Projects

Location

Nakavu Village, Veivatuloa, Namosi Province

Management

Silviculture Research Division, Forestry Department

Partners for this Collaborative Research Work

SPC Land Resources Division, GIZ and Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation & Nuclear Safety of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Objectives

To develop technical parameters for the integration of SFM and REDD+ .

All SFM-relevant measures (PHI, TS, logging etc.) will be further developed and implemented in the Nakavu demonstration area under the extended perspective of REDD+ (carbon stock development, (community) carbon accounting etc.).

Activities :

◍ Site inspection and mapping;

◍ Socio-economic baseline study;

◍ Maintenance infrastructure;

◍ Pre-harvest Inventory plus Carbon Inventory;

◍ Tree selection;

◍ Logger identification;

◍ Tactical planning;

◍ Permanent Sample Plot (PSP) re-measurement;

◍ Logging;

◍ Transport;

◍ Post-harvest assessment;

◍ Natural Forest Management Pilot Project (NFMPP) management plan;

◍ Model calculations;

◍ Scientific attendance;

◍ Monthly reports;

◍ Final analysis and report writing; and

◍ Carbon financing model.

Research Development on Wood and Non-Wood Species

The purpose of this project is to strengthen research and development capabilities to improve overall efficiency and compliance in the forest sector industries to meet national and international standards. This includes research and development of wood and non wood species to promote its economic value and further value adding. This will also ensure effective use of non-wood forest products either than wood and timber available from forests destined for the local and overseas markets. The project commenced in 2012 with the engagement of an overseas consultant to recommend strategies for future direction and activities of Forestry Research in Fiji. The project also commenced research into wood properties and uses of 2 Lesser Known Species (LKS) and recommended it use to the Forest Sector Industries. Total Budget approved for 2013 is $150,000.

Background

The project has been in operation since 2010 and has been working in phases beginning from the baseline survey, harvesting, and classification of waste. Currently, it is now into the further processing of wood waste phase in which specialized machines will be used so there is zero waste in the processing line. The focus is to utilize waste wood into manufactured products, make awareness, train resource owners, landowners, carpentry and joinery students, individuals, interested parties and market out the idea into the furniture industries.

Also, the project will help alleviate poverty in the country by providing job opportunities i.e. in the identification, engagement and establishment of small cottage industries and resource/land owners will be paid for what they own in the plantation thus contributing to economic growth.

What the project involves:

◍ Identification of waste wood manufacturing process line

◍ Creation of products

◍ Identification of specialized machines

◍ Providing relevant skills of manufacturing waste

◍ Selling the idea to furniture industries, resource owners and individuals

◍ Creation of small cottage industries and further develop the wood industries

◍ Continuous monitoring & training of the established and engaged cottage industries (skills and business development) and evaluation of service providers

Note: Not only Mahogany waste wood will be considered but other focus will be on other indigenous species & Fiji Teak, also inclusive is the Lesser Known Species which are currently under research at the Timber Utilization and Research Division in Nasinu.

This project is a means to deliver and disseminate Research undertaken on sandalwood for the past 15 years by the Department of Forestry.

Yasi species has a wide geographical range in Fiji. It is known to grow in the province of Bua, Macuata and the tip of Cakaudrove in the island of Vanua Levu. In Viti Levu, the species is recorded from the Nausori Highlands in Navosa district. The species is also known to grow naturally in some parts of Kadavu, and in some islands in the Lau group.

The planting rotation for Yasi is said to be around 20 years and the average mass weight at the twenty years is set at around 20 kg while the selling prices range from $80 to $100 per kg. One advantage in growing Yasi is the simplicity in production and harvesting technology compared to mahogany which will require heavy machineries due to its bulkiness. Yasi on the other hand only require simple tool for its harvesting and therefore damages to the environment will be relatively low.

As a parasitic plant, Yasi will not do well without host species. This is particularly helpful to the fact that host materials can provide short to medium term benefits to the farmers, for example, the use of lemon as host trees will see the production of fruits in the short to medium term before the maturity of the Yasi crop. Some of best host species are lemon, calliandra, casuarina, guava, serianthes, and accasia. However, it will adapt well to all local hosts available as long as the host materials are not too dense to smother the candidate crop tree.

Lastly, the species has been successfully planted in other non Yasi sites and therefore can be well established if introduced to other parts of Fiji. But still the best sites are those at the drier side of the island with well drained soil.

What the project involves?

◍ Seed collection for planting and/or purchase;

◍ Research on sandalwood germination, propagation and distribution;

◍ Sandalwood technology transfer;

◍ Sandalwood soil analysis and mapping of sandalwood in Fiji;

◍ Revisiting/monitoring of sandalwood research development project; activities implemented at various sites/locations;

◍ Sandalwood field establishment (reforestation of Yasi) and fencing;

◍ State nursery refurbishment for sandalwood research;

◍ Finalizing Sandalwood Policy, vetting from SG’s Office and endorsement; and

◍ Compilation and publication of project report at end of 2013.