PHAMA Project target market access and high-value primary commodities A
griculture in the Pacific remains a significant contributor to rural employment, food security, and foreign exchange earner. In some Pacific states up to 30% of national GDP is attributed to the agricultural sector, Solomon Islands in 2006 pegged agriculture at over 50 percent of GDP. Most Pacific islands have large rural populations. Agriculture’s contribution to the economy of Pacific islands goes far beyond simply the production of crops and livestock. The multiplier effects of agriculture on the rest
of the economy can be many times more than that shown on quantities of primary production alone. However, exports of noncommodity primary products and in particular high-value products have been poor (commodity products include coffee, cocoa, oil palm, and copra). In contrast, developing countries have benefited from the trade in high-value agricultural and horticultural products over the past 20-30 years. Exports of high-value primary products have become an important means of increasing economic growth, incomes, and employment; and reducing poverty. Exports of generally higher-value noncommodity agricultural and horticultural products account for just 2% of exports (or 32% of total agricultural exports). The trade in high value agricultural and horticultural export industries is heavily concentrated on relatively few products, including noni juice, spices (especially vanilla), root crops (especially taro), squash and copra meal. These products account for 89% of all agricultural exports (by value). Agricultural exports however on average account for only 6.3% of total exports to major
Vanilla plants in Tonga....trade in high-value primary products is important to increasing economic growth, incomes, and reducing poverty. volume 7 number 1 - April 2011
Pacific overseas markets including the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. PICTs are primarily agricultural economies; however export performance in primary products and high-value products in particular is poor. This is despite the Pacific region having the comparative advantage often identified in the production and export of a wide range of agricultural and horticultural products, as well as close proximity of the region to some affluent markets. A major reason behind this poor performance is the difficulty faced by PICTs in managing the regulatory processes associated with accessing key markets. The imposition of stringent market access protocols for products that were historically traded with much ease has created anxiety and frustration within industry as well as wasted export opportunities. Conversely, developing countries have taken advantage of this revolution in the trade in high-value primary products (including horticulture, livestock, fish, cut flowers, and organic products) over the past 20—30 years. Exports of this nature now make up 66% of all developing country agricultural exports, or twice that for PICTS. The Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (PHAMA) Program will benefit PICTS through a targeted approach aimed at identifying and working with highest priority products and market access issues. The key objective of the program is for PICT governments and industry organisations to work collaboratively to gain, maintain, and improve access into key markets for selected high-value primary products (fresh and processed), particularly agricultural and horticultural but also fish and forestry products where warranted. ....cont’d on pg 2
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Land Resources News
Land Resources News is the quarterly newsletter of SPC Land Resources Division. vol 7 no 1
April 2011
CONTENTS PHAMA Project ........................................1 Conserving forest genetic resources, climate change adaptation ...................3 Pacific participates in global taro project ..............................................4 Traditional knowledge of Pacific agricultural systems ................................4 Pacific youth participate in CTA workshop ..........................................5 FSM strategic action plan for agriculture ................................................6 Quarantine protocols weaken growth in Pacific taro exports ...............7 SPC assists Fiji Biosecurity in taro exports .........................................8 Fiji REDDD+ Policy launched.................9 Fun, climate change adaptation practices for Pele Island ........................10 Communicating climate change information for Vanuatu .........................11 A review of animal health laboratory capacity in Pacific islands ......................12 Regional laboratory referral mechanism for animal disease diagnosis ................13 Pacific delegates at the Climate Project Summit .........................................14 12th PPPO ExCo meeting ....................15 SPC celebrates International Year of Forests ........................................16
LRD’s core business is to improve the food and nutritional security of the Pacific Community through the sustainable management and development of land, agriculture and forestry resources. For feedback, comments and contributions, please contact: EmilA@spc.int, or the LRD helpdesk, lrdhelpdesk@spc.int. SPC Land Resources Division Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji Islands Telephone: (679) 337 0733 Fax: (679) 337 0021 Visit our website: www.spc.int/lrd volume 7 number 1 - April 2011
PHAMA Project
The private sector is targeted to drive the identification of products for market access, and they would be fully consulted during the development of market access submissions and agreement, and will be an important partner in the implementation of market access protocols. Capacity building will focus on national organisations (public and private) to manage market access issues. Ability to resolve market access issues relating to sanitary and phytosanitary measures (for fresh products), food safety issues for processed products, and maximum residue levels for fresh fruits and vegetables are flagged as contributors to developing a robust export industry in high-value primary products. PHAMA Components The PHAMA program has four components. Component 1 focuses on preparation and processing of market access submissions. Component 2 is the implementation of market access requirements through developing the capacity of exporting countries to meet critical Biosecurity and quarantine requirements (such as sanitary and phytosanitary measures). Component 3 is the research and development activities to gain maintain and improve market access; conducting pest surveys and updating pest lists are included in this component. Component 4 is regional support to strengthen capacity of SPC to provide core regional market access support services. For targeted market access activities (i.e. Components 1 – 3 activities), Phase 1 will focus on Fiji, Samoa, Solomons Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu. Phase 2 could expand to other PICTs deemed to have strong export opportunities. Component 4 will be extended to all PICTs in line with SPC’s regional mandate. Total of Phase 1 is estimated at AUD 14 million over the four year implementation period. Over half of this amount will be allocated to Components 1 – 3 for establishing new or improved market access arrangements. The major focus will be placed on Australian and New Zealand markets, however improved access to other markets (e.g. Japan, EU, USA, Canada, and intraPacific) will also be actively pursued. A regional program coordinating committee (PCC) will be established,
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A Market Access Working Group (MAWG) will be established in the five countries where PHAMA will be implemented. MAWG will have major responsibility for determining market access priorities and action plans. National Market Access Coordinators (NMACs) will be employed to provide secretarial support to the MAWGs. responsible for providing high level oversight of the Program. The PCC will liaise closely with SPC Governing Council with respect to SPC’s role in the Program. Overall management of the Program will be contracted to a Managing Contractor (MC). The MC will be directly responsible for implementation of Components 1-3. A program management office (PMO) will be established by the MC in Suva, and physically within SPC. PMO staffing will include a team leader, a principal market access specialist, and a quarantine/ Biosecurity specialist. Implementation of Component 4 will be delegated to the Land Resources Division of SPC. A Market Access Working Group (MAWG) will be established in the five countries where PHAMA will be implemented. MAWG representation will include key government agencies and industry, and will have major responsibility for determining market access priorities and action plans, and coordinating the implementation of Program activities, in each country. National Market Access Coordinators (NMACs) will be employed by the Program in each country, to provide secretarial support to the MAWGs and maintain an operational linkage between the PMO and the MAWGs. The PHAMA project will help address some of the major constraints to improving market access for Pacific island trade in high-value primary products, one of which is the limited capacity of PICTs to identify and conduct research and development required to establish, improve and maintain market access. For more information, please contact Dr Viliami Fakava: ViliamiF@spc.int
Land Resources News
Conserving forest genetic resources, climate change adaptation
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orests play a multiple role; they are factories that produce fibre, timber and non-wood forest products; they provide water-catchment protection; they produce water for agriculture; and they are places for social recreation. These were the comments made by Mr Inoke Wainiqolo, Fiji’s Conservator of Forests and Head of the Department of Forestry at the official opening of the regional training workshop on forest genetic resources held in Nadi from 19 to 21 January 2011. The workshop was organised in direct response to a recommendation of the 2009 Pacific Heads of Forestry Meeting: ‘that PICTs contribute and participate in the process of developing the “State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources Report” to be presented to the fourteenth session of the FAO [Food and Agriculture Organization] Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in 2013’. Twenty participants from 13 Pacific island countries attended the three-day meeting organised by the Land Resources Division (LRD) of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community in collaboration with the FAO and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). ‘Trees and forests are among the few things that hold the key to our survival and the survival of many other forms of life, and therefore it is fitting that their multiple roles are recognised.’ ‘The bulk of terrestrial genetic biodiversity is located in forests and
knowing that genetic resources constitute the wealth of a country, our forests play a vital role in protecting this wealth,’ Mr Wainiqolo said. He highlighted the role of trees and forests is rapidly changing from that of mainly providers of timber to a much broader role, with social, environmental, economic and cultural dimensions. ‘With this in mind, conserving forest genetic resources is vital as it is the basis of evolution and the catalyst for species adaptation to long-term environmental change. When genetic variations are lost through forest degradation or intensive breeding, successive generations will be less adaptative to adverse environmental conditions.’ ‘Forests not only protect natural biodiversity but also the sustainability of all other products and services that are provided by them. Forests for People is the theme of the UN International Year of Forests that is being celebrated in 2011, but this can only be realised if biodiversity is protected,’ he added. Mr Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), sent a statement that was read out to the meeting. He said that key findings from the Global Forest Resources Assessment (2010) show that, while deforestation has slowed in recent years compared to the 1990s, it is still high. This has resulted in increased carbon emissions, shortages in water and food supplies, and an unprecedented loss of forest biodiversity and genetic resources. The Pacific regional workshop comes at a
Forest genetic resources play a fundamental role in scientific research and in the development of commercial products in a variety of sectors, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and seed and crop industries. volume 7 number 1 - April 2011
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critical time when the world’s forests are facing immense pressures and challenges. ‘However, the world is not sitting idle. Governments, international organisations, and forest stakeholder groups are taking action to find ways of conserving and sustainably managing forests and their genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations,’ Mr Djoghlaf stated. One such effort is the preparation of the State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources Report which will be the most comprehensive effort undertaken to date to map the genetic diversity of trees and other forest resources. ‘Despite our vital interest in the conservation and sustainable use of these resources, we have been slow to inventory and understand them and the Convention on Biological Diversity recognises the need to do more in this regard and is fully supportive of increased scientific investigation.’ This is why, he added, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, at its tenth meeting held in Nagoya, Japan, in 2010, explicitly recognised the importance of forest genetic diversity for the conservation and sustainable use of forest biodiversity in the context of addressing climate change and maintaining the resilience of forest ecosystems. ‘The Conference of the Parties welcomed the preparation by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of The State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources Report,’ Mr Djoghlaf stated. Forest genetic resources play a fundamental role in scientific research and in the development of commercial products in a variety of sectors, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and seed and crop industries. ‘Therefore, identifying useful properties of forest genetic resources — often following leads from the traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities — has helped scientists to better understand biodiversity and can enable industries to develop new products for the benefit of humankind.’ Article submitted by Vinesh Prasad, LRD Information Assistant: VineshP@ spc.int. Land Resources News
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Pacific participates in global taro project
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ctivities on taro in the region are soon to increase with the start of a new project, “Adapting clonally propagated crops to climatic and commercial changes”. This project, funded by the European Union under the 2009-2010 Global Programme on Agricultural Research for Development (ARD), unites 20 partners, covering all the regions of the globe from Burkina Faso in Africa to Costa Rica in Central America. From the Pacific, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea are participating as well as the SPC Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees. By bringing together geographically isolated genepools the outcomes from the breeding programmes are likely to be significant. The aim of the project is to bring together smallholders and scientists to adapt genotypes of taro and cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) to climate change and to exploit the potential of the crops for product development. Each country in the project will receive a core sample of taro from the SPC CePaCT comprising of Asian and Pacific accessions, and will then implement an evaluation and breeding strategy using introduced and local genotypes. The results from the breeding programmes will be shared by all country partners. European partners will conduct genetic diversity studies, physico-chemical characterization, virus studies and drought resistance studies. The improved lines received by CePaCT though the project will be made available to the wider Pacific community. The project will establish a global network to transfer technologies volume 7 number 1 - April 2011
and information to countries, developing partnerships that will extend beyond the life of the project. Through the project the genetic basis for adaptability to climate change will be better understood, as well as the potential for commercialization. Participatory plant breeding will be promoted facilitating linkages between farmers, extension and research. The Pacific will reap significant
Project countries will receive a core sample of taro from SPC-CePaCT comprising of Asian and Pacific accessions, and will then implement an evaluation and breeding strategy using introduced and local genotypes.
benefits from the project though being able to access the taro and cocoyam diversity from elsewhere, through the work on drought resistance and through capacity building in the different technologies which the project will utilize. The project inception meeting was held 13th and 14th April, during which the project partners shared relevant experiences to date and develop a work programme for all the various project components. For more information, please contact Dr Mary Taylor: MaryT@spc.int.
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Traditional knowledge of Pacific agricultural systems
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he importance of traditional knowledge to agriculture development and food security is reflected in the LRD Strategic Plan Objective 1 “Improved Food and Nutritional Security” as a specific output. Two SPC programmes, LRD and Human Development Programme implemented a study which looked at indigenous agricultural knowledge in the Pacific, especially in relation to Annex 1 crops of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). The aim of the study was to determine what mechanisms exist (if any) for collecting and documenting this knowledge as well as to identify areas where SPC could provide support. The field research for this study was carried out in the Fiji Islands, Cook Islands and Samoa. The study was funded by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development, CTA. The importance of crop diversity to sustainable food production is becoming increasingly evident, as the impact of climate change is felt throughout the region. The ITPGRFA facilitates access to genetic diversity with which to meet the challenges of climate change, ensuring at the same time that the benefits accruing from the sharing of genetic resources are equitably shared. The knowledge associated with traditional crop diversity is similarly important and as such SPC needs to ensure that it follows agreed principles in the support of protection, documentation and promotion of traditional knowledge. The Treaty acknowledges the need to address farmers’ rights and as such the protection of traditional knowledge, however, it does not offer a specific mechanism with which to do this. In the three countries considered in this study, traditional Land Resources News
knowledge related to the production of traditional food crops such as taro, yam, cassava and sweet potato is mainly “open” knowledge and as such is freely available. Some farmers have developed their own systems, which they guard as “trade secrets”. The protection of traditional knowledge is seen as a more important issue when it comes to traditional medicines or local customs, such as carving or weaving. The protection of agricultural knowledge in general is perceived as urgent in the light of decreased overall interest in the production and consumption of traditional crops in many countries. In addition, the lack of interest from the younger generation to take up farming does little to ensure that traditional knowledge is retained. It is suggested that the sustainable use of traditional knowledge needs to receive more attention from the authorities than the preservation of its status quo in order to include traditional knowledge into modern agricultural practices. Legal intervention may be useful to protect intellectual property (IP) rights of farming communities for certain customs, but IP protection with respect to the region’s important food crops may be counterproductive to food security The study found that the development of any traditional knowledge policy is at the basic stage
of development in all three countries visited. However, a new policy specifically on agricultural traditional knowledge does not seem to be warranted, as the necessary protection can be integrated into existing or currently planned legislation. The study made several recommendations, regarding the approach that SPC could take in this area, namely: 1. Provide support to countries that are developing policy and legislation on traditional knowledge and expressions of culture to include agricultural traditional knowledge in the general framework. 2. Provide support and capacity building on the issue of traditional knowledge and plant genetic resources for food and agriculture to a wider community 3. SPC should develop a Code of Conduct for use when engaging with traditional farming communities and knowledge holders The study provided some interesting insights into this very complex area and SPC LRD intends to follow up on this work in the near future. (Article supplied by Dr Mary Taylor, MaryT@ spc.int)
Pulaka pits.....the protection of agricultural knowledge in general is perceived as urgent in light of decreased overall interest in the production and consumption of traditional crops in many countries. volume 7 number 1 - April 2011
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Pacific youth participate in CTA workshop The Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Development (CTA) recently hosted a training workshop for youth on the use of Web 2.0 internet tools for agriculture and rural development. The workshop, which was held in Accra, Ghana from 7–11 March, brought together 27 youths from the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States who had earlier competed in an essay contest on the impact of ICT on agriculture and rural development. The workshop was organised as part of CTA’s Agriculture and Rural Development – Youth in the Information Society (ARDYIS) project, in partnership with the Institute for Science and Technological Information (CSIR-INSTI) of Ghana. The CTA Pacific youth representative at the workshop was Riten Chand Gosai, a University of the South Pacific (Alafua Campus) graduate, who represented the Pacific after winning the CTA essay competition in the Pacific region. Web 2.0 tools, such as Google Maps, Google Doc, wikis and blogsites, are used to explore the internet. Youth participants also learned of social networking tools such as Facebook, Twitter and RSS feeds. Applications for the Internet tools include using them for large scale information dissemination, for sharing and developing ideas and for promotional purposes. The participants felt that the ICT tools were designed to make life easier for people working in agriculture and rural development by making their work more efficient. They also felt that this type of training could open new career options and opportunities for them. The discussion sessions were an enriching cultural experience for these young people, and exploring the rich history of Ghana was a bonus for them. They also visited the GhanaIndia Kofi Anan Advanced Information Technology Institute, one of Africa’s most advanced institutes, on the use of IT for development. Successfully The use of telecentres and mobile phones for agricultural development in African countries is very advanced, and Pacific countries and territories can learn from these success stories. For more information please contact Riten Chand Gosai ritechand_batista@yahoo. com.
Land Resources News
FSM Strategic Action Plan for agriculture
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griculture development activities in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) will be more effective and streamlined following the launch last November of the Pohnpei State Agriculture Strategic Action Plan (2011–2015). The Strategic Action Plan is an activity identified in the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)–FSM Joint Country Strategy. On hand to officially launch the Strategic Action Plan at the State Government Office was Lt Governor Churchill Edward, who gratefully acknowledged SPC for the technical assistance, which allowed the development of this very important document. The launch of the Strategic Action Plan for Pohnpei State is a momentous occasion in the history of agriculture in FSM, said the Lt Governor. In keeping with a key land resources strategy of participatory consultations, wide consultations were held with all stakeholders and partners to finalise the document. The nature of the consultative process allowed stakeholders to have input in the development of the document, encouraging them to take ownership of the plan. This was clearly pointed out by the Administrator for the Pohnpei State, Mr Valerio Halens. Mr Halens said that having monitoring and evaluation embedded in the document allowed changes to be accommodated given the dynamic nature of agriculture in small, vulnerable island communities. Thus the plan becomes the platform for donors and international partners to pool resources to achieve the defined outputs within the plan’s timeframe, said Mr Halens. Partnerships with donors, non-governmental organisations and development partners become crucial in the achievement of goals in the Strategic Action Plan. Mr Amena Yauvoli, Manager of SPC’s North Pacific Regional Office, said agriculture is the backbone of the Pohnpei economy and plays a large role in the socio-cultural activities of the island’s people. The Agriculture Strategic Action Plan is forward-looking and output-oriented, and it moves away from the ad-hoc activities of the past.
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for Pohnpei State. Presently, other FSM States are requesting for similar technical assistance from LRD, which undoubtedly will make the LRD Team in the SPC North Pacific Regional Office ever busy. MICRONESIA REGIONAL INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL (RISC) The Microneisa Regional Invasive Species Council (RISC) provides advice to the Micronesian Chief Executives to ensure a regional cooperative approach to protecting the islands of Northern Pacific from the threat of invasive species.
The Invasive Species Taskforce of Pohnpei (iSTOP) has been successful in managing invasive species, including the weed chain-oflove (Antigonon leptopus), above.
He pointed out that the action plan is very much people-centered, allowing greater buy-in from the communities of Pohnpei State. Yauvoli thanked his SPC colleagues in particular Ms. Mereseini Seniloli for coordinating the development of the action plan with Pohnpei State and FSM counterparts. The FSM Chief of Agriculture, Mr Adelino Lorens, said the consultative approach used to develop the action plan ensured that it was closely linked to the FSM Strategic Development Plan 2023 and the Pohnpei Farmers Association Action Plan to provide sustainability and complementarity of activities. This is a significant achievement considering the action plan is a first
The RISC mission is: to prevent the introduction of invasive alien species to islands across the region; to control and reduce existing populations or, when feasible, eradicate these species through coordination of efforts throughout Micronesia. RISC Members: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Yap State, Chuuk State, Kosrae State, Phonpei State, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Territory of Guam. 5 Goals of the RISC Strategic Plan: Goal 1: Promote Public Awareness Goal 2: Increase Communication and Cooperatrion among RISC members and Partners. Goal 3: Provide Policy and Management Recommendations to RISC Member Chief Executives Goal 4: Develop Human and Financial Resources to Implement RISC Goals. Goal 5: Expand RISC membership ti include jurisdictions in Micronesia
(From l. to r.): Lt. Governor Hon. Churchill Edward; Administrator, Mr. Valerio Hallens; SPC Northern Pacific Office Director, Mr. Amena Yauvoli and Iso Nahnken of U Municipality at the launch of the Pohnpei Agriculture Strategic Action Plan 2011-2015. 6
Land Resources News
Quarantine protocols weaken growth in Pacific taro exports
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aro is one of the few fresh commodities for which Pacific Island countries have been able to achieve significant levels of exports, with 10,000 to 12,000 tonnes exported annually (valued at approximately USD 6 million). Fiji currently accounts for 95% of these exports, with Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu making up the rest. However, there has been little or no growth in export volume in recent years. A new study released by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade (FACT) project finds that ‘quarantine import protocols and their application are a major factor determining the ability of [Pacific Island countries] to maintain and expand taro exports’. The Pacific Island Taro Market Access Scoping Study was initiated by the European Union-funded project, which works to increase the volume, value and diversity of Pacific Island agricultural and forestry exports, in response to the high rejection rate of taro exported to Australia during the first half of 2010. A group of agricultural and biosecurity experts, led by Dr Andrew McGregor, reviewed the taro import protocols for the four major markets for Pacific Island taro (United States, Japan, Australia and New Zealand) together with their justifications, applications and impacts on taro exports and found that exports could be expanded considerably if quarantine protocol regimes were reformed and there were parallel and substantial improvements in the taro production, export certification and marketing pathways. ‘Pacific Island taro exports have the potential to more than double if the product can be made more competitive in terms of price and quality. However, the Australian market for fresh taro may no longer be economically viable for Pacific Island exporters if the current quarantine requirement for devitalisation (to prevent propagation) remains in place,’ says the study (which can be downloaded at www.spc.int). Devitalisation refers to treatment to volume 7 number 1 - April 2011
ensure that the plant, and any pests that it harbours, cannot reproduce. The study also notes that ‘increased taro exports would result in significant benefits for large numbers of low-income rural people with the Fijian, Samoan, Tongan and Vanuatu taro industries
A government official from Morobe Province in Papua New Guinea learns how to harvest mature taro during a field visit to Fiji to study the export taro supply chain.
offering the greatest potential in the Pacific, in terms of exports.’ The major findings with respect to the Australian taro market access are: • The current import protocol requiring devitalisation made the export of fresh taro to Australia a high risk business, caused Fiji taro to become noncompetitive on the Australian market and greatly limited market expansion. • No scientific basis was found to justify the current taro devitalisation regulation. • The United States (including Hawaii) and Japan have significantly larger domestic taro industries than Australia and do not require devitalisation for taro imports. The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) includes principles of consistency and equivalence in phytosanitary measures and their application that are seen as relevant in this respect. • Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu have a well documented favourable taro disease status based on the absence of viral and fungal diseases of quarantine concern. Australia, compared with the Pacific Island countries, has a significantly less well documented disease status for taro. • A good case can be made for these three countries to be considered a pest free/low prevalence area under international SPS standards. • There is evidence that devitalisation is a major underlying factor in the high incidence of corm rot recently experienced in Fiji taro exported to Australia. 7
• The current devitalisation procedures are of questionable efficacy in terms of preventing propagation and the spread of disease. The major findings of the study with respect to the New Zealand taro market access are: • The high rate of fumigation required for imported taro due to the interception of nematodes is not justified because the majority of nematodes found on Pacific Island taro pose no threat to New Zealand agriculture. • Consequently, these commonly intercepted nematodes associated with Fiji taro need to be identified and their risk assessed. If they are found to be of low or no risk, they should be reclassified as non-regulated pests, eliminating the need for fumigation. • If this step were taken, the quarantine status of these nematodes would in essence return to the original pre-2005 status, under which they were accepted as species of no quarantine concern requiring no action. Reform of quarantine import protocols is a necessary requirement for expanding Pacific Island taro exports. However, major expansion in exports also requires substantial improvement in production, post-harvest handling practices and export certification systems. This not only applies to the exported product but also to the containers in which they are shipped (i.e. to manage ‘hitch-hiker’ pests of concern using best practice container hygiene measures). ....cont’d on pg 8 Land Resources News
PACIFIC TARO EXPORTS The FACT project is currently assisting its Fiji-based private enterprise partners, such as Balthan (Western) Ltd and Kaiming Agro Processing – both exporters of taro, with postharvest improvements and food safety certification. The taro quarantine import protocol reforms recommended by the study are: • Repeal of the devitalisation protocol requirements for Pacific Island taro exports to Australia (with the exception of those countries in which taro viruses of quarantine concern have been recorded). • Repeal of the ban in Australia on the importation of small corm taro from the Pacific Islands (which is aimed at preventing this material being propagated). • Reclassification of commonly intercepted nematodes associated with Pacific Island taro as non-regulated pests that do not require fumigation. Taro research priorities to improve market access, as identified by the study, are divided into two broad categories: reforming taro quarantine import protocols, and improving taro production and marketing pathways.
A factory worker cleans and grades Tausala ni Samoa taro bound for export at a processing plant in Suva, Fiji.
Going forward, a number of projects funded by Australia are expected to build on work to date in this area. The Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access program (funded by the Australian Agency for International Development), which commenced earlier this year, is expected to provide a substantial pool of resources to fund applied research activities that facilitate market access for priority
commodities. The study recommends that taro should be one such priority commodity. A number of projects funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research are expected to undertake research activities relating to taro quality improvement. For more information, contact Rajan Sami, SPC FACT Writer/Sub-Editor (rajans@spc.int).
SPC assists Fiji Biosecurity on taro exports
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he Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Land Resources Division (LRD) assisted Fiji’s Biosecurity Authority and Agriculture Department in the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) to facilitate a field visit to Fiji for two members of Biosecurity Australia (BA) from 31 January to 4 February. The two members were Semy Siakimotu (Senior Advisor to Plant Biosecurity on Pacific crops) and Nick Nolan (Senior Scientist, Pest Risk Analysis). The visit was a direct result of discussions held in October 2010, when a delegation comprising representatives of the Fiji Biosecurity Authority, the MPI and SPC visited Sydney and Canberra to observe BA’s inspection procedures on fresh taro imports and to discuss taro import conditions with the Australian Plant Biosecurity team in Canberra.
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Fiji Biosecurity Authority said the purpose of the recent visit by Biosecurity Australia was to scrutinise the taro export pathway, following the rejection in Australia of several containers of fresh taro from Fiji between March and August 2010 due to non-compliance with Biosecurity Australia quarantine requirements. One of the major issues was
Post-harvest processing (fresh, frozen taro) is value-adding, attract premium prices and is quarantine friendly. 8
that a few fresh taro corms rotted on arrival in Australia due to an infection caused by pathogenic organisms that invaded damaged tissues during transit. This could have resulted from poor handling during harvesting and transportation or at the packing house when preparing the consignment for export. The current visit enabled Biosecurity Australia staff to understand the situation in Fiji and appreciate the challenges in the taro supply chain, with a view to developing appropriate import protocols for Fiji taro exports. The team visited major taro production areas in Fiji, including Taveuni, where 70% of Fiji’s export taro is produced, and Waibau in Naitasiri (Viti Levu). Visits were also made to a number of exporters’ packing houses to observe the post-harvest cleaning process that must meet quarantine requirements for export to Australia. Land Resources News
The visitors held discussions with taro farmers, buyers (middlemen), processors and exporters on maintaining the high quality of taro through proper handling, transportation, processing and packaging to minimise damage to taro corms and to minimise or prevent the occurrence of rot. The team also visited papaya and ginger-growing areas and held discussions on various issues, including the progress of the current pest risk analysis being conducted on fresh ginger exports from Fiji. The visit to papaya sites — Dawasamu and Volivoli in Viti Levu — was to follow-up on an earlier visit regarding a particular disorder that was discovered on papaya plants after the cyclone last year (2010). The Australian Biosecurity officers considered the symptoms attributable to the hurricane and other weather conditions that prevailed prior to the disorder being noticed and not to a new disease or pathogen. The Biosecurity Australia representatives found their visit informative, as it enabled them to understand the situation regarding taro corm rot and also the papaya and ginger situation in Fiji. They confirmed that further discussion, based on their observations, would be held with relevant authorities in Australia. The visit was funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and is part of a small research activity (SRA) that began in June, 2010 with a total funding of AUD 100,000. It aims to develop cleaner export pathways for taro and other crops in Fiji and Samoa. These will also be supported under the new Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access programme funded by AusAID to assist Pacific Island countries and territories to address market access issues. Biosecurity Authority of Fiji are now working on a revised taro pathway and a draft will be tabled for discussion by stakeholders before the procedures are adopted as an industry standard. ACIAR is assisting Fiji’s MPI through the SRA managed by SPC’s Land Resources Division to obtain cleaner pathways for taro and ginger. volume 7 number 1 - April 2011
Fiji REDD-Plus policy launched
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he Fiji REDD-Plus Policy was launched by the Permanent Secretary of Fisheries and Forests on Wednesday 09 March 2011 at the Holiday Inn, Suva, Fiji. The Fiji Cabinet, on 07 December 2010, endorsed the Fiji National REDD-plus Policy. Fiji recognises REDD-plus as an opportunity to contribute towards global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen the socio-economic status of its forest resource owners and protect its forest ecosystems. The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)/ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Regional Programme Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region is supporting Fiji in its efforts to engage in a REDD-plus carbon financing mechanism through a REDD-readiness programme. The policy is a first for the region and the development process participatory with inputs from all relevant stakeholders. With the increasing interest in REDD-plus, the Policy is very timely as it provides a national framework for implementation
to interested REDD project developers. Fiji has a forest cover of almost 1.1 million hectares, covering about fifty-six percent of the total land mass. Forest clearance, largely attributed to agriculture, can be observed on parts of Fiji. The country also has large areas of degraded and unutilised lands which has potential for reforestation and afforestation to increase carbon stock. Scientists estimate that deforestation and forest degradation account for around 20 percent of the annual greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change. REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) is an approach aimed at reducing the 20 percent of emissions related to forests through financial incentives. Forests are generally regarded as a source for financial and economical gain (agriculture, logging, land development etc.) and this often takes precedence over forest conservation or sustainable management. The REDD-plus concept links financial incentives to forest conservation, sustainable management, and enhancing and increasing carbon stocks for credits for carbon emissions avoided and/or carbon sequestered. ....cont’d on pg 10
REDD-plus is an opportunity to contribute towards global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen the socio-economic status of forest resource owners and protect biodiversity. 9
Land Resources News
FIJI REDD+...frm pg 9 Developing the Fiji REDD-Plus Policy The first draft of the policy was developed during a consultation workshop where more than 50 stakeholders from various sectors and agencies came together to detail the country’s requirements to implement REDD-plus. An important exercise in this consultation was the identification of the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. The ‘drivers’ refer to the human causes of carbon stock change and identification is necessary for developing an effective REDDplus strategy and for establishing
The ‘drivers’ of deforestation and forest degradation refer to the human causes of carbon stock change and identification is necessary for developing an effective REDD-plus strategy and for establishing appropriate monitoring systems for these drivers appropriate monitoring systems for these drivers. In drafting the national REDD-plus Policy, participants defined the appropriate scope, scale, MRV approach, distribution of benefits, institutional support, and safeguards for the implementation of REDD-plus in the country. Safeguards include ensuring the full and effective participation of indigenous resource owners and local communities, consideration of gender issues, and the equitable distribution of benefits. The draft REDD-plus Policy was finalised in July 2010 after intensive consultations, including the incorporation of relevant resolutions and recommendations from international meetings, and reviewing by international experts to ensure alignment with international policy language and developments.
Fun, climate change adaptation practices for Pele islanders
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ele Island in Vanuatu, like many other gems of the South Pacific is facing threats from climate-related shocks, including coastal erosion and salt intrusion in freshwater wells. The island depends heavily on local livestock, subsistence production of cassava, taro and island cabbage, and the harvest of marine resources like fish and giant clam. Even though Vanuatu contributes less than 0.001 per cent of global carbon emissions, its island populations, like the people of Pele, are still faced with the daunting task of adapting to the changes. Adaptation is not easy, and for most of the islanders, who earn an average income of USD 60 per week, it can seem impossibly overwhelming. But with the help of the BMZfunded Adaptation to Climate Change in the Pacific Islands Region, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Government of Vanuatu, GIZ is now assisting the small communities on Pele Island to cope with the adverse effects of climate change. One of the problems voiced by the people of Pele involve a major source of protein: local pigs. Pigs have a traditional role in Melanesian culture, and the people of Pele keep nearly 200 pigs at any one time. These pigs, however, are experiencing stress related to the weather. A prolonged drought in
(Article supplied by Chrsitine Fung. For further information, please contact: Mr Samuela Lagataki, Fiji Deputy Conservator of Forests, samuela_lagataki@yahoo.com; or Christine Fung, Christine.fung@giz.de.) volume 7 number 1 - April 2011
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2010 led to high mortality and disease among the island’s animals. In addition, local pig feed of manioc has been drying up, leading to a decline in growth rates. The SPC-GIZ project has responded by constructing a pig rearing facility designed to encourage development of new breeds of pigs that may be more tolerant to extremes in weather and climate related stresses. The key to the project lies in the traditional knowledge that wild boars are more tolerant of climatic variation than the varieties reared in most Melanesian villages. By crossing wild pigs with those bred for passivity and domestication, the goal is to develop improved breeds that are both productive and climate tolerant. SPC-GIZ and the Vanuatu Department of Livestock ran a technical training workshop early 2011 for over 30 island residents on animal husbandry and climate change adaptation options. The facility will have the first litter of the new climate-tolerant breed of pigs ready for sale in September 2011. A second major concern of the residents of Pele Island is the ever increasing problem of erosion of the mountain slopes and along coastlines. Severe storms, have caused the upper slopes of the hillside to erode into food gardens and large chunks of beachfront to fall away into the sea. The effects of this increasing erosion have impacted both food security and land tenure on the small island. SPC-GIZ has responded by designing and implementing a community forest nursery to produce tree species to minimise the erosion problems. After a two-day technical training workshop facilitated by GIZ and the Vanuatu Department of Forests, the Pele Island Forestry Association was formed and began rearing thousands of sandalwood seedlings. Sandalwood is an endemic drought resistant tree that is also highly valued in the lucrative perfume industry. The forestry association has 45 members from all four island villages, including 12 youth and 15 women, who collaborate to maintain the forestry nursery and collect endemic nuts and seeds for germination. Land Resources News
Association plans for 2011 include the transplantation of sandalwood into commercially viable plantations along with other species like pine (for sustainable timber supplies) and coastal trees like Cordia species. Making the tree nursery operational wasn’t as easy as originally thought. While trees need good dark soil during their early growth stages, Pele, like many of Vanuatu’s islands, has very poor, sandy soil. Bringing good soil to Pele from another island would have been prohibitively expensive, so the SPC-GIZ project came up with a creative solution based on a locally available pest species: the crown-ofthorns (COT) starfish. Pele Island’s coral reefs are being destroyed by the COT. The starfish undergo population explosions when sea waters warm quickly and when large amounts of land-based sediments are eroded onto the reef. A single COT can consume up to a square meter of live coral reef in a week. As it is covered in poisonous spines, few predators on the reef can eat COT, so outbreaks often result in the coral reefs of an affected area being completely decimated. Solving both the COT starfish problem and the poor soil issue, GIZ developed a process for collecting the starfish, treating them to remove salt, and turning them into rich fertile soil via composting. The entire composting process takes less than eight weeks, and has provided the Pele Island climate nursery with an abundant supply of rich planting soil. The island’s coral reefs are much better off now too, with over 10,000 dangerous starfish removed for the project during a series of COT underwater ‘clean up’ competitions involving more than 150 islanders organised by SPC-GIZ and the Pele Island Forestry Association. Pele Island in Vanuatu will continue to be impacted by the changing global climate, and the GIZ adaptation programme is working hard to ensure that the island’s communities can cope now and into the future.
Communicating climate change in Vanuatu
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limate change can be a complicated topic. It is easy to get lost in a confusing world of technical terms and acronyms - NAPAs, precipitation, carbon sequestration, REDD+ , to name a few. It is our responsibility to ensure that farmers, who depend on the environment for their survival and are facing the realities of a changing climate, receive accurate information about why the climate is changing and how they can adapt to cope with these changes. In Vanuatu the vast majority of people live in rural island communities and depend heavily on subsistence gardening and fishing for their livelihoods. Few people in rural areas are familiar with the mechanics of how greenhouse gases affect their island climate, why the climate is changing or what changes are predicted in the future. And yet, these are the very people that need good information about what to expect from climate change and how to deal with it if they are to successfully adapt to these changes. Schools are found in most island communities, but only 22 per cent of eligible youth enrol in secondary education. Printed material in the form of pamphlets and posters are useful formats to disseminate information. Other formats such as the electronic media to reach farmers should be explored. The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)/GIZ programme ‘Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Islands Region’, and the Government of Vanuatu responded to
this challenge by organising a high-level climate change communication strategy summit in mid-2010 with around 25 stakeholders from government, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and communities to discuss how to best get climate change-related information out to island residents. The overwhelming recommendation was to utilise the DVD video medium, as most island villages have at least one generator-powered TV screen and DVD player which is often the centre of evening social life of island men and women. Meeting attendees noted that no DVDs on climate change or adaptation had ever been produced in the country’s national language of Bislama. Recognising the power of farmer-to-farmer learning the SPC/GIZ programme has produced two Bislamalanguage DVD videos on adaptation to climate change in the agricultural sector. Over 30 island farmers at a workshop on the island of Santo compiled traditional adaptation strategies currently being used in small scale island farming and also newly developed coping mechanisms. For example, farmers from the Banks Islands of northern Vanuatu were filmed sharing their strategies for preparing manioc gardens for an impending cyclone. Farmers from the southern island of Tanna were recorded as they shared their tips for building mounds to prevent yams from rotting during extreme rainfall events. In all, over 35 agricultural adaptation strategies were filmed and ....cont’d on pg 12
For more information, please contact Dr Christopher Bartlett: christopher.bartlett@ giz.de.
volume 7 number 1 - April 2011
Vanuatu agricultural experts - island farmers at a workshop on the island of Santo compiled traditional adaptation strategies currently being used in small scale island farming. 11
Land Resources News
VANUATU CLIMATE CHANGE...frm pg 11 included on the DVD. This DVD complemented earlier video materials targeting youth groups and the general public. The Climate Change Crew, a youth group made up of talented boys and girls aged 13–20 volunteered their time, energy and creativity to write, act, film, edit and release two climate change films themed around a super hero named Climatox. The movies describe, in Bislama, how greenhouse gases are caused by people when they cut down the bush, burn rubbish and drive their boats and cars. The movies also describes the potential impacts of climate change in Vanuatu, such as increased flooding, new diseases, lower crop productivity, droughts, water shortages and more intense cyclones. The Climatox films were provided to the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation, which has broadcast the movies to an estimated viewership of nearly 100,000 on the key islands of Santo and Efate. A separate documentary in Bislama takes viewers (through a series of short video clips, animated images, photos and graphs) through the causes, local impacts and adaptation strategies possible in Vanuatu. This video targets men, women, community leaders, government extension officers and NGO workers, and is the most comprehensive look at climate change to date for the country. The DVDs have been disseminated to all islands in Vanuatu via the national government’s network of agricultural and forestry extension officers, community cultural field workers, volunteers and NGOs. The DVDs are very popular as they are the only Bislama-language resource available on climate change. The radio also reaches an estimated 25,000 listeners each day in Vanuatu. The SPC/GIZ programme has participated in a weekly climate change talk back show hosted by Radio Vanuatu and has facilitated climate change talk back shows on forestry, agriculture, legislation, international negotiations, and REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) mechanisms. Communicating the results of scientific research to policy makers is necessary to solicit their support in our efforts to address climate change volume 7 number 1 - April 2011
A review of the status of animal health laboratory capacity in the Pacific
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ne of the main objectives of the Pacific Regional Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Project (PRIPPP) is to strengthen the diagnostic capacity of the animal health sector in Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) to address the increasing need for early diagnosis of animal diseases. The laboratory assessment survey conducted between 2007 and 2008 provided good baseline information on the level of the existing diagnostic capacity in the region. The survey was also designed to identify the needs of each PICT in order to establish a sustainable animal disease diagnostic capability in-country. The results of that survey were used to develop the strategy for strengthening animal disease diagnostic capacity in PICTs, and PRIPPP animal health laboratory capacity-building activities were also based on it. In 2009, PRIPPP established the Pacific Animal Health Laboratory Network (PAHLNet). The network’s initial function is to provide a mailing list for information sharing and online discussion among national and regional reference animal health laboratories. It later evolved into a network of country
at the national level. However, it is the farmers and communities that will have to cope with climate change impacts in their fields and their forests and their information needs must be emphasised if we are to successfully adapt. For more information contact: Dr Christopher Bartlett Email: Christopher.Bartlett@giz.de Phone: (+678) 5552187 / 29594 SPC/GIZ Pacific-German Regional Programme, Adaptation to Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region PO Box 306 Port Vila, VANUATU 12
focal persons, laboratory technicians and experts, working together for the early detection and control of infectious animal diseases. Included in PAHLNet’s goals is the promotion of the One World One Health approach through closer collaboration among animal and human health laboratories in the Pacific region. After three years of implementing laboratory capacitybuilding activities, PRIPPP, through the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Animal Health and Production team, is now at the stage of reviewing the sustainability of PAHLNet, and the status of the animal health (AH) laboratory capacity in the region. Relevant information will be collected and analysed to determine a way forward for AH laboratory capacitybuilding and networking in the Pacific. Information will be collected using two surveys: a PAHLNet survey and a status survey of animal health laboratory capacity in SPC member countries. The aim is to involve all 22 SPC member countries in both surveys. The target respondents are AH laboratory focal persons in PICTs, PAHLNet mailing list members, Pacific Heads of Veterinary and Animal Production Services (PHOVAPS) members, representatives from reference and referral laboratories, and representatives of other organisations involved with AH laboratory activities in the region. Participating in this survey is an opportunity for stakeholders to provide inputs for PRIPPP end-of-project reporting and forward planning for AH laboratory capacity-building in the region. PAHLNet survey The PAHLNet survey will involve all Land Resources News
organisations that participate in animal health laboratory capacity-building activities in the region. It is designed to assess the effectiveness of PAHLNet and its mailing list in developing regional awareness of animal disease diagnostics and establishing links between national and reference laboratories. In addition to PICT representatives, reference and referral laboratories, together with other organisations contributing to laboratory capacity-building in the Pacific, will be encouraged to respond to this survey. The number and quality of responses will provide an idea of the level of commitment by stakeholders to involve themselves with the activities and sustainability issues of PAHLNet. It is also expected that information collected will determine the overall usefulness of continuing PAHLNet beyond PRIPPP, as a laboratory network and as a means of communication between laboratory experts and country focal persons. Status survey of animal health laboratory capacity in SPC member countries The main purpose of this survey is to determine the level of improvement in the capacity to diagnose animal diseases in the region. The information from the 2007 to 2008 laboratory assessment survey will be compared to the information that will be collected in the forthcoming survey. The response from each PICT will be used to develop recommendations and draft a 2011–2015 sustainable animal disease diagnostic capacity development strategy, addressing specific needs of each Pacific Island country and territory. The information collected will be analysed in conjunction with list server logs for PAHLNet emailing list and one-on-one interviews conducted with selected PICTs representatives in November 2010. Results of the analysis will be used for developing recommendations and future planning for animal health laboratory networking and capacity-building. For more information, contact Elva Borja (elvab@spc.int), PRIPPP/SPC AHP Animal Health Laboratory Scientist or the LRD helpdesk (lrdhelpdesk@spc.int ).
volume 7 number 1 - April 2011
Regional laboratory referral mechanism for animal disease diagnosis
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he Pacific Regional Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Project (PRIPPP) established the Pacific Animal Health Laboratory Network (PAHLNet) in 2009. The network’s initial function is to provide a mailing list for information sharing and online discussion among national and regional reference animal health laboratories. It later evolved into a network of country focal persons, laboratory technicians and experts, working together for the early detection and control of infectious animal diseases. Included in PAHLNet’s goals is the promotion of the One World One Health approach through closer collaboration among animal and human health laboratories in the Pacific region. PAHLNet has recently developed a fact sheet for a regional laboratory referral mechanism for animal disease diagnosis. This factsheet shows the various shipping routes for animal health samples to referral laboratories in the region, and is a move forward for animal disease diagnosis in the Pacific. As most samples need to be shipped overseas for advanced diagnosis, this mapping allows workers to understand easily how and where samples should be shipped.
Photo map showing proposed regional laboratory referral mechanism for animal disease diagnosis in the Pacific region. The new fact sheet developed by PAHLNet has a photo map, in which arrows indicate the most accessible specimen referral routes from each PICT to the subregional and reference laboratories. Specimen referral routes are the ideal air-shipping routes for animal specimens coming from smaller PICTs for testing in overseas laboratories. The fact sheet defines and categorises the animal health laboratory capacity in PICTs between Level 3 (the animal health reference laboratories in Australia, New Zealand and the USA) and Level 1 (basic animal health laboratory facilities
Participants conduct a laboratory exercise during a recent animal disease diagnostic training in Townsville, Australia. 13
Land Resources News
LABORATORY REFERRAL MECHANISM...from pg 13 capable of processing, storing, shipping specimens and performing rapid tests). Level 2 facilities are animal health (AH) laboratories located within the 22 SPC member countries with the capacity to perform immunofluorescence (IFA) microscopy, enzyme link immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and some level of molecular diagnostics (PCR). These laboratories are also referred to as the sub-regional animal health (AH) laboratories and they are continuously being strengthened in Fiji, Guam, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia. The fact sheet also serves as the PAHLNet directory with updated information about focal persons, contact details and locations of animal health laboratories in the Pacific. The full version of the fact sheet is now available for download at the LRD website under the SPC Animal Health and Production PAHLNet webpage. The upgrades to the subregional AH labs, planned under PRIPPP, will be completed by June, 2011. The intention is that, by then, there will be sufficient Level 2 AH lab functionality in the Pacific region. PAHLNet is expected to provide an ongoing service for the Pacific community and will be used to communicate information about AH laboratory developments. It will also function as a communication and coordination mechanism between relevant agencies and focal points. For further information please contact Elva Borja at +679 3370733 ext 284 or email at elvab@spc.int. To download the PAHLNet Shipping Mechanism Fact Sheet, click here.
volume 7 number 1 - April 2011
Pacific delegates at The Climate Project Summit
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leven Pacific Islanders returned from The Climate Project’s 2011 Asia-Pacific Summit held in Jakarta, Indonesia in January committed to conducting activities at the local level to create more awareness about climate change. The Climate Project (TCP) is a programme of the Alliance for Climate Protection, a global group of experts on climate change. TCP has nine official branches in more than 50 countries, and supports more than 3,000 diverse and dedicated volunteers, all personally trained by TCP founder and environmentalist, Al Gore. The summit brought together more than 300 grassroots volunteers from the Asia-Pacific region and trained them to deliver Al Gore’s slideshow on the causes of climate change, how we can reduce our pollution and find clean energy solutions. ‘The climate crisis presents us with an inconvenient truth, which means we are going to have to change the way we live our lives. Whether these changes involve something as minor as using different light bulbs, or as major as switching from oil and coal to other fuels, they will require effort and cost money. But many of these needed changes will actually save money and make us more efficient and more productive. The problem of global climate change demands that each of us plays our part in developing solutions — we simply cannot afford not to act,’ said Al Gore at the opening of the Summit. Representing the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Land Resources Division (LRD) at the Summit was Ms Miriama KunawaveBrown, administrator for PAFPNet, the Pacific Agricultural and Forestry Policy Network for which LRD is the secretariat. Miriama pledged to focus more effort on climate change awareness activities, targeting her immediate community and various youth groups. Miriama also used the 14
opportunity to discuss LRD activities that address climate change impacts, especially the impact of changing weather patterns on agriculture and forestry sectors in the Pacific. Rising temperatures and more rainfall negatively affect crop productivity and water availability, and increase the incidence of flooding. Sustainable land, forest and water management has become critical in managing these changes. Longer term climate change is expected to bring about a mean sea level rise and increased saltwater inundation. Possible adaptation measures include replanting and rehabilitating mangroves to protect coastlines and slow the rate of coastal erosion, and encouraging farmers to trial crops that are saltwater tolerant. LRD is providing technical assistance to Pacific Island countries and territories to help them prepare for and adapt to these impacts. For their part, the SPC Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees is developing adaptation strategies, including a climate-ready collection of crops, and LRD is collaborating with it to develop farmer and community adaptation awareness. Pacific delegates at the Summit, who were sponsored by the Australian Government Agency for International Development with support from Nature Fiji–Mareqeti Viti, a non-government organisation that works for conservation and sustainable management in Fiji, had this to say: ‘Climate change is real and now is the time to act; we have everything we need to begin solving the climate crisis. Each one of us is a cause of global warming but also each one of us can become part of the solution as well. In the agriculture and forestry sectors there is a wealth of mitigation options available, including reducing the use of fertilisers, producing electricity from livestock methane emissions, and conserving and enhancing carbon stocks in soil and forests.’ TCP founder Al Gore concluded by saying that global warming has become a true planetary emergency but the good news is that we have the knowledge and the ability to solve this crisis. The choice to put a stop to global warming is ours! (article provided by Mirama Kunawave-Brown) Land Resources News
12th PPPO ExCo Meeting
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n December 2010, the executive arm of the Pacific Plant Protection Organisation (PPPO) held their 12th executive committee meeting in Auckland to discuss developments in biosecurity and trade in the Pacific region. The meeting was organised by the PPPO Secretariat, the Biosecurity and Trade Support (BATS) Thematic Team of SPC’s Land Resources Division (LRD). Dr Viliami Fakava is team leader for the LRD Biosecurity and Trade Support Team (BATs). The meeting was chaired by Guam (Dr Russell Campbell), assisted by vice-chair New Zealand (Sally Jennings). PPPO ExCo comprises New Zealand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Biosecurity, Australia Biosecurity, and representatives of the three Pacific sub-regions: Micronesia (Nauru and Federated States of Micronesia), Melanesia (New Caledonia and Solomon Islands) and Polynesia (Tonga and Cook Islands). One of the topics for discussion was the establishment of the AusAID Pacific Horticulture and Market Access (PHAMA) Project, the coordination of which the SPC Biosecurity and Trade Facilitation Services team would assist. The key objective of the programme is for Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) governments and industry organisations to work collaboratively to gain, maintain, and improve access to key markets for selected highvalue primary products (fresh and processed), particularly agricultural and horticultural, but also fish and forestry products where warranted. Currently, BATS is working on access to the New Zealand market for Tonga’s watermelon and fresh pineapples, Niue’s plantain exports, and Cook Islands’ fresh pineapples and maire (Xylesia) leaves. For its part, New Zealand MAF Biosecurity is requesting PICTs to submit a priority list of produce for market access evaluation and is presently conducting risk analysis studies on bele (island cabbage), Polynesian plum, Mexican lime and Tahitian lime. Samoa submitted information to Australia on papaya and breadfruit for import risk analysis some time ago. volume 7 number 1 - April 2011
Also discussed at the meeting was the need for re-evaluation of Tuvalu’s coconut embryo exports to New Zealand, and the costeffectiveness of exporting only the embryo, and not the whole nut, thereby 12th Pacific Plant Protection Organisation Executive Committee (PPPC ExCo) meeting...... the capacity to conduct science-based pest risk analysis and import risk cutting analysis is critical, but there is an acute shortage of such capacity in the Pacific. down on freight costs. However, there are issues of concern, such as hygiene handling and packing to conform with international food safety standards. SPC Biosecurity and Trade Support Team is assisting management of Fiji’s Asian subterranean termite infestation, Papua New Guinea’s cocoa pod borer and Cook Islands’ Cuban laurel thrips (Gynaikothrips) with the introduction of the biological control agent that has just been received from Hawaii. The Pacific Islands wanted New Zealand and Australia to ease up on quarantine regulations for the importation of certain Pacific Island products, e.g. cooked food and steamed products. Australia Biosecurity told the meeting about their Pacific activities, which include the Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme, the country action list for the giant African snail and the Sea Container Hygiene Scheme. There was discussion of market access requests, and updates on the Plant Biosecurity Work Program and the appointment of a Pacific officer in the Plant Biosecurity Pacific section. The PPPO ExCo Secretariat gave an account of the Micronesia Biosecurity Plan (MBP) being developed and commissioned by the US Department of Defense (DOD) targeting pest risks associated with the relocation of 8,000 US military personnel from Okinawa to Guam. Australia expressed its concern that the movement of US troops to the Pacific could lead to major potential changes in biosecurity pathways and also affect joint operations and risk profiles. There is a need to ensure that pest risk 15
assessment is robust. ExCo members felt that more scrutiny of the MBP is necessary, in particular to address the threat of invasive species. The US DOD has conducted a science-based analysis of biosecurity risks for Micronesia, and the Secretariat, the University of Guam and regional experts will provide their input in early 2011. The ExCo members also discussed a proposal to establish a centre of phytosanitary excellence — a Pacific regional diagnostic service centre — under the current project portfolio of the Australian Centre for International Cultural Research. A highlight of this would allow a remote microscope connected on-line to examine a pest for a panel of experts at different sites to comment on. The proposed hub for such a diagnostic centre is SPC, which would be linked to other PICTs. The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service already has a similar system in operation, but the challenge will be the firewalls between SPC and other organisations, once on-line. The capacity to conduct science-based pest risk analysis and import risk analysis is critical, and there is an acute shortage of such capacity in the Pacific region. The meeting also wanted to emphasise the need for biosecurity legislation to facilitate trade, and compliance with international standards-setting programmes. The next PPPO meeting is scheduled for August 2011 at SPC, Suva. For more information, please contact: lrdhelpdesk@spc.int.
Land Resources News
SPC-EU FACT Celebrates IYF 2011 The International Year of Forests (IYF) 2011 has the theme Forests for People, celebrating the central role of people in the sustainable management, conservation and development of our world’s forests. The elements in the logo show just a few of the many reasons forests and trees are so important. l Forest and trees provide shelter for people and a home for plants and animals. l Forests are a source of food, medicine and clean water. l Forests play a vital role in maintaining a stable global climate and environment. All of these elements, taken together, reinforce the message that forests are vital to the survival and well-being of people everywhere, all seven billion of us. As in other regions of our planet, forests and trees play a significant role in the lives of Pacific Islanders — economically, socially, culturally and environmentally. In many Pacific Island countries, especially in the small islands and atoll countries, forests and trees are an important source of food, construction materials, fuel, medicine and countless other benefits. During the 4th Regional Meeting of Heads of Agriculture and Forestry Services (HOAFs) held in Fiji in 2010, it was recommended that the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) organise a regional event to commemorate the International Year of Forests in 2011. With this in mind, Land Resouces Division (LRD), with financial support of the EU Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade (FACT) Project is offering three awards, and running a Poster and Essay Competition (particulars below) to recognise the contributions of individuals, groups, communities and companies that positively contribute to the sustainable management and development of forest and tree resources in their country.
For more information on the awards, essay or poster competition, please contact: VineshP@ spc.int, or lrdhelpdesk@spc.int. volume 7 number 1 - April 2011
AWARDS - each winner in the three award categories will receive USD1,000.
Category One - LRD/SPC Forest Entrepreneur Award A person or group or company in the Pacific region selected for their outstanding effort or achievement in developing new value-added timber or non-timber products for (domestic or export) trade. Nominations for this category must include a short description (about one page) of the nominee’s contribution to the development of best practices incorporating agriculture and forestry activities with a view to developing sustainable income generation for the community. Nominations must also include two referees who shall provide testimonials and endorsement of the activities undertaken by the nominee.
Category Two - LRD/SPC Agroforester Award A person selected for his/her efforts to develop agro-forestry systems to improve yield, soil/land management and the development of tree products for income generation and food security in their country. Nominations must include a short description (about one page) of the nominee’s outstanding contribution to the development of an effective and productive agro-forestry planting system. Nominations must also include two referees who shall provide testimonials and endorsement of the activities undertaken by the nominee.
Category Three - LRD/SPC Forest Leadership Award A Pacific person selected for his/ her leadership role in developing the forestry sector and promoting sustainable management of forest resources in the country/region. Nominations must include a short description (about one page) of the nominee’s contribution to the sustainable management, development and conservation of the forest resources in the community/country. Nominations must also include two referees who shall provide testimonials and endorsement of the activities undertaken by the nominee.
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POSTER COMPETITION: 1. The artist must be a primary school student (6 – 14 years old) and a citizen of one of SPC’s 22 Pacific Island member countries and territories. 2. The award is divided into two categories as follows: a. Category 1 – Age 6 – 9years b. Category 2 – Age 10 – 14 years 3. The artwork must be original and certified by a teacher 4. The poster must be: a. Related to the topic ‘Forests for people – reflecting local situations’. b. Poster may be done in pencil, crayon, watercolor, ink, acrylic or colored pencil.Collages are NOT acceptable. Computer-generated art or computer generated printing are NOT acceptable. c. A3 size (420mm X 594mm). 5. By participating in the competition, artists agree: a. To allow SPC LRD to publish their artwork in LRD publications. b. To be bound by the conditions of the competition.
ESSAY COMPETITION: 1. The author must be a secondary school student (14–18 years old) and a citizen of one of SPC’s 22 Pacific Island member countries or territories. 2. The essay must be original writing and be certified by a teacher. 3. The essay must be: a. on the topic ‘Forests for people – reflecting your local community’. b. in English. c. no longer than 1000 words. SPC-EU FACT PRIZES FOR POSTER AND ESSAY COMPETITIONS 1st PRIZE: US$500 2nd PRIZE: US$300 3rd PRIZE: US$250
ENTRIES CAN BE SUBMITED BY: Email: vineshp@spc.int, or lrdhelpdesk@spc.int; Fax : +679 337 0021; Postal Address: Essay or Poster Competition C/- Vinesh Prasad, Secretariat of the Pacific Community 3 Luke Street Private Mail Bag Suva, FIJI Land Resources News