Islands and Tonga — are attending this meeting with regional partners the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s sub regional office.

[Ends]

(For further information please contact LRD Help Desk on email lrdhelpdesk@spc.int or Vinesh Prasad on telephone 3370733.)

FAD & FAT NEWS: Side event on Pacific Forestry in Asia Pacific Forestry Week

FAD & FAT NEWS: Side event on Pacific Forestry in Asia Pacific Forestry Week

Side event on Pacific Forestry in Asia Pacific Forestry Week

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), in collaboration with its partners, organised two side events during the second Asia Pacific Forestry Week (APFW) held in Beijing in order to raise the profile of the Pacific and to showcase positive developments happening in the forestry sector of Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs).

‘Opportunities in Pacific Forestry’ was the theme for one side event, jointly organised by SPC and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The event comprised a number of presentations by Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa and Kiribati. They showed the diversity of challenges and opportunities these countries face.

Mr Aru Matthias, Regional Forestry Advisor based in FAO’s sub-regional office in Samoa, commented that the countries should build on these opportunities.

‘There is a lot of interesting forestry work going on in the Pacific, and donor partners like FAO, the European Union, GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and many others are partnering SPC to support the work being carried out in Pacific island countries,’ he added.

He said that a forum such as this side event provided an ideal opportunity for Pacific nations to network with each other and share ideas.

Mr Gordon Konairamo, Commissioner of Forestry in Solomon Islands Ministry of Forestry stressed the fact that with effective collaboration among communities, all plantation forests are certified under one of the certifying agencies — the Forest Stewardship Certification.

‘This enables easy access to overseas market as more and more countries are ratifying their legislations to buy only certified timber to promote sustainable forest management.’

Similarly, Fiji’s Conservator of Forest Mr Inoke Wainiqolo highlighted that it is the value-adding downstream processing of mahogany before exporting that contributes to increased revenue to Fiji.

‘We have even gone into making handicrafts out of the waste wood that was normally left to decay after harvesting the tree trunk,’ said Mt Wainoqolo.

The second side event was on REDD+ activities in the Pacific to inform the international community what countries in the Pacific are doing about climate change in terms of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD). This event was organised in collaboration with JICA, GIZ, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) and UN-REDD.

In delivering the keynote address at this event, SPC’s Forest and Trees Coordinator Mr Sairusi Bulai said that forest and trees offer one of the best solutions for Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) to cope with climate change and other changing circumstances.

‘But Pacific countries need to implement sustainable forest management if their forest and tree resources are going to cope with climate change as well as continue to provide products and services that are vital to the well-being of Pacific communities,’ he added.

‘REDD+ with the current fund-based grant financing mechanism for REDD+ activities offers an excellent opportunity for forestry support in Pacific Island countries towards sustainable forest management. It is a tremendous opportunity to implement measures that they have not been able to implement up to now due to lack of resources,’ Mr Bulai said.

He added that SPC, with the support of its partners is assisting PICTs to implement activities towards REDD+ readiness.

‘A very important activity being pursued on this will be the formulation of a draft policy framework for the Pacific region towards a regional approach to REDD+ that will facilitate application of common methodologies, sharing of expertise and information, and extending benefits to smaller island countries not expected to participate in REDD+ readiness,’ he explained.

JICA’s Senior Advisor in the Global Environment Department Mr Hiroki Miyazono also commented that Pacific Island countries have demonstrated how the donors are collaborating effectively to ensure that support is attuned to the needs of the region.

‘The technical assistance provided as part of REDD+ readiness programmes is an excellent opportunity to transfer skills and knowledge to forestry officials and local communities.

‘SPC provides a focal point for policy and technical support to Pacific Island countries that have limited human resources, and this support is essential to efficiently use foreign investments and bilateral assistance in the forestry sector,’ said Mr Miyazono.

He added that presentations from senior forestry officials from Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Vanuatu explained how the heavily-forested countries of Melanesia have progressed towards REDD+ readiness at the national level.

‘It was very encouraging to hear that all countries are keen to see donors collaborate and to ensure that foreign consultants are also assisting in building capacity at the regional and national level as part of their terms of reference.’

Ends

http://www.spc.int/lrd/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=816:planting-trees-teaches-youth-the-value-of-forests&catid=361:international-year-of-the-forests-competition&Itemid=29

FACT project completes its 2nd year

The European Union funded Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade (FACT) pilot project aims to support commercial ventures and producer groups in becoming export-oriented, market-driven enterprises that will consistently supply overseas markets with competitive agricultural and forestry products.

The EU-FACT pilot project is implemented by the Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in Suva, Fiji Islands, since May 2008.

FACT’s activities are overseen by a technical advisory group (TAG) comprising five experts from the private sector, the University of the South Pacific and the Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission (PITIC) in New Zealand. Based on commercial and other relevant social and environmental criteria, the TAG selected 17 Pacific Islands enterprises and products from more than 80 enterprises which responded to a widely distributed expression of interest.

The overall objective is to promote and increase trade in agricultural and forestry products from Pacific ACP countries.

FACT complements efforts aimed at enhancing regional cooperation and integration: this includes the policy commitment of European Union in the Cotonou Agreement in facilitating the integration of the Pacific ACP into the regional and global economies.

Further it also promotes sustainable increase in quality and range of exports of agriculture and forestry products within and out of the Pacific Region.

The purpose of FACT is to: “Sustainably increase quality and range of exports of agricultural and forestry (agfor) products by value adding with emphasis on supply chain improvement, post harvest handling, and food safety standards by means of fair trade and organic farming practices.”

The case studies generated will be used by SPC and others to disseminate information to the wider community.

................................................................................................................................................................

Progress with two Fijian enterprises

SPC FACT project enables Suva-based company to move to Labasa

Peni Bale

Thirty-three year old Peni Bale is no ordinary civil servant. This Social Welfare Officer from Seaqaqa is the largest cassava supplier to the Balthan (Western) Ltd processing plant at Vakamasisuasua subdivision in Labasa, Fiji Islands.

Peni started off as a subsistence farmer, but his operation is growing into a big commercial farm, with cassava planted on fifteen acres of land. He has not regretted making that move, saying it was worth every cent he had invested.

However, it was only possible to expand after a reliable market moved closer to home. He is able to concentrate on farming while Balthan, a large exporter of diverse fresh and frozen agricultural products, including cassava, takes care of the markets.

Thanks to assistance offered under the European Union-funded Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade (FACT) project, a pilot programme designed to sustainably increase the quality and range of exports of Pacific agriculture and forestry products, Balthan has been able to provide a valuable, consistent market for Vanua Levu farmers like Bale.

This ambitious pilot project is administered in the Fiji Islands by Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s Land Resource Division and operates in 7 pacific island members of ACP countries.

LRD, through the FACT project, is working directly with the private sector.

FACT is committed to creating employment opportunities and generating income at the grass roots level by assisting commercial ventures and producer groups in becoming export-oriented, market-driven enterprises that will consistently supply overseas markets with competitive and quality agricultural and forestry products.

For Bale, having a market next door has enabled him to send his wife to India for medical treatment and support their children’s education.

He recently purchased machinery to help with his growing cassava farm, including a water pump and a tractor, and employs five full-time labourers.

For farmers like Bale, Balthan’s large warehouse at the end of a street in this dusty industrial area is more than just a cassava processing plant; it is a source of innovation, contributing to sustainable livelihoods in Vanua Levu.

Plant manager Jane Batisaresare said the plant received cassava from as far as Dama in Bua and around the Macuata province.

She said the plant was the company’s first in northern Fiji. According to Batisaresare, the cassava from Labasa seemed to be of higher quality than that from Suva and Savusavu.

‘I’m told cassava from dry regions is far better than cassava in Viti Levu,’ said Batisaresare.

Balthan’s Labasa operation employs 10 full-time employees, and their farmer network is currently focusing on growing cassava.

Batisaresare said the cassava industry has great potential in Macuata.

The company has 75 registered cassava suppliers in Labasa, Seaqaqa and Bua.‘The supply is dependable – it is very good,’ she said.

Cyclone Thomas in March this year affected most farmers in the North, but Batisaresare said it had not dampened the spirit of her suppliers, nor had it affected supplies.

‘With us around, they are determined to plant more cassava as they have a reliable market. I don’t have to call them; they come every day, and there are more people planting although they are not registered yet.’

Batisaresare said Balthan was only able to establish a plant in Labasa thanks to FACT’s assistance, which totalled FJD 90,000.

FACT has assisted Balthan with equipment for processing root crops and coordinated the supply chain with the farmers.

FACT’s Production Technician (Food Safety) Manasa Katonivualiku is also working closely with Balthan to advise them on food safety, especially focussing on achieving HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points – a process ensuring that food is processed safely) certification for the factory.

The plant only accepts the New Guinea variety of cassava, called kuli piqi.

Batisaresare said that the cassava they received each day were peeled, processed and packed. They were then kept in a freezer, waiting to be shipped to Suva for export.

She said that the farmers needed to supply cassava on a commercial scale, meaning they had to provide a consistently supply, not just two or three bags once in a while. She said the plant was receiving at least two tonnes of cassava per day.

‘If the supply is good we get four tonnes a day, and we are looking forward to getting six tonnes a day.’

For the future, Batisaresare said Balthan might expand into buying plantain (vudi), cocoyam (dalo ni tana), taro (dalo), spinach (bele) and taro leaves (rourou).

The company worked closely with the Ministry of Agriculture to get the word out to encourage more farmers to supply root crops.

FACT Production Technician Sanfred Smith said they had come up with strategies to improve the farmers’ supplies.

Principal Agriculture Officer Northern John Cox said that while the root-crop export industry was just getting started, it was in Vanua Levu to stay. He added that a price rise and buying right from the farm gate would greatly boost production in the region.

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Garden Island mill promotes wonders of virgin coconut oil

Suluweti L

Like many children, Suluweti Loqimi dreamed of becoming a school teacher as she grew up in Vuna Village on Taveuni.

But unlike most children her age, the bright 17-year-old dropped out of school last year because her parents could not afford her school fees.

She seemed resigned to the thought that her fate would be to stay in the village and not return to school.

However, her future looks a bit little brighter after she secured a job at Origins Pacific, a Fiji-owned and operated company that manufactures premium quality cold-pressed virgin coconut oil (VCO).

Suluweti is the youngest employee at the mill, which is just a few metres away from her home.

Earning about $55 to $80 a week is enough to put a big smile on her face, as well as make her family happy.

Her father Misaele Mateduadua said that whatever her daughter earned was hers to keep.

Suluweti said that each week she helped her 46-year-old father buy groceries for the family, and she pocketed the rest.

‘Hopefully I will be able to save enough to return to school and who knows, I may be able to realise my childhood dream of becoming a teacher,’ said Suluweti.

This change is the result of the benefits of private enterprise coming to her village.

Suluweti is one of the eight permanent women employees working at the VCO mill located on the southern end of Taveuni.

Mill manager Leba Vosaicake said that since it resumed operation last August, the mill has impacted lives of many people – workers, coconut suppliers, the Vuna village shop owner – and the village as a whole.

Mrs Vosaicake said young Suluweti was one of the eight women and two men who were employed full time to cold press the coconuts using simple equipment.

‘Their skills ensure that all the natural goodness and flavour of the coconut is retained,’ said Mrs Vosaicake.

Coconut mill owner Peni Drodrolagi said while it was still too early to gauge the difference the mill had made in the lives of coconut suppliers in Vuna, he hoped the business had made some impact.

For one thing, villagers could now afford to pay the weekly diesel levy that provided electricity in their homes every night.

The village shop was also well stocked because people were buying in cash and not on credit. Mr Drodrolagi said the 17 school children of the workers were in school full time and their parents were able to pay their school fees.

Origins Pacific got a boost when it was selected as a beneficiary of Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade (FACT), a European Union-funded programme that is administered in the Pacific by the Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).

FACT is committed to creating employment opportunities and generating income at the grass roots level by assisting commercial ventures and producer groups in becoming export-oriented, market-driven enterprises that will consistently supply overseas markets with competitive and quality agricultural and forestry products.

Through the project, Origins Pacific will be assisted in its efforts to promote the nutritional benefits of VCO, and in the process acquire HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points – a process ensuring that food is processed safely) and organic certification, which would open exports into Europe.

The FACT project aims to increase competitiveness of potential exports by addressing and, where necessary, upgrading substandard components of the supply chain of selected products.

In a typical day, workers at the Vuna mill are expected to produce 75 litres of VCO from 800 nuts.

The company has another VCO mill in Vunuku Village on Moala in the Lau Group. ‘These two sites have enough capacity to meet current sales,’ stated Mr Drodrolagi, a former Shell Fiji oil executive.

The market for VCO, he believes, is not a problem.

‘New products always require selling campaigns and need to be promoted. We have to move away from making oil only and also make high value coconut-derived products.

‘We need to look at the market closely and select the products that need to be developed; we must produce what the market wants.’

Running a company like Origins Pacific in a village setting has not been easy. One of the challenges relates to the need for workers to balance the effort they put into their own commercial and financial interests and the effort they put into their social responsibilities.

‘They should evaluate the contribution the business is giving to their own cash needs and try and make that sustainable by contributing to the survival of the business.’

Of some concern is the growing senility of coconut groves, which is not helped by the lack of a vigorous coconut replanting programme.

Mr Drodrolagi estimated that about 50 million nuts are wasted in the fields every year.

That’s equivalent to about four to five million litres of VCO.

‘If we can use only 50 per cent of these nuts for VCO, we can generate cash sales in the rural islands equivalent to about FJD 16 million per year in income.’

He suggested that the government could help by developing a VCO pricing mechanism that would allow the oil to be well positioned in the market when compared to other cooking oils.

‘This will make VCO much more affordable.’