Forestry Sector Achievements by 1975

McAdam’s leadership and foresight in establishing the PNG Forest Service in 1946 had

achieved26: (Coupled with McAdam’s background knowledge of the forests of Papua New Guinea, gained in the pre-war and wartime periods.)

Dept of Forests Achievements by 1975

Forest Resources. In the period 1946-1963 some 600,000 hectares were assessed by conventional methods. From 1964 to 1967 some 2.8 million hectares were assessed. As of 1975, a total of 5.2 million hectares had been assessed. The investigations confirmed that there was a resource of magnitude, it quantified the resource, and identified the areas considered suitable for development.

Botany

• Collection and maintenance of specimens of Papuasia plants. From the collections commenced in 1944, the herbarium collection at 1975 has over 250,000 PNG specimens. From the collections, followed taxonomic studies of the flora leading to various publications and training manuals. • Development at Lae of the National Botanical Gardens with living collections. • Intensive service in identification of plant specimens. • Communication; extension services. • National staff training.

Forest Industry

• From two sawmills in 1946 to 1975 with some 90 sawmills, one plywood plant; three veneer plants and one wood chip mill. • An annual log harvest of some 800,000 m3 as of 1975. • By 1975, import earnings of some Kina 15 million which is some 4 % of the national export earnings (at 1975). • Establishment of a Papua New Guinea Timber Marketing Advisory Panel. • Development of an appropriate wood utilisation research program: (a) Determination of the properties and uses of PNG timbers. (b) Development of appropriate timber preservation treatments for sawn and round timbers. (c) Determination of kiln drying schedules. (d) Development of minor forest product industries. (e) Provision of mill wright services and extensive industry advice services. (f) Timber design services. (g) Technical publication services especially for building designs using local materials. (h) Training of mill operators.

26 Ref PNGAF Mag # 4 of 21st Nov 2020 p 36-37.

Forest Management

• Development and administration of complex Forest Management Agreements including regeneration treatment.

Reforestation

• Over 16,000 hectares plantations established at Bulolo/Wau, Kerevat; Port

Moresby; Goroka and Whagi valley. • Nursery and field techniques established for species as Teak (Tectona grandis);

Kamarere (Eucalyptus deglupta), Hoop and Klinkii Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii and A. hunsteinii), Eucalyptus and Pinus spp. • Country-wide extension programs, especially in the Highlands. • Natural regeneration techniques for cutover forests; growth studies; enrichment planting techniques. • Intensive research programs for plantation species covering species selection, tree breeding, nutrition studies, protection from insects and fungal pathogens, growth studies, range management, extension practices, environmental planning.

Training

• Sub professional training program commenced in 1962 at Bulolo Forestry College which by 1975 had successfully trained some 421 trainees. In 1975, BFC could accommodate some 170 students. 1. In-service for expatriate field officers. 2. Two-year Technical Certificate with entry level of form 2-3. 3. Short vocational courses for supervisory staff training. 4. 1967 – three-year course leading to a Diploma in Forestry. 5. 1973-75 selected field staff 12-month course for a Certificate in Forestry. 6. 1969 three-year Diploma of Cartography course. • Professional Training Program 1. Course activated in 1971/72 for a Forestry degree course, commenced with 2 years science and two years at UNITECH Lae. 2. Four graduates expected in 1976 and 10 in 1977. • Industrial Training 1. Closure of government sawmills had a detrimental impact on training of industrial staff. 2. Negotiations in recent years will lead to the establishment of an industry training centre in Lae (TITC).