SNRAS Newsletter

Volume 1, Issue 1

SNRAS

2017

News Bulletin Welcome to SNRAS News Bulletin

Inside this Issue Academic Programs

Seminar Programs

National/Int’l Conferences

Infrastructure Updates

Partnerships

Page 2

W

elcome to the maiden issue of our School of Natural Resources & Applied Sciences (SNRAS) News Bulletin. This is a new initiative of the School to keep you

informed of the exiting news of our school, staff and students. The goal of our news bulletin is to capture all happenings and provide staff and students with news and information about academic programs, research and seminar activities, infrastructure developments, and related events.

As from 2018 SNRAS news bulletin will be published yearly on a regular basis. We want the news bulletin as informative as possible. Inside you will find a mixture of news and features that will be of interest to you. Through this news bulletin, we will ensure that the important and remarkable work of our faculty, students and collaborators is shared. This first issue highlights activities and accomplishments in the School during the academic year 2017.

Thanks to those of you who contributed to it as these contributions are essential to the news bulletin‘s success. As members of the School we all share in and benefit from your achievements, and we hope to hear more good news along these lines. As a School we will continue to work hard to improve, strengthen and consolidate academic programs that we offer.

I hope you enjoy this first issue and do let us know if there are any topics or items you would like to see covered in the future. In the future bulletins we will endeavor to include important developments in the fields of agriculture, environment and forestry, the three sectors that our School is closely associated with.

I appreciate your taking the time to read our news bulletin and look forward to academic year 2018 with greater hope, enthusiasm and commitments from all of us. Please help us to enrich the content of each issue. Send us information on upcoming events, accomplishments or research.

Thanks in advance Professor (Dr.) Prem P. Rai Dean

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T

Volume 1 I Issue 1 I December 2017

he School of Natural Resources

administration officers and three

son Giza (Maths and Statistic). The

and Applied Sciences (SNRAS) is

support staff.

school farm is manned by our Farm

made up of three main departments.

This includes the department of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Science. The total number of academic staff who are currently teaching is fourteen with nine newly employed staff; two for the Environmental studies department, five for the Agriculture department and two staff for the Forestry department. This makes up a total of twenty two academic staff for SNRAS in 2017. SNRAS also has two

The following are the agriculture department staff: Leeroy Joshua (HOD and Crop), John Tatalo (Marketing), Henry Gwao (Crop), Dorothy

Tavoa

(Coordinator

Bachelor Program/Farm Management), Kemuel Satu (Livestock), Willie

Waroka

Diploma

(Coordinator

Program/Livestock),

Ricardo Matapaza (Coordinator Certificate

manager Mr. John Gilbert Talo and two farm hands, Mr. Ramsey Robinson and Mr. Lenta Aitafia. For the department of Environmental Studies the staff are, Ms. Mary Tahu (Program Coordinator) and Mr. Alex Makini (HOD). The Forestry Science department staff are Mr. Peter Mahoa (Program

Coordinator),

Henry

Kaomara (HOD) and Carlos Hiro.

Program/Extension),

Lawrence Atu (Crop), and Patter-

Staff of the Administration Ms. Lyra Atu

Mr. Ramsey Robinson

School Secretary

Farm Hand

Ms. Ruth Hopa

Ms. Julie

Assistant Secretary

Cleaner

Mr. John Gilbert Talo

Ms. Aduwane Tuita

Farm Manager

Cleaner

SNRAS Newsletter Academic Programs

Page 4

New Staff

N

ew members of the Academic

school lab practical space. John

soon. New staff in the Forestry de-

staff

the

Bosco Sulifoa who holds a Doc-

partment include Dr. David Lopez

of Agriculture are Mr.

torate degree in Plant Protection

Cornelio and Mr. Larren Gomese

Marvin Baekisapa who will now be

and his wife Dr. Ramona Sulifoa

who are both qualified Forestry

taking care of the Soils course units. Mr.

who holds a doctorate in Natural

Lecturers. Ms. Serah has also been

Merald Ajo is the school laboratory

Resources

recruited as an administration sup-

technician will be responsible for the

Management will join the team

department

who

have

joined

and

Environmental

port staff.

Mr. Merald Ajo Science Laboratory Technician

Agriculture Department Mr. Leeroy Joshua

Mr. Willie Waroka

Head of Department

Diploma in Tropical Agriculture (DTA) Coordinator

Mr. Ricardo Matapaza

Ms. Dorothy Tavoa

Certificate in Tropical Agriculture (CTA) Coordinator

Bachelor in Agriculture (Science) Coordinator

Courses Offered

Certificate in Tropical Agriculture (CTA)

T

he Certificate in Tropical Agri-

units in each semester. This enables

and female students and provincial

culture is a new program that

the course to be completed in only one

representation as well. This program

year.

unlike the current one normally runs

offers one year intensive study. A total of 10 units are delivered at level 3 and 4 under the Solomon Islands qualification framework with five

The

total

number

of

students

enrolment in the courses this year is 95 with a fair representation of male

for two years.

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Volume 1 I Issue 1 I December 2017

Diploma in Tropical Agriculture (DTA)

T

he

Diploma

in

Tropical

Tropical

number of students registered for the

Agriculture has the highest

Agriculture program was introduced in

diploma program in 2017 is about

number of student enrolment. The

2016 which replaced the previous

200 more than 150 students regis-

course offers students with advance

diploma

Agriculture

tered in the first year. The depart-

knowledge in tropical agriculture

Applied Sciences and Agriculture

ment received almost equal number

and ensures that student are aware

Business courses. The new diploma

of female and male students this year

on issues about changes in climate

program is stair cased to the Bachelor

2017.

that affects agriculture develop-

in Agriculture (Science). The total

ment. A new Diploma in

offering

an

Bachelor in Agriculture (Science)

T

he Bachelor in Agriculture

accept applicants this year to make up

within two years or four semesters.

(Science) program will com-

the required number of students intake

The minimum entry requirements is

mence in January 2018 as it was

to commence the course. This program

completion of form 6 with good

postponed this year due to adminis-

consists of sixteen (16) course units

passes

trative reason. The University will

including four internship units offered

Science.

in

English,

Maths

and

Mr. Leeroy Joshua supervising a student at the school farm.

SNRAS Newsletter Academic Programs

Page 6

Forestry Department Mr. Henry Kaomara

Mr. Peter Mahoa

Head of Department

Certificate in Plantation Forestry Coordinator

Diploma in Forestry Coordinator

Courses Offered Certificate in Plantation Forestry (CTF)

T

he certificate of Tropical

2006, the certificate program was

weeks, total of 36 study weeks at the

Forestry course was first

further reduced to a one year

Kukum Campus. The minimum entry

the

program and the name has also

requirement is completion of Form 5

establishment of Solomon Islands

changed to Plantation Forestry to

with passes in all subjects.

College

Education.

suit the pattern of ranger service

Eleven years later the program was

operation in Solomon Islands. It is a

reduced to a two year course. In

Trimester Course program of 12

awarded

in of

1987

during

Higher

Diploma in Forestry

T

he diploma program was

in the Solomon Islands. A key

mon Islands. The extension services

recently approved by the

feature of the program is its capacity

through sectoral collaboration are also

program

building in forestry development,

a key factor to private and rural devel-

commenced in the second semester

nature conservation and sustainable

opment in the country. The proposal to

of 2017.

natural

management

phase out certificate program to other

The program aims to provide

through quality practical training

institutions in the country including

graduates with a broad understand-

provided. This is an excellent study

rural training schools may not be possi-

ing of both the biological and social

area for individuals, organizations

ble until later years.

environments to forest management

and rural communities in the Solo-

SINU

Council;

the

resource

Forestry Students’ Field Trip

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Volume 1 I Issue 1 I December 2017

Department of Environment Mr. Alex Makini

Ms. Mary Tahu

Head of Department

Certificate in Environment Science Coordinator

Courses Offered Certificate in Environmental Studies

T

he Certificate Program in Envi-

such as biodiversity and global

recently been approved by the School

ronmental Studies was estab-

climate change. The Program which

Academic Board to commence with a

lished in 2010 by the Solomon

currently runs for 2 years targets

1 year Certificate and a 2 year Diploma

Islands National University (SINU).

Form 5 Secondary School graduates

in Environmental Studies in 2018.

This came about in response to the

(in addition to Forms 6 and 7 gradu-

Nation’s effort to create capacity to

ates) and Form 3 students with years

deal with environmental challenges

of experience. A proposal has

T

he seminar presentation activities is normally scheduled for Wednesday afternoons, twice a month. The school Research Committee has accepted requests from academic staff and external professionals and researchers who wish

to present their work and findings at the school based level. The Ministry of Forestry under the REDD+ project was just one sector who utilized this seminar opportunity. Read on to find out more information about other seminars given by SNRAS staff and partners.

Page 8

SNRAS Newsletter Seminar Programs

Papua New Guinea, A Land of Diversity.

Professor Prem Prakash Rai, Dean of the School of Natural Resources and Applied Sciences

P

rofessor Prem P. Rai, presented a seminar on Papua New Guinea — A land of Diversity on 29th March 2017. Papua New Guinea (PNG) is richly diversified in languages, culture, customs, traditions, people and native flora and fauna.

It is one of the ‘last frontiers’ which truly defines magnificence and richness of diversity. Geologically, PNG has the highly mountainous, arid to rain forest, coastal swamps to alpine forest areas. The country is divided into hundreds of islands, the lowlands (0-1200) and highlands (1200-2800). As many as 800 ethnic groups exist, and 800-850 distinct languages are spoken in the country. It is observed that close geographical relationship between areas of high biological and language diversity exists and that particular cultural practices and linguistic tradition are compatible with high biodiversity.

PNG is the 4th mega-bio diverse country in the world. It has 70% of its land covered by tropical rainforest. PNG is a small nation that covers less than 1% world land mass but contains more than 5% of biodiversity. The total number of plants and animal species exceeds 200, 000 species; of these 20,000 are vascular plant species. Our surveys conducted over a period of 16 years revealed that 1000 plant species were used for medicinal purposes by local communities. Scientists estimate that more than half of the plants and animals found in PNG have yet to be scientifically named. Fortunately, much of this biodiversity has remained intact for thousands of years because of the ruggedness of the terrain made the interior lands inaccessible. Coupled with low population density it also ensured that these biodiversity was never overexploited.

Propelled by gas and mining projects and increasing overseas investments PNG is now witnessing rapid economic growth.

However, with rapid development there is also perceived threat to its biodiversity. Although conservation policies are in place these are not strictly implemented. With poor socio-economic position, illiteracy, and wealth disparity PNG is facing real challenges to its biodiversity. It is argued that conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in PNG must be pursued in earnest to stop the country becoming one of the biodiversity hotspots. This presentation will provide a glimpse of diversity as it exists in PNG.

Farmer innovation in the Solomon Islands in response to uncertainties of Agriculture farmers.

A Summary of Aaron Kama’s Research Presentation. Mr. Kama is a current PhD student at University of Queensland.

C

onventional government-run agricultural extension services have notably failed to deliver improved agricultural productivity and raise the standard of living for rural farmers in Solomon Islands. In 1998, the single agricultural

research station for the Solomon Islands Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock was destroyed in intercultural conflict. As a consequence, the centralized agricultural research activities and the extension system associated with that and its services collapsed. To worsen the situation, drivers such as climate change, agronomic factors, social norms, polices, culture, pests and diseases, populations and technologies have caused uncertainties to farmers and has been seen to reduce subsistence and semi-commercial production of food and additional income to most rural Solomon Islanders. During the period when farmers were greatly affected by the civil unrest, local farmers in Solomon Islands were compensating by introducing their own innovations without technical or extension support. This research will investigate the farmer innovation process in Solomon Islands including drivers, uncertainties, farmer experimental process, climate-smart agriculture practices and

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Volume 1 I Issue 1 I December 2017

indigenous communication channels used by farmers. The methodology paradigm to be used in this research will be constructivist, using a case study method which will incorporate both qualitative and quantitative research and data collecting methods. This research is designed as a single-case (embedded) design – type 2inYin (2009)’s basic types of design for case studies. A multi-stage sampling method will be used to randomly select the case study locations and the number of people to participate in the research. Data will be collected, analysed, interpreted and conclusions and recommendations will be finalized to describe the farmer innovation process in the Solomon Islands

REDD PLUS (Forestry Department)

M

r Peter Mahoa is the SINU-SNRAS representative in the REDD+ consultations for National REDD+ mechanism at Ulawa Island in Makira facilitated by the Ministry of Forestry & Research. REDD+ is a new international

mechanism to reward developing countries for reducing their rates of deforestation and forest degradation and for increasing carbon stocks. The key objective of the REDD+ Awareness and Consultation workshop is an ongoing program to establish the necessary institutional and individual capacities required to develop full REDD+ readiness in the Solomon Islands.

KANSAS

STUDENT

(University

of

California)

Wednesday 19th July 2017

S

tudents from University of California with staff from University of Queensland visited SNRAS and engaged 3 of the SNRAS Environment graduates (Shannen Bule, Belinda Manakera and Joseph Beck) as research assistants to accom-

pany them for a rapid marine assessment in the Western Province. The Program falls under the ASIP-ECH Program (Australian –Solomon Islands Environmental and Community Health Program).

Group Photo with SNRAS Staff and Students

Page 10

SNRAS Newsletter Seminar Programs

Philippe Keithand Clara Lord (French Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle)

P

hilippe and Clara Lord are postgraduate students from the French National Museum of Natural History, well known in France as Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, and a grand établissement of higher education part of Sorbonne

Universities. They came to Solomon Islands under their University research collaboration program with the Local conservation NGO in the country. Their studies focuses on Freshwater Fishes and Crustaceans in the Solomon Islands, amphidromy as a life cycle. Within the open ocean, tropical insular freshwater environments usually represent highly isolated and fragmented habitats. The colonisation of tropical insular rivers, like in Solomon Islands, subject to extreme climatic and hydrologic seasonal variations, requires specific adaptations of the life cycle of species occurring in these distinctive habitats.

Tropical islands usually have a volcanic origin and their freshwater systems are therefore initially devoid of any fauna.

Their colonisation is interesting in terms of the evolution of the species present, as they can only have come from the marine environment. Diadromy is among the evolutionary answers to the instability of freshwater habitats. Spending part of their life cycle at sea, diadromous species are capable of escaping drought or cyclonic flood events while colonising new environments via oceanic dispersal.

Amphidromy is a type of diadromy. Amphidromous species (both vertebrate and invertebrate organisms) represent most of Solomon macrofaunal biodiversity. The adults grow, feed and reproduce in rivers. After hatching, larvae drift downstream to the sea, where they undergo larval development. After this marine dispersal stage, the post-larvae come back to rivers; they recruit in estuaries and from there colonise the adult freshwater habitat.

These species show differences in certain aspects of this life cycle for example, the adult behaviour or the duration of the pelagic larval phase among fish species, Sicydiinae gobies represent most of the island freshwater biodiversity and have the highest level of endemism. As Solomon Islands have many endemic species, there are many challenges in management and conservation.

Philippe and Clara Lord

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Volume 1 I Issue 1 I December 2017

Subsistence Farmers’ Management of Infestations of the Little Fire Ant A summary from John Fasi’s presentation. Lecturer at the School of Education and Humanities who now holds a Doctorate of Philosophy degree from the University of Queensland, Australia.

D

r. Fasi presented on the Subsistence Farmers’ Management of Infestations of the Little Fire Ant in Garden Plots on Bauro, Makira Province, Solomon Islands. He stated that the little fire ant Wasmannia auropunctata is known to

negatively impact the native fauna of tropical islands in the Pacific and its sting is a nuisance to farmers in their garden plots. The study examined whether the presence of little fire ant has the potential to disrupt subsistence gardening practices, with implications for livelihoods and well-being. The study interviewed 90 participants from the Central Bauro area, Makira in the Solomon Islands using structured questionnaires that were analysed quantitatively. More detailed semistructured interviews were also conducted with another six people and quantitatively analysed. The results show that the presence of the little fire ant affects gardening activities by reducing time spent working effectively, influencing decisions about where to make gardening plots, discouraging children’s participation, and changing traditional gardening practices.

The study found that the longer the ant is present, the more tolerant Central Bauro subsistence farmers become of its presence.

Mr. Kemuel Satu

T

he International Agriculture Extension Conference held at the University of Goroka (UoG) in Papua New Guinea from the 10 –

12 September, 2017, brought together stakeholders from the Pacific.

The stakeholders presented on their experiences, challenges and different ways of overcoming those challenges and in so doing, contributed to the conference theme “Addressing Farmer Needs Now and Into the

Mr. Kemuel Satu (Lecturer in Livestock) Future”. There seemed to be a permeating sentiment and consensus resonant across the participating contributions regarding the mounting pressure placed on Agriculture Extension Agents-Farmers continuum and mechanism as a result of the declining capacity of traditional Extension Agents and the varied nature, scale and complexities of the farming communities and their related production systems and environments. Whilst trying to improve capacity and find new strategies, simultaneous attention were also given to rising issues such as climate change, soil and environmental degradation, isolation and fragmentation, increasing population, land tenure problems, and acculturation, increasing costs of production, just to name a few; thus overstretching institutional capabilities to the bare minimum.

The Conference only brought experts of similar interests in Agriculture Extension and Farming Communities to the same table and page. It was also timely in reviewing and creating new platforms, resolutions, paradigm shifts, for relevant Government Authorities, Agriculture Extension Agents and Farmers alike to make necessary commitments at their respective levels.

SNRAS Newsletter Conferences Held

Page 12

Ms. Mary Tahu

M

s Mary M. Tahu was invited to attend a 3 day workshop from 15-17 February,

2017 in Suva, Fiji on Humanitarian Response Preparedness and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

The aim of the workshop was to enable co-operation and shared information between churches to allow more effective delivery of services, taking in consideration the most targeted

Particpants who attended the workshop on DRR in Suva,

and needy communities during such events. Belief is that churches have significant potential in leading and influencing communities to be disaster prepared and therefore increasing their resilience.

A photo session of all the participants during the CTI-CFF workshop in Manado, Indonesian.

Professor (Dr.) Prem Rai and Ms. Mary Tahu

D

ean of the School of Natural Resources Professor Prem Rai and Mary Tahu were invited to attend a Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) University Partnership on program development

from 7-8 August 2017 in Manado, Indonesia. Professor Prem Rai represented the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) and Mary Tahu represented the National Coordinating Committee (NCC). The outcome was the Signing of MOU between SINU and CTI-CFF.

SPECIES FORUM AT SNRAS

T

he School of Natural Resources and Applied Sciences hosted a one day Species Forum on the

4th of October 2017 in the Wind-Wind House. Staff and students were able to witness presenters from Solomon Islands and International researchers working on species conservation. Over 200 attendees made their way to the

Species Forum Participants

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Volume 1 I Issue 1 I December 2017

Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Species Forum. The venue was chosen to promote partnership between NGOs and this academic institution, as well as acknowledge the new partnership with Critical Ecosystem Partnership Funds Small Grant Programme, with SINU undertaking a large grant for work to incorporate biodiversity conservation into its curriculum.

STUDENT AWARD

S

tudent internal scholarships funded

the students tuition fees for a year of

Graham Saelea who has graduated

under the Japanese

studies. The school through JICA’s

with a Diploma in Agriculture

Corporation (JICA) was awarded to Mr.

training

Business.

Gideon Mamuala a final year student in

scholarships each year and students

Diploma in the Tropical Agriculture

are

program. This scholarship grant covers

The student recipient in 2016 was Mr.

International

program

offers

student

encouraged to apply for them.

PART-TIME LECTURERS

T

o cater to the teaching needs of SNRAS, a team of part time lecturers were hired under each department.

Agriculture Department:

Environment Department:

Forestry Department:

Alister Talu, John Kalita, Peter ,

Albert Kwatalae, John Kalita and

Jeffery

William Matapaza

Chelcia Gomese.

Myknee Gusa, William Matapaza.

Tada,

Julius

Houria,

SNRAS Newsletter Infrastructure Updates

Page 14

S

activities

Renovation and maintenance of the

agriculture staff. Renovations and

within the school’s infrastructure

nutrition laboratory. Completion of

upgrading of the C2 classroom to

and facilities were completed in 2017 and

Wind-Wind house.

of

Include a soil science and biology

some on-going development on new

walkways along the corridors of C1

laboratory. Commencement of the

classrooms and also on-going construc-

and C2 Classroom , and extension of

construction for a Science, Research

tion of a two-storey Science Research and

convenient room. Installation and

and Teaching Complex.

Teaching

completion of container offices for

o

many development

Building.

These

include:

Extension

INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES

On Progress Project — Science Research & Teaching Complex

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Volume 1 I Issue 1 I December 2017

Completed Project — Wind-Wind House

Near Completion— New Classroom & Office Building

SNRAS Newsletter Partnerships

Page 16

T

his year staff from SNRAS was

Western Solomon Islands is led by

Developed Countries (LDCs) -

granted

to

Mary Tahu and Professor Prem Rai.

The case of Solomon Islands. The

conduct research in the Solomon

3) A proposal application for Pacif-

Project will be implemented with

Islands. Research include: 1) The

ic Islands Universities Research

the guidance of the USP Principal

project on “Solid and Hazardous Waste

Network (PIURN) was approved to

Investigator Dr. Morgan Wairiu in

in Honiara is led by Dr Kofi Apreku,

conduct research to evaluate the

partnership with SINU team leader

Mary Tahu and Mr Patterson Giza. 2)

effectiveness

Professor Prem Rai.

The project on Decomposition of

gramme of Action on Climate

mangroves leaves in Marovo lagoon,

Change in Five Pacific Least

research

funds

of

National

Pro-

MOU with KFPL

M

emorandum of Agreement signed on the 30th of May 2013 between the Kolombangara Forest Products Limited (KFPL) and the Solomon Islands National University for supporting academic programs in natural resources

including forestry, agriculture and environmental sciences on Poitete campus, Kolombangara Island.

MOU with CTI-CFT

M

emorandum of Understanding in 2017 between Solomon Islands National University and the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food security (CTI-CFF) was signed. The MOU will allow the two

partners to collaborate and work together in the areas of marine and coastal resource management.

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Volume 1 I Issue 1 I December 2017

MOU with Chung Yuan Christian University

M

emorandum of Understanding between Solomon Islands National University and Chung Yuan Christian University in agreement on the promotion of education and academic exchanges between the two institutions.

Both universities will make every reasonable effort to encourage direct contact and research cooperation between their faculty members, departments, and research institutes, to the extent that they are able, under provisions of the agreement to cooperate in the fields with which both parties are concerned.

MOU with Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock

M

emorandum of Understanding on the 16th of August 2017 between Solomon Islands Ministry of Agriculture and livestock (MAL) and Solomon Islands National University (SINU) regarding their partnership and support to

academic programs in School of Natural Resources and Applied at SINU Kukum Campus.

Creating your future is our commitment

P.O. Box R113, Honiara, Solomon Islands SINU Š 2018

w w w. s i nu . e d u . sb The SNRAS News Bulletin was formatted by Estee Lonamei, Senior Marketing & Promotions Officer with SINU.