17 September 2012
SPC Convenes Pacific Regional Workshop on Forest Genetic Resources
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Participants in the Regional Workshop on Forest Genetic Resources (FGR) in the Pacific developed priorities for action in the Polynesian, Micronesian and Melanesian subregions.

They agreed on the need to establish national forest extension programs in each country in order to optimize extension benefits, to establish quality measures for the sale of seeds and other reproductive materials, and for SPC to undertake capacity building on FGR, inter alia.

SPC17 September 2012: The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), with support from the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the UN (FAO), convened the Regional Workshop on Forest Genetic Resources (FGR) in the Pacific from 4-6 September 2012, in Nadi, Fiji. Participants shared country reports on FGR and developed priorities for action for the Polynesian, Micronesian and Melanesian subregions.

The workshop agreed to recommendations on the need: for Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) signing Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) to facilitate the exchange and supply of trees germplasm within the region in a timely manner; to establish national forest extension programs in each country in order to optimize extension benefits; to establish quality measures for the sale of seeds and other reproductive materials; for SPC to undertake capacity building with its member countries and territories to broaden knowledge on FGR; for PICTs to undertake research activities on species identification and usage classification; for PICTs to facilitate integration of FGR into schools and higher education/training institutions’ curricula; for PICTs to develop and implement mechanisms for long-term access to land for FGR conservation, to ensure continuous and consistent research and development efforts; for PICTs to develop mechanisms for mitigation and adaptation to climate change; for PICTs to enforce and secure land use management to protect FGR and prevent encroachment of other sectors in forested areas; for PICTs to encourage downstream processing and value adding of forest products to maximise the utilization of FGR; and for PICTs to establish a working relationship between National Environment and Conservation Departments, Climate Change Office and Forestry Division for better coordination of climate change activities.

Representatives from Australia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu attended the meeting. [SPC Press Release] [IISD RS Sources]

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