FOREST MANAGEMENT.
TERTIARY FORESTRY TRAINING – UNITECH DEGREE COURSE.
Editor Dick McCarthy1
NB. The end of 1976 saw the graduation ceremony for the first students. Two of the original students, Jack Noah and Joseph Ben are deceased2 .
2
1 District Forester Bulolo 1973-1975
Mamalai
communication
3 Dr John Davison in his excellent series PNGAF MAG ISSUE # 10 B – 1 PNG FOREST EDUCATION of 2 Feb 2023 posted on the site issuu.com. rbmccarthy describes Dr John Davidson’s journey in a series of posted articles: From Forestry Cadet to Forestry Professor. Memories of youth and living and working in Papua New Guinea.
Part 1 of 6 parts
Part 2 of 6 parts
Part 3 of 6 parts
Part 4 of 6 parts
Part 5 of 6 parts
Part 6 of 6 parts
Dr John Davidson provided the following overview of PNG Forestry Technical Tertiary Initiatives.
Prior to 1973, one PNG student Andrew Yauieb, was sent to the Australian National University Canberra to undertake the four-year forestry degree course. He was successful in becoming the only PNG graduate of that course.
In mid-February 1973, the Department of Forests offered Forestry Cadetships to four Papua New Guineans to begin a four-year undergraduate course in Forestry in PNG. The students were Jack Noah, Joseph Ben, Diki Kari and Oscar Mamalai. The first two years (1973 and 1974) were spent at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) on basic science studies including botany with then lecturer at UPNG David Frodin. These PNG students were joined by Sampson Gaviro and Alex Chang sponsored by the Solomons and Fiji Governments, respectively.
During the University long vacation, the PNG cadets were posted to various forestry locations in PNG.
UNITECH Forestry
Meanwhile, the PNG University of Technology (PNGUT) in Lae (later to became University of Technology Lae (UNITECH)) had been selected and approved to provide the final two years training towards the degree to eventually be called the Bachelor of Forestry. With first students due to arrive in Lae in 1975, there was an urgent need to design and develop a course of study for them prior to their arrival. With support of the Department of Forests and the agreement of the Public Service Board, John Davidson was seconded from his post of Officer in Charge, Forest research Station Bulolo to the PNGUT as a consultant to design and set up the course.
This secondment lasted from November 1974 to August 1975, during which time John Davidson was considered by the University as Acting Head of the new Department in the Faculty of Natural Resources.
When the inaugural students arrived at the beginning of 1975, John gave lectures on Forest Mensuration, Tree Improvement and Wood Anatomy and Identification. These were supplemented by visiting lecturers from Australia and New Zealand until the first substantive staff (Dr. Julian Evans and Napoleon Vergara) were appointed, enabling John to return to his post in Bulolo until December 1975. During this latter time John successfully applied for the position of Professor and Foundation Chairman of the new Department at PNGUT, but deferred this formal appointment to June 1976, while the government Department of Forests reinstated a secondment arrangement paying his salary at Forest Officer Class 4 and with the 3
University topping up the amount to the level for a Head of Department. During 1976, John lectured on Indigenous Silviculture and Forest Management. 4
The end of 1976 saw the graduation ceremony for the first students. Two of the original students, Jack Noah and Joseph Ben are deceased5 .
The first Professor and Foundation Chairman of the Department of Forestry PNGUT was Professor John Davidson July 1976 to December 1978. He was made Dean of the Faculty of Natural resources in 1978.
When Professor Davidson was made Pro Vice Chancellor PNGUT in 1979, Napoleon Vergara was made acting Head of the Department of Forestry PNGUT for the majority of 1979. Under him, Bob Johns6 joined the Department as a senior lecturer in 1979. Professor SD (Dennis) Richardson from New Zealand was appointed Professor form late 1979 to late 1986 with Bob Johns continuing under him as Senior Lecturer. When Professor Dennis Richardson left PNG, Bob Johns became the substantive Professor and Head of the Department of Forestry at PNGUT from 1987 to 1990 when he retired to take up a research position at Kew Gardens United Kingdom.
Professor John Davidson(left) with the first forestry graduates on the day of graduation. From the left Joseph Ben, Diki Kari, Alec Chang (Fiji), Jack Noah and Oscar Mamalai. (Not in the photograph is Samson Gaviro Solomons) UNITECH 1976 Photo Credit Gloria Davidson
Agriculture building in 2019, formerly Natural Resources (inc. Forestry final 2 years, Fisheries Diploma 2 years, and Agriculture final 2 years; Fisheries left Lae way back in the beginning of 1980.) This building was occupied by us in 1977 with a planned design life of 25 years. This photo was taken 42 years later. The solid Kwila construction is still going strong. The pressure treated Alstonia shingles lasted 27 years, a corrugated colourbond steel roof was then laid over the top. (To reduce costs the shingles were sawn not split and were nailed on without pre-drilling the holes for stainless steel nails, which meant they were not completely up to mechanical specification right from the start, resulting in some premature warping and splitting.)
