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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.