The impacts of deforestation, degradation and loss of forest and tree genetic resources has prompted collaboration between the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), to collect and share germplasm of priority wood species.
19 September 2011: The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has begun working with Pacific Island countries (PICs) to encourage regional conservation and the sharing of forest genetic materials, specifically germplasm of priority wood species, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
The initiative was prompted by negative impacts of deforestation, degradation and loss of forest and tree genetic resources, according to the SPC.
Meeting in Suva, Fiji, from 19-20 September 2011, project partners discussed the need for a supportive legal framework, in the form of material transfer agreement (MTA), to facilitate the collection and sharing of important species.
Participants also began developing a strategy and action plan for the Pacific Islands Tree Seed Centre (PITSC) being established at SPC. The PITSC will aim to ensure that PICs and territories gain fair and equitable access to, and benefit from, sharing priority tree germplasm. It is expected to coordinate and implement collection, storage, distribution, research and training relating to germplasm of priority species. [SPC Press Release]