Conservation, Management and Sustainable Utilization of Forest Genetic Resources in the Pacific

1. Conservation, Management and Sustainable Utilization of Forest Genetic Resources in the Pacific FORESTRY TECHNICAL MEETING SIDE EVENT 4 Apia, Samoa – 30 September 2019 Elina Young Tree Seed Technician Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePaCT) Land Resources Division, Pacific Community (SPC) Suva, Fiji

2. Establishment of the Pacific Islands Tree Seed Centre (PITSC)Islands Tree Seed Centre Regional Forest Genetic Resources Action Plan Establishment of a regional tree seed centre (called the “Pacific Islands Tree Seed Centre”) and programmes under the centre are the priority actions agreed in the regional strategic action plan Major Activities: 1.Collect, process, store and exchange high quality seed of priority Pacific Islands tree species. 2. Research to enable safe and efficient exchange and utilisation of priority tree species. 3. Strengthen institutional capacities of Pacific Island Nations on tree seed technology\tree improvement. 4. Centre serves as a one-stop-shop for information on seed collection, storage, germination testing, propagation, genetic variation, silviculture and utilization of priority tree species

3. List of priority species/genera for attention by PITSC

4. Material Transfer Agreement PREAMBLE • Parties agree on the importance of conserving, researching, and the use of forestry genetic resources identified in Annex 1 of this Agreement for food security, adaptation to climate change and to conserve them for further generations; • Secretariat of the Pacific Community will at all times uphold the traditional knowledge and intellectual property rights of providers of the forest genetic resources identified in Annex 1 of this Agreement and ensure the provider has the opportunity to partake in accessing information, capacity building and research programmes of forest genetic resources; • The Provider of the forest genetic resources identified in Annex 1 of this Agreement agree that the Secretariat of the Pacific Community for research them for food security, adaptation to climate change and to conserve them for further generations. Countries that have signed the MTA with SPC: • Vanuatu – 9th August 2012 • Tonga – 21st August 2012 • Papua New Guinea – 12th October 2012 • Fiji – 18th October 2012 • Samoa – 02nd September 2015 • Solomon Islands – March 2016 -

5. Centre of Pacific Crops and Trees 2019 – tree seed component was integrated into the Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePaCT) Working to assist agricultural development in the region through the sustainable conservation and effective use of genetic resources Integration of the tree seed component – the Centre now works with the Sustainable Forests and Landscapes Pillar to assist forestry development in the Pacific region through the sustainable conservation and effective use of tree genetic resources Biosecurity Approved Premises for Imported Tree Seeds

6. FGR Component • Equipments incl. a walk-in tree seed cold storage unit and laboratory equipment for research donated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) • Material Transfer Agreements have been signed between SPC and six member countries • Distribution of Seeds – on requests from member countries • Germination testing – conducted every six months • Capacity buildings – in county training on request from members or Agriculture and/or Forestry ministries sending their staff for attachment • Assist projects in procuring good quality seeds, conduct germination test and distributing seeds for project activities

7. CURRENT Projects • Domestication and breeding of sandalwood in Fiji and Tonga • ACIAR project funded by the Australian Government • involve the potential banking, testing and distribution of seed exchanged between Fiji and Tonga • Royal Botanic Garden Kew, England • Millennium Seed Bank Partnership (MSBP) • Focus on tree species of major importance: collection, R&D on storage, germination and safe exchange in the Pacific

8. Breeding of wind tolerant Calophyllum inophyllum Collaborative Research activities by SPC & FTBC, Japan Target Species: Calophyllum inophyllum (Dilo) Tolerant to strong winds & sea water, producing high quality timber, and its seed oil is used for cosmetic products etc. Purpose: To select useful plus trees which will adapt to various regional environment and future climate change Implementing organization: The Pacific Community and the Forest Tree Breeding Center, Forestry & Forest Products Research Institute, Japan Duration: 2012-2022

9. Setup provenance test sites in Fiji and Japan to measure and evaluate the growth, wood property, seed production and fecundity Test site in Vunimaqo, Fiji Test site in Iriomote, Japan 2011 2014 2016 2019 Growth speed was significantly different (almost double) among families! Top 5 families Tree height (m) Tree height of 55 familieswas measured every 6 months in Japan Bottom 5 families Year after plantation Research activities Growth rate of Japanese Calophylluminophyllum (The results from Matsushita et al. 2016)

10. Breedingof Calophyllum inophyllum contributes coastal disaster preventionand livelihood improvement

11. Main Issues and Challenges Long – term seed storage (in light of changing phenological seasons of tree species) Capacity building\training Financial support (additional facilities, operational activities, etc.) Lack of Understanding of FGR - Access and benefit sharing (ABS) - Forest biodiversity - Economic, environmental, social and cultural benefits

12. GERMPLASM SUPPLY OPPORTUNITIES THREATS

13. (Thank you! ) (Vinaka!)