Regional FGR Strategies and Action Plan in the Pacific

by

Cenon PadolinaRegional Forest Genetic Resources Officer

Forests and Trees Programme – Forestry and Agriculture Diversification Group

Land Resources Division, SPC

Suva, Fiji Islands

The South Pacific Regional Initiative on Forest Genetic Resources (SPRIG) Project

1997-2006

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Strategy & Action Plans for Forest Genetic Resources

• The first strategy & action plan developed in 1999

• A revised strategy & action plan developed in 2007

• it was adopted by the 3rd Regional Meeting of HOAFs & 2nd

Regional Meeting of MOAF held in Samoa in September, 2008, as

the framework under which PICs develop and implement activities

and policies for the development of their forest genetic resources;

and

• Their was consensus that regional cooperation was essential to

facilitate the exchange of information and genetic resources within

the Pacific Region.

•The FGR strategy and action plan can be downloaded from the

SPC-LRD website at: http://www.spc.int/lrd/fat_publications.htm

Regional Strategy and Action Plan on FGR Conservation and Management

• The Priorities, Strategies and Action Plan, 2007-2015 for the conservation,management and sustainable use of forest and tree genetic resourcesrepresents the collective views of representatives of fourteen PacificIsland Countries and Territories, and other national and internationalparticipants, expressed during a workshop in Nadi, Fiji from 25-29 June2007

Regional Strategy and Action Plan on FGR Conservation and Management

Vision

By 2020, the Pacific IslandCountries and Territories areenjoying improved livelihoods,greater food security andincreased environmentalprotection, resulting fromenhanced collaboration andcoordination within andbetween them in theconservation, management andsustainable utilisation of forestgenetic resources, whilemaintaining their unique Pacificcultures

STRATEGIES FOR SUPPLY AND EXCHANGE OF TREE GERMPLASM IN THE PACIFIC

Germplasm supply and exchange

Reforestation

& forest

rehabilitation

Food security, nutrition

Invasive species,Pests &

Forest &

tree products

market

development

Environmental

Services from

forests

Climate changeForest

Endangered

species,

populations

& habitats

Germplasm

supply and

exchange

Reforestation

& forest rehabilitationFood security,

nutrition and

health

Invasive

species,

pests &

diseases

Forest &

tree products

market

development

Environmental

services from

forests

Traditional

knowledge

Climate

change

Sustainable

forest

Endangered

species,

populations

& habitats

Community

& agroforestry

management

management

EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS

CAPACITY BUILDING & INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING

FO

RE

ST

PO

LIC

Y A

ND

GO

VE

RN

AN

CE

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Regional body to facilitate germplasm exchange

•Countries noted difficulties in the exchange of

germplasm between PICs

• The idea of having a regional body to facilitate

this germplasm exchange was strongly supported

• The establishment of a regional tree germplasm

unit within the Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees

(CePaCT) has since been supported by HOAFs &

MOAF

Establishment of the Regional Forest Tree Seed Centre

- to assist PICTs to collect and share germplasm of timber, fruit/nut tree andshrub species of high regional importance, species of particular importance fortheir resistance to cyclones, coastal protection and atolls.

- to act as a centre-of-excellence providing technical support, training,information and advice to member PICTs (seed technology, propagationtechniques and establishment of seed production areas for priority species thatare hard to collect from the wild).

- It will develop a Materials Transfer Agreement for exchange of tree germplasmand inform member countries and territories on access and benefit sharing andrelated IPR matters to provide a regional focal point for coordination andimplementation of priority germplasm collection, storage, distribution andresearch.

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Improving Governance and Building Capacities for Safe Movement of Tree Germplasm between Pacific Island

Countries (May 2009-May 2010)

• AusAID Pacific Governance Support Program

• Collaborative 1 year project which CSIRO and SPC

are supporting with the aims of:– Working closely with key groups in the Pacific Island

Countries e.g. forestry departments, quarantine & biosecurity personnel, to review and assess the relevant issues, risks and constraints which impede the efficient and safe movement of wild and improved tree germplasm between countries

– To build capacities for improved governance and intra-governmental linkages to aid safe movement;

– To make practical recommendations to minimise the problems

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Project Activities cont.

• A project workshop will be held from 15-19th March, 2010, with

forestry and quarantine participants from six project countries (PNG,

Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga & Samoa and possibly others if

funds allow) which aims to:

• contribute to building capacity among relevant government

officers to undertake pest risk analysis and facilitating effective

working linkages between the biosecurity and forestry services

• Develop specific recommendations for changes in practical

procedures which will facilitate efficient and safe exchanges of

wild and improved tree germplasm

State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources

• An FAO initiative to prepare a State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources Report to be presented to the 14th

Session of the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources For Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) in 2013

• The SOW FGR will provide the basis for developing a Global Plan of Action, framework for action at national, eco-regional and global levels, with a funding mechanism

• The SOW Report will be prepared through a country driven approach and will be based on important issues related to the conservation and management of FGR

International Year of the Forests 2011

PLANNED ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:

• Book on Pacific Forests

•Community & Agroforestry Awards

• DVD on the Importance of Forests

and Trees in the Pacific

• Media Fora, Seminars, etc.

• Heads of Forestry Technical Meeting

Follow–Up Activities on FGR

1. Facilitating the regional exchange of forest and tree germplasm throughout the Pacific by establishing a Regional Tree Seed Centre .

2. Encouraging and implementing research and development program to identify and promote tree species that can be utilized to mitigate impacts of climate change

3. Developing a regional sandalwood research, development and awareness program

4. Identifying and developing conservation strategies for endangered tree species and their habitat

5. Developing and promoting innovative, productive and sustainable agroforestry systems

6. Encouraging and implementing research and development of SFM program to support rehabilitation of degraded and unproductive forests