AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975
PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 11 - A of 31 Oct 2023. FOREST MANAGEMENT. PNG NATIONAL SCHOOL NURSERY PROJECT. Editor R B McCarthy1 2022. PNG NATIONAL SCHOOL NURSERY PROJECT – 2004 ON Trees, shrubs, and creepers in Port Moresby. K J White 1966. The cover depicts the avenue of Casuarina equistifolia planted 1917 by H W Champion along Ela Beach. 2005 Ela Beach Roadway. Photo credits Dick McCarthy.
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Dick McCarthy District Forester TPNG Forests 1963-1975. 1
PNG NATIONAL SCHOOL NURSERY PROJECT – 2004 ON
Under the sponsorship of the Port Moresby Rotary Club, PNG Forest Industries Association, Galley Reach Holdings, Dept of Environment and Conservation and the National Botanical Gardens POM a major revegetation project was undertaken involving PNG schools based on the Rotary Model “trees for survival.” The benefit of the project “trees for survival” is to allow school children and school communities the benefit of studying environmental concerns, and, particularly, the vital role that trees play in the PNG eco-system. The project involved the development of a plant nursery at each school, with the provision of seedling tubes, seeds, and information both written and pictorial on how to raise seedlings and plant them out and support visits from nurserymen (Dept of Environment extension staff) visiting schools. Plants raised included trees for all purposes, from food production to medicinal purposes to firewood to timber production. Trees for Survival is the only environmental programme supported by the Rotary Clubs of New Zealand. The programme is administered by a charitable trust which promotes the growing and planting of native trees by school children to help control soil erosion, safeguard water quality, regulate stream flow, increase biodiversity, control greenhouse gases and to restore and beautify landscapes. The usual pattern is that a supporting organization, such as a Rotary Club arranges sponsorship of a plant growing unit - a special shade house at a school. The students grow native plants from seedlings to a plantable age of about 12 months. Each unit can grow up to 1,500 plants per year. The supporting organization also provides funding to enable TfS to provide support, resources, materials, and equipment to ensure healthy plants are grown. Local council staff will locate planting sites suitable for planting and the various parties, including the students, plant out the trees on a planting day usually scheduled between June-August each year. Rotarians can be involved supporting the school at pricking out and potting on sessions at the school and on planting days. DVDs or brochures which outline the TFS programme are available by contacting the National Manager. Email: info@tfsnz.org.nz Website: www.tfsnz.org.nz
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The project undertook: • In-service teacher training done by the National Botanical Gardens. The Rotary "Trees for Survival" project i.e., the PNG school nursery project had its first workshop for schoolteachers at the National Botanical Gardens Port Moresby on the 22 February 2005. Teachers from various schools including Marienville High School, POM National High and Jubilee Primary Schools attended. The workshop was based on the nursery manual prepared by Dick McCarthy POM Rotary. Presentations were done by scientific officers from the National Botanical Gardens and foresters from PNG Forest Industries Association. The workshop was officially opened by the Secretary for Environment and Conservation and Deputy Chair of the PNG National Forest Board, Dr Wari Iamo. Lunch for participants was provided by the PNG Forest Industries Association. The workshop for teachers covered: • • • • • • • • • • • ` •
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an appreciation of the attributes of the National Botanical Gardens, especially for education purposes; how to establish a tree seedling nursery using bush materials; how to collect and store seed; how to germinate seeds; how to prepare nursery soil and seedling pots; transplanting seedlings; importance of shading of young seedlings; watering and care of seedlings in the nursery; hardening off of plants; transport of seedlings; planting out of seedlings. Production of instruction manuals for both primary and secondary schools. Provision of seed and up-to-date information through newsletters and information kits including seedling bags, instructions on nursery building and seed raising and seedling care together with notes on growing several of PNG’ plant species. PNGFIA/National Botanical Gardens administration re scheduling of schools for a two-to-three-day staff nursery training program, and provision. The National Botanical Gardens provided demonstration gardens and provision of food tree seedlings as Okari nuts and Casuarina.
Bougainvillea hedge. Bougainvillea spectabilis. Photo credits Dick McCarthy. 3
Steering Committee 2004 on. Photo credits Dick McCarthy. Wolfgang Bandish General Manager National Botanical Gardens. Dr Wari Iamo PNG Secretary Dept of Environment and Conservation. Judith Raka National Botanical Gardens. Megan Tauraka POM Rotary/Ela Motors. Dick McCarthy POM Rotary.
Barren Hills of Port Moresby. Photo credits Dick McCarthy.
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Supporting Organization Nursery Activities. Galley Reach Holdings Doa (SIPEF) have sown several food trees and casuarinas etc. for the school nursery project in their rubber tree nursery at Doa Galley Reach.
Photo credits Dick McCarthy.
Ela Motors/Toyota is a major sponsor of the program with assistance including the provision of T shirts, publicity of the program and cross linkage to Planet Ark Toyota etc.
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Cross linkages to Community Food Production Systems Nursery – National Agriculture Research Institute Nursery and Extension facilities Laloki. Photo credits Dick McCarthy.
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L to R. Paul Coleman, Dick McCarthy, Monica Salter, Chris Smith, Les Eastcott.
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Centenary Planting UPNG Port Moresby Rotary club The Port Moresby Rotary Club Board as part of the worldwide Rotary International Centenary Celebrations supported UPNG, when on Wednesday 23 February 2005 at 10.30 am, under the direction of Rotarian Vice Chancellor Professor Les Eastcott, 100 trees were planted by students (future leaders of PNG) as a teaching precinct within the School of Natural and Physical Sciences at UPNG adjacent to the National Botanical Gardens.
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World Environment Days Activities with Dr Wari Iamo. Photo credits Dick McCarthy. 10
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Rain tree Boroko. Samanea saman. Neem Trees Boroko. Azadirachta indica. Photo credits Dick McCarthy.
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Yellow Cassia. Maybe Cassia fistula? Photo credits Dick McCarthy.
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Coconuts. Cocos nucifera. Photo credits Dick McCarthy.
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Ornamental flowering plants. (Bilas) Hibiscus & Frangipani varieties. Photo credits Dick McCarthy.
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Casuarina equisetifolia Ela Beach POM. Photo credits Dick McCarthy.
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