IMPROVING PRODUCTION AND INCOME TO FARMERS FROM MELALEUCA … · Improving production and income to...

GTZ KIEN GIANG BIOSPHERE RESERVE PROJECT

IMPROVING PRODUCTION AND INCOME TO FARMERS FROM MELALEUCA

TECHNICAL REPORT 02E0209JOHN

2009

2

Improving production and income to farmers from melaleuca

A report by John Simpson

Published by:Published by:Published by:Published by:

Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer

Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH

- German Technical Cooperation -

Conservation and Development of the Biosphere Reserve

of Kien Giang Province Project,

Department of Science and Technology,

320 Ngo Quyen Street, Rach Gia City,

Kien Giang Province, Vietnam.

T +84 77 3942 937

F +84 77 3942 938

E [email protected]

I www.gtz.de/vietnam

Responsible:Responsible:Responsible:Responsible:

Dr. Sharon Brown, Project "Conservation and Development of the

Biosphere Reserve of Kien Giang Province

Author:Author:Author:Author:

John Simpson

© gtz, 2009

3

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 3 Abbreviations and Terms Used 4 Executive summary 5 Background 6 Discussion 12 Conclusions 15 Summary of proposed actions 15 References 17 Appendix 1 (Melaleuca notes – Ecology) 18 Appendix 2 (Melaleuca notes – Environment) 22 Appendix 3 (Melaleuca notes – silviculture) 24 Appendix 4 (Melaleuca notes – Comments conclusions) 26 Appendix 5 (Establishing a nedler wheel trial with melaleuca) 39

Acknowledgements

The consultant is very grateful to the many people who have assisted during this assignment. I would particularly like to record my appreciation of the efforts of Dr Sharon Brown (GTZ Project Manager) for arranging the visit and helping make the trip so technically rewarding. My sincere thanks also to Project Technical Officers especially Mr Nguyen Tan Phong and Mr Huynh Huu To who helped arrange the interesting and relevant program and found time in their busy schedules to accompany me on many occasions. Administrative support from Mrs Can and Mrs Dao was appreciated. Senior provincial officials, scientists, business owners, private melaleuca growers, enterprise managers and farmers gave freely of their time and information, which contributed to the success of the visit.

4

Abbreviations and Terms Used

ASS Acid Sulphate Soils cm Centimetre DBH Diameter breast height (130 cm above ground) DOB Diameter overbark DUB Diameter underbark FSIV Forest Science Institute of Vietnam ha Hectare LX Long Xuyen m Metre mai Mean annual increment m2 Square metres m2/ha Square metres per hectare m3 Cubic metres m3/ha Cubic metres per hectare m3/ha/an Cubic metres per hectare per annum pH Degree of soil or water acidity Provenance Geographic and genetic variation within a species SED Small end diameter Soils - suHAP sulphuric Humaquepts - tSAP typic Sulfaquepts - hanSAP hydraquentic Sulfaquepts - sTAP sulfic Tropaquepts

5

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The overall objective of the assignment was to advise on how to improve production and income from growing melaleuca (Detailed Terms of Reference see Appendix 1). The consultant met with project staff and consultants in Hanoi on 13 and 14th February then visited project field sites 15th to 19th February 2009. A major presentation covering the ecology, environmental impacts and silviculture of melaleuca forests was presented at a workshop held in Rach Gia on 20th February. After the workshop further field inspections were undertaken and time was spent compiling notes, in discussion with a major melaleuca grower from An Giang and visiting the Forest Science Sub-Institute in Ho Chi Minh City. Report preparation was completed in Australia. The report covers a background to melaleuca in the Mekong Delta and in Kien Giang in particular. The visit program is summarised and a discussion of the current and future of melaleuca forests is developed. For melaleuca forests to be sustainable, the environmental, cultural and social benefits of the forests need to be recognised (through policy and financial incentives), productivity and profitability need to be improved through low risk alternatives and new high value niche markets developed. Several trials have been proposed to demonstrate a range of silvicultural options aimed at increasing plantation value by growing large size trees better suited to high value end uses. A list of future activities relevant to improving production and income to farmers from melaleuca is presented for consideration by the Project Manager.

6

Background The overall objective of the “Conservation and Development of the Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve” project (phase 1) focuses on the sustainable management of the natural resources of Kien Giang province and the improved management of the protected areas and commercial forests. This assignment contributes to Project Output 3 ‘Capacity building and technical training on income generating activities and value chain improvement in the key areas’. The aim of this assignment was inter alia to advise the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) on how to improve production and income from growing melaleuca. Kien Giang province is in the south of Vietnam and forms part of the Mekong Delta (Map 1). The whole of the Mekong Delta is flat and low laying except for some low mountains and hills in Chau Doc and Ha Tien. The Delta is the largest rice producing area in Vietnam but also contains the largest area (41% of the total area of the Delta) of inundating Acid Sulphate Soils in the country. Sixty three percent of the soils in Kein Giang are either Actual Acid Sulphate Soils or Potential Acid Sulphate Soils (Anon 1999). Agricultural crops do not grow well on Severe Acid Sulphate Soils but productive melaleuca (Melaleuca cajuputi Powell) forests can be grown on these sites. Melaleuca forests form an important part of the environment and economy of Kien Giang. In the past 20 years, the area of cultivable land has grown rapidly, aided by the expansion and increased density of the irrigation and drainage canals system. Problems exist with salinity intrusion, management of acid sulphate soils, water pollution, fresh water shortages and flooding.

Map 1. Kien Giang Province, Vietnam.

7

Melaleuca forests of the Mekong delta represent a unique ecosystem that once covered extensive areas of the Delta. These forests are particularly well adapted to the difficult edaphic environment – inundating Acid Sulphate Soils. Actual and potential Acid Sulphate Soils present real problems if inappropriate attempts are made to increase their productive use through drainage and site disturbance. Major on and off site environmental disasters can and have occurred as a result of the release of large acid loads into local waters and waterways. Over the years, as a result of increasing population pressures, warfare activities, the inadvertent use of fire, these forests have been greatly reduced in extent and complexity and this in turn has led to increasing pressure on the remaining forests (Chung 1992).

The total area of melaleuca forests in the Mekong River Delta in 2006 was 176,295 ha of which 75% were production forests and 25% were protection or special use forests (Nguyen Quang Trung 2008). Forty seven percent of the melaleuca forests are managed by private households. In Kien Giang there was 24,421 ha of production forest (3.9% of the provincial area). Small posts and poles are the main products from production forests of melaleuca but the price of these products has been quite unstable. Nguyen Quang Trung (ibid) notes that the selling price for pole 5 class 2 (second best of 10 classes) has dropped from 15,000 to 11,000 VND per pole over the period 2003 to 2006. This translates to a reduction in selling price from 50 to 25 VND million/ha. However, Tran Thanh Cao (2006) predicts that the demand for melaleuca poles will continue to increase until 2010 and supply will fall 42 million poles short of the predicted demand. The decline in the predicted supply of poles is largely associated with the recent conversion of large areas of production forest to agriculture (rice production) as a result of the unstable price received for melaleuca wood products. Fluctuation in value of poles is a result of declining markets, supply/demand situation, lack of long term policies and planning, inconsistent and generally low product quality as well as inadequate risk management. At this stage the main alternative wood products from melaleuca forests are of low value and sell for well below the cost of production. Melaleuca sold for chip manufacture sells for 380 VND per kg (ca. 500,000 VND per m3) debarked at road/canal side. A major impediment to private investment in melaleuca plantations is the relatively long-term nature of the investment and the risks associated with management (esp. fire) and future markets. This is of particular importance to farmers with

The melaleuca forests play an important role in the Delta by:

• Providing a source of wood for construction and fuel

• Providing handicraft materials, oil, honey, medicinal plants and other minor forest products

• Providing suitable habitat for fish and other aquatic life

• Prevention of acidification of topsoil and surface water

• Storage and renovation of fresh water

• Flood and erosion mitigation

• Maintaining biodiversity

• Aesthetic values

• Venues for recreation and relaxation.

8

limited access to capital where an alternative is rice cropping where annual crops

assure a more regular income. Small piece size logs currently produced are unsuitable for high value products largely because of low recoveries and high proportion of lower quality juvenile wood. Improved silviculture aimed at producing large piece sizes in straight logs under a short rotation with minimum financial outlays offers a possible solution to the current problems. The quality of melaleuca timber is inherently very suitable for high value uses such as furniture, veneer, finger-jointing etc if degrade can be minimised. Defects in the wood may require changes in silvicultural practices and drying regimes need to be developed to cater for relatively high shrinkage of the wood when seasoning.

The current unstable market situation for wood products from forests is a major disincentive and financially more attractive alternatives must be offered if continued conversion of forests to agricultural pursuits is to be avoided. Melaleuca forests provide major environmental benefits to the community in a difficult, sensitive environment but individual commercial growers receive no financial benefit for this community service. Appropriate policies to address this inequity would provide further incentive for private owners to manage melaleuca forests sustainably. The main purpose of this assignment was to visit a range of field sites as a background and to investigate means of improving production and income to farmers from melaleuca. Considerable time was spent reviewing past experimental work with the species and field trips were undertaken to a range of sites (Hon Dat, U Minh Thong, Phu Quoc) to inspect the melaleuca resource. A major presentation was made at a workshop held in Rach Gia on Friday 20th February at which a summary of the ecology, environmental impacts, silviculture of melaleuca was presented. Observations and recommendations were also summarised. A copy of the PowerPoint slides is attached to this report as Appendices 1 (Notes on the ecology of melaleuca forests), 2 (Notes on the environmental impacts of melaleuca forests), 3 (Notes on the silviculture of melaleuca forests), 4 (Comments and conclusions on the melaleuca forests). The need to establish various demonstration areas to illustrate to farmers silvicultural alternatives for managing melaleuca forests was recognised and working plans have subsequently been prepared and are attached to this report as Appendices (Appendix 5 Thinning demonstration, Appendix 6 Spacing demonstration (Nelder wheel), Appendix 7 Mixed acacia/melaleuca stands, Appendix 8 Short term fertiliser trial demonstration). Fact Sheets covering a range of topics will be

For melaleuca forests to be a viable alternative to agricultural pursuits, it is necessary to produce a higher quality log suitable for high quality end use. With improved silviculture, this is a distinct possibility.

Sustainable development of the melaleuca forests can only be assured by implementing appropriate policies and if farmers (who manage 47% of the resource) are assured a stable income.

9

prepared in collaboration with Vietnamese scientists later in the year. At this stage it is envisaged that a Fact Sheet will be prepared for the following topics:

• Acid Sulphate Soils

• Melaleuca Forests (ecology, environment benefits)

• Silviculture of Melaleuca Plantations

• Use of Melaleuca Timber

Field notes The consultant arrived in Vietnam (Hanoi) on Thursday 12th February 2009, held meetings with GTZ staff and other forestry specialists before travelling to Rach Gia arriving Sunday15th February 2009. Five days were spent in Kien Giang in discussions and inspecting field sites of relevance to the assignment prior to a workshop held in Rach Gia on Friday 20th February. The consultant made a major presentation at the workshop. After the workshop further field inspections and discussions with scientists and with others with interests n growing melaleuca. The consultant returned to Australia on 26th February and final report preparation and administrative matters were finalised during March 2009. Wednesday 11th February. Depart Gympie for Hanoi. Thursday 12th February. Arrive Hanoi. Friday 13th February. Meetings with GTZ staff and persons with interests in growing melaleuca (Dr Dart, Mrs Thuy). Saturday 14th February. Travel to Ho Chi Minh City Sunday 15th. Arrive Rach Gia 9:30 am (on flight delayed 3 hours). To Mr Huynh Huu To’s melaleuca plantation, Hon Dat District. Inspection and discussion of thinning melaleuca plantations. Inspection of model farm (Mr Chau/Dr Ly, Binh Giang Village, Hon Dat District) possible project sites for melaleuca silviculture demonstrations. Monday 16th. To GTZ Project Office then to the office of the Vice Director, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) (Mrs Hang). A further meeting was held at Department of Natural Resource and Environment (DNRE) office with Director (Dr Thai Thanh Luom) and Mr Doan Huu Thang (Head of Environment Division). The afternoon was spent visiting furniture factories in Rach Gia assessing the potential for use of melaleuca timber for furniture making. An evening function hosted by the Director of DNRE and Vice Director of DARD. Tuesday 17th. To U Minh Thuong National Park with Project Manager (Dr Sharon Brown) and Mr To. Meeting with Director of the Park (Mr Huong) and inspection of the park. Inspection of plots established to record recovery of vegetation after a serious fire in 2002 (3200 ha burnt). Discussions about historical and contemporary significance of the park, management, visitor usage, water management, activities in the park buffer areas.

10

Wednesday 18th. To Dong Hung B Commune, An Minh District with Project Manager and Mr To. Meeting with Vice Chairman (Mr Le Hoang Nhau) of the People’s Committee, Vice Secretary (Mr Chau Van No), Mr Ha Minh Tuan (Director, Pho Hoa Furniture Co.) and Mr Huynh Van Duan (successful farmer). The district has a population of 7971 people but is very poor. The local economy is based on fishing, forestry, agriculture, trade and ecotourism. Visit integrated farming, forestry, processing enterprise belonging to Mr Huynh. Visited 11A Hamlet, Dong Huang B Commune with 40 small sawmills along canal bank cutting mainly acacia and employing 195 persons supporting 50 families. Visit Van Sang Hamlet, Dong Hung B Commune. Mrs Le Thi Loc and Mr Le Van Lanh manage an area of mixed acacia/melaleuca stands. It would be of interest to establish a demonstration area to in this stand to examine the productivity of mixed versus pure stands. Four possible treatments might be: 1. remove all melaleuca; 2. remove all acacia; 3. retain all melaleuca and acacia and; 4. thin (in proportion to standing basal area for each species) both melaleuca and acacia to leave a total standing basal area equivalent to treatment 1 (melaleuca retained). Thursday 19th. To Mr Luom’s farm, Hon Dat District with Mr To to inspect melaleuca species/hybrids trial. Three hybrids (Melaleuca cajuputi (Hon Dat) x M. leucadendra (Wiepa); (Melaleuca cajuputi (Vinh Hung) x M. leucadendra (Wiepa); (Melaleuca cajuputi (Vinh Hung) x M. leucadendra (Wiepa) F2; and 2 pure species (M. leucadendra (Wiepa) and M cajuputi (Hon Dat) are being tested in 6 replication. The trial was established in 7.2002 (now 6.5 years) and overall the best treatment has been the F2 treatment but some excellent, well developed individual trees are present especially in the M. leucadendra treatment.

Fire recovery plot, U Minh Thuong NP

Mixed acacia/melaleuca stand, Dong Hung

M. leucadendra 6.5 years, Hon Dat

11

Visit Hon Dat Forestry Enterprise (Director, Mr Phuc and Vice-director Mr Do Quyen). Melaleuca plantation 2900 ha – mainly M. cajuputi but some fast growing M. leucadendra along canal banks. Soils are Severe Acid Sulphate Soils which are inundated to a depth of 50 cm for a period of 3 months. The Forest Enterprise has been established for 7 years (2002) and follows on from the earlier 30,000 ha Kien Tai development (1992-2000) of the area. The Forest Enterprise manages the water levels (by pumping in water during the dry season and opening bunds during the wet season). Basic silviculture prescriptions involve planting melaleuca seedlings at 20-25,000 per ha, tending (cutting grass, pruning and culling) until age 3 years. Thinning to 8-10,000 stems is carried out after age 3 years. Friday 20th. A major presentation was made at a project-organised workshop in Rach Gia. PowerPoint slides presented by the consultant are attached as handouts as Appendices; Appendices 1 (Notes on the ecology of melaleuca forests), 2 (Notes on the environmental impacts of melaleuca forests), 3 (Notes on the silviculture of melaleuca forests), 4 (Comments and conclusions on the melaleuca forests). Note -MS WORD summary only – maps, pictures, graphs, tables not included in order to minimise file size of this document. Saturday 21st February. Travel to Duong Dong. Inspect natural stands of melaleuca (Phu Quoc provenance widely tested in species/provenance trials in An Giang and Kien Giang). Assemble notes and papers. Sunday 22nd February. Travel to Rach Gi then to Ho Chi Minh City. Monday 23rd February. Report preparation and discussions with Mrs Thuy, a very large melaleuca grower from An Giang province. Tuesday 24th February. Visit to Forest Science sub-Institute of Vietnam. Discussions with Mr Tran Thanh Cao (Vice Director) and Mr Vu Dinh Huong (following discussions with Mr Nguyen Quang Trung (Deputy Director FSSIV) at the Rach Gia workshop) to discuss research concerning melaleuca being undertaken and planned by staff at this institute. Wednesday 25th February. Depart Vietnam. The consultant returned to Australia arriving Thursday 26th February 2009.

M. cajuputi 7 years old at Hon Dat Forest Enterprise

12

Discussion Melaleuca forests cover only a small proportion of the Mekong Delta (0.5%) but they play a very important role in local economies and confer considerable environmental, social and cultural benefits to the region. Of the six provinces of the Mekong Delta, Kein Giang ranked third (24,421 ha) in 2006 in terms of the extent of production melaleuca forest, behind Long An (60,881) and Ca Mau (29,760) (Nguyen Quang Trung 2008). Production forests comprise 3.9% of the total area of Kien Giang. The majority of the soils available for production forests in Kien Giang are Severe Acid Sulphate Soils, which are inundated to various depths (30-60 cm) for between 3 and 6 months per year. Most of the soils are Actual Acid Sulphate Soils (as opposed to Potential Acid Sulphate Soils). Given these extremely hostile edaphic conditions, Melaleuca is the only genus with species suitable for producing timber without extensive site disturbance and the associated environmental damage almost certain to result. Melaleuca cajuputi ssp cumingiana is the endemic melaleuca but numerous species/provenance trials have demonstrated that M. leucadendra is more productive and has performed well in a range of situations. Selection and deployment of the better M. leucadendra provenances will contribute to improved productivity and profitability for local farmers. Germplasm is available in Kien Giang but promoting the use of improved genetic material needs to be undertaken after availability and price of seed/seedlings is determined. The financial risk associated with growing melaleuca forests for pole production is high. The unstable price structure of melaleuca poles (price for Pole 5 – second class has dropped from 15,000 to 11,000 VND between 2003 and 2006 (Nguyen Quang Trung 2008) and as a result many farmers are clearing their forests and converting to agricultural pursuits (rice growing). This conversion is generally accompanied with a significant cost to the environment. In addition, the soils are often sub-optimal for rice and poor yields can result. While currently, there is no recompense to the private grower or Forest Enterprise for environmental services or social benefits for establishing and managing melaleuca forests for pole production, which are marginally profitable at best, land use conversions are likely to continue unless improved genetic material and silvicultural technology are introduced and new and more lucrative markets established. The productivity of cajuputi plantations with sub optimal management ranges from 4 to 13 tonnes/ha compared with 4 to 30 tonnes/ha for industrial plantations of other hardwood and softwood species (Simpson 1995). These data suggest that while inherent limitations may limit site productivity, quite productive plantation can be grown and if selected genetic material and improved silvicultural techniques are employed, it should be possible to improve productivity (and profitability) to more acceptable levels. Melaleuca plantations are unlikely to be cost competitive with industrial plantations of acacia or eucalypts in moist rainfall zones growing on soils with no drainage or nutritional limitations. The bulk of these plantations are currently grown for relatively low value wood chip production. Because of the costs of

13

growing, harvesting and debarking (hand labour) and its low value (380 VND/kg (ca. 0.5 x 106 VND/m3?)) melaleuca is not a viable alternative if competing in the chip market. There are however increasing incentives and interest in growing material for high value markets such as sawlogs and veneer logs. Melaleuca timber is attractive and suited for high value end uses such as furniture manufacture. The major limitations are the small log size available and the high shrinkage of the timber. Small log size results in very low recovery after milling and a high proportion of the less desirable juvenile wood. The persistent practice of planting extraordinarily high numbers of seedlings per unit area (10,000 to 20,000 seedlings/ha) and thinning to 5000 stems/ha after age 3 years results in stands with thousands of small, low value stems at rotation age, commonly 7 years. Currently rainforest timbers cost furniture manufactures between 18 and 60 x 106 VND per m3 depending of species, up from 8 to 10 x 106 VND per m3 in 2004. Given the increase in area of conservation and protection forests and the global move towards forest certification, the price of rainforest timbers is expected to escalate. There is an apparent opportunity for growers of melaleuca to capitalise on the growing demand for solid timber for high quality use. While rainforest timbers will command premium prices, there is currently a large difference in prices (1 to 10 vs 18 to 60 x 106 VND per m3 for melaleuca vs rainforest timber). Producing larger size melaleuca logs will make it more competitive in this high value market. There are however, move by some growers of eucalypts (especially in South America) and acacia to also move into the high value timber markets. While competition in the replacement of rainforest timbers will increase, it is anticipated that economically attractive, niche markets for melaleuca sawn wood can be developed. The slump in woodchip prices and building activity as a result of the current global economic crisis will adversely impact on high value timber markets. Never-the-less, targeting high value markets with silvicultural regimes designed to produce sawlogs in a relatively short rotation would seem to offer a much more positive outlook for melaleuca plantations with a better chance of being economically viable rather than relying on an unstable pole market or low value products such as firewood, charcoal or woodchips. If sawlog regimes are to be a preferred option, silvicultural research is urgently required to address questions not addressed in earlier research programs aimed essentially at growing melaleuca for small poles. Radically different regimes need to be tested and demonstrated. Foremost amongst the areas needing to investigated are the matters of spacing and thinning to produce fewer large, defect free size trees per unit area. A thinning trial has already been set up as a demonstration by the project in a 5 year old stand of cajuputi at Hon Dat (Establishment Report

Thinning trial, Hon Dat (1,000 stems/ha)

14

available from Mr To). Treatments test thinning from 20,000 to 8,000 4,000 2,000 or 1,000 stems per/ha. No records of any spacing trials covering a wide range of planting spacings were located. It is suggested that a systematic design spacing trial be established to determine the optimum spacing for a saw log regime. The practice of planting 10,000 to 20,000 stems/ha seems unnecessarily extravagant, especially if improved (more expensive) genetic material is to be deployed. Establishing a Nelder Wheel/Fan would serve as an ideal means of demonstrating the effect of spacing on the development of individual trees. A Working Plan for such an experiment will be prepared in the near future. Test spacings should be in the range 1,000 to 10,000 stems/ha and M. leucadendra should preferably be used as the test species. A uniform area (possibly on Mr Chau, Mrs Ly’s model farm) should be selected and prepared for planting July 2009. Fertilising can promote growth responses but response depends on the site and the type, rate and timing of fertiliser application. The economics of fertiliser use need to be understood. Establishing a simple short rotation (line plots) fertiliser trial would serve to demonstrate the advantage (or not) of applying fertiliser at establishment of a melaleuca plantation. A simple factorial trial testing elements N, P and K plus or minus lime would provide valuable information for preparation a silvicultural manual on aimed at communicating improved sawlog silviculture. During field visits a well developed mixed stand of melaleuca/acacia was inspected in Van Sang hamlet, Dong Hung B commune. The trees of both species were very healthy. While mixed species are not common in Kien Giang, this stand represented a possible alternative silvicultural regime for selected sites. It would be of interest to use this stand as a demonstration of a mixed species stand and to possibly monitor manipulation of stand components. The possibility should be investigated of establishing four treatments (1. Control, 2. Remove acacia, 3. Remove melaleuca, 4. Thin both acacia and melaleuca (proportionate to standing basal areas) to leave same standing basal area as treatment 2) will provide interesting data on the development of mixed stands and provide a experimental base for further (university based?) studies. Sustainable management of the melaleuca forests of the Mekong Delta should be seen as a priority for economic, environmental, cultural and social reasons for the local people as well as the much wider community. How these priorities can be met is beyond the scope of this assignment but improving the productivity and profitability of the forests is a key link in helping achieve this objective. Not only are melaleuca forests benign in terms of environmental degradation/management,

Mixed melaleuca/acacia stand at

Van Sang hamlet, Dong Hung B commune

15

they provide a significant carbon sink and beneficially impact on climate change. Quantifying the contribution of these forests to the global carbon cycle would help in guaranteeing the future of melaleuca forests in Kien Giang.

Conclusions

• Melaleuca forests provide a key role in the economic, environmental, social and cultural activities in Kien Giang.

• Sustainable management of these forests will depend on policy decisions and increasing productivity and improving, at low risk, the economic attractiveness of plantations.

• Targeting high value markets with silvicultural regimes designed to produce sawlogs in a relatively short rotation would seem to offer a much more positive outlook for melaleuca plantations with a better chance of being economically viable rather than relying on an unstable pole market or low value products such as firewood, charcoal or woodchips.

• A range of research/demonstration initiatives has been proposed to address (in part) the inadequacy of scientific data for high value silvicultural regimes for melaleuca plantations.

• Quantifying the contribution of melaleuca forests to the global carbon cycle would help in guaranteeing the future of melaleuca forests in Kien Giang.

Summary of proposed future actions Proposals have been made for several trials to be established to demonstrate to a wide audience various silvicultural options. These demonstrations have been kept relatively simple and designed for a limited budget and essentially target sawlog regimes for which no or very limited scientific data are available. Four activities are summarised below:

• Fact Sheets provide to a wide audience an easily readable summary of various topics. It is proposed that the consultant, together with Vietnamese scientists draft a set of Fact Sheets concerning melaleuca forests in the Mekong Delta. Topics being considered are: Acid Sulphate Soils of the Mekong Delta Melaleuca Forests (ecology, environment benefits) Silviculture of Melaleuca Plantations Use of Melaleuca Timber

• Thinning trial at Hon Dat. Mr To has recently established a thinning trial (5 replications of 5 treatments) on his property at Hon Dat. Net plots need to be established in each of the treatment areas and establishment measures are

16

required. An Establishment Report documenting in detail the procedures used to establish the trial and summarising the initial measure data is required.

• It is proposed that a spacing trial (Nelder Wheel/Fan) be established to demonstrate the impact of plant espacement of growth, form and possibly wood properties of individual trees. The consultant will develop a Working Plan for this trial in the near future. Preliminary site inspections should be undertaken and planning should proceed with aim of planting the trial in June 2009.

• It is recommended that a simple, short term fertiliser (and lime) trial be established to demonstrate the benefits of use of fertiliser and soil amendments in establishing melaleuca plantations. The consultant will prepare a Working Plan proposal for this trial in the near future with the view of the trial being established in June 2009.

• Investigation of mixed species stands for selected sites would be of interest. A stand suitable for this investigation has been identified in Dong Hung B commune. Relatively little cost should be involved in establishing four observation plots to examine manipulation of melaleuca/acacia mixtures.

• Some information is available (Simpson 1995 and at FSSIV) on biomass production in melaleuca (cajuputi) forests. Review of data available and collection of additional mensurational data (especially data relevant to intensive silvicultural regimes designed to produce high quality logs), nutrient and carbon analysis etc. will provide a basis for quantifying the role of melaleuca forests in sequestering carbon and climate change. This information will be of value in supporting the sustainable management of these forests.

17

References Anon. 1999. Afforestation technology on acid sulphate soils in the Mekong Delta. Proceedings of a seminar organised by JICA and FSSIV, Ho Chi Minh City, 20-22 December 1999. Chung Vi Tri. 1992. Development of melaleuca forests on ecosystems in the Long Xuyen Quadrangle, time mark 1965-1986. Project report prepared by resource and Environment Centre, FIPI, Hanoi. 22pp. Nguyen Quang Trung. 2008. Melaleuca timber resource potential and its use orientation in Kien Giang. FSIV report to Vietnam-German Cooperation Program – Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve Project. 33 pp. Simpson, J.A. 1995. The melaleuca research program and results to date. In papers compiled by Poynton, S.A. and Simpson, J.A. from the National Technical Workshop ‘Forestry Based Development of the Long Xuyen Qudrangle, Mekong Delta, Vietnam’. Held in Long Xuyen, An Giang province, Vietnam 3-5 August 1995. Sponsored by AusAID and Mekong River Commission. 19 pp.

18

APPENDIX 1

Presentation (.ppt) 1

Notes on the Ecology of Melaleuca

NOTE: In order to limit file size, photographs, maps, graphs and speaker notes have not been included – copy of full presentation held by Project Office, Rach

Gia

19

Notes on ECOLOGY, SILVICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT

of MELALEUCA forests

ECOLOGY

Chapters

� Background

� Ecology � taxonomy, Distribution, Ecosystems, Values, Growth season, Fire

� Environmental impacts

� Silviculture � Species selection, Site selection, Establishment, Growing, Harvesting

� Comments & recommendations

Background - Melaleuca forests

� Functions and values � Breeding area for waterfowl � Coastal and stream protection � Sediment filter � Reduce acidity (Al and S) � Supplies food, fuel wood, timber, tannins, oils, potable water � Threats and Impacts � Severely degraded during wars - significant recovery � Difficult Inundating Acid Sulphate Soils � Salt water intrusion through loss of mangroves � Pollution from human activities (chemicals, sewerage, fertiliser, erosion) � Planned upstream hydro electric schemes � Conflict in upstream water resource allocation � Conservation Efforts � Promoting conservation under the Ramsar Convention � Vietnamese government promoting community awareness and cooperation

20

ECOLOGY

� Taxonomy � Distribution of timber species � Melaleuca ecosystems � Values (trees, forests, environmental) � Season of growth � Fire � ____________________________________________________________

TAXONOMY

� Family - Myrtaceae (also Eucalypts) � Leptospermum alliance (bottlebrushes, paperbarks, tea trees) � 17 genera in the alliance Main genera include Melaleuca, leptospermum,

callistemon ______________________________________________________________

Melaleuca forests in Australia

� 170 species, 29 sub-species, 8 varieties, 2 formas and 1 hybrid

� Size - small shrub to large tree

� Timber species M. leucadendra, M. quinquenervia, M. argentia, M. cajuputi ______________________________________________________________

Melaleuca

� Local species: Melaleuca cajuputi Powell subsp. cumingiana (Turez.) Barlow MS

� Other subsp. cajuputi MS and platyphylla Barlow MS

� From ; Barlow (1987) Proc. Ecol. Soc. Aust. 15: 239-247.

Distribution of M. cajuputi

______________________________________________________________

Melaleuca Ecosystems

� Range - tropics to alpine areas, humid coastal to arid regions

� Occurs as: � Individual trees in mixed stands as ground cover, shrub or in the intermediate, co

dominant or dominant canopy � Pure stands – some species tolerate ASS and inundation � Some species compete well on difficult sites (e.g. M. cajuputi)

______________________________________________________________

21

Melaleuca Ecosystems Australia

______________________________________________________________

Melaleuca Ecosystems Vietnam

______________________________________________________________

Uses for Melaleuca

� Trees: Posts, poles, sawlogs, firewood, fencing, oils, dyes, artistic use (flowers, bark pictures, ornamental plantings)

� Forests: Honey, fish etc, birds, potable water, recreation, handicraft materials, medicinal plants,

� Environment: Aesthetics, biodiversity, soil protection (ASS and erosion), storage and renovation of fresh water, site renovation, flood mitigation, coastal protection

______________________________________________________________

Wood Properties M. leucadendra

� Sap yellowish - hart pinkish-grey

� Interlocked grain, hard, fairly heavy (725-800 kg/m3), strong, durable, not Lyctus susceptible

� Prone to checking (high tangential and radial shrinkage)

� Dulls saw teeth

� Difficult to plane, glues well, good jointing and polish

� Good firewood ______________________________________________________________

Conservation of Melaleuca Forests

� Document history and distribution of Melaleuca forests � Quantify site characteristics � Flora/fauna stocktake � Identify conservation areas and key features � Research (Successional changes, season of tree growth, fire, etc) � Prepare Management Plans (to prioritize and manage key features) ______________________________________________________________

22

Season of Growth

DBH Measurement - Dendrometer Band ______________________________________________________________

Season of

Growth

Inundation vs DBH increment

Fire and Melaleuca

� Sensitive to fire

� Areas prone to fire

� Survival strategies – � hold seed in woody capsules � heavy seed produces, small seed � 2000 - 3000 viable seed/gram) � very viable seed (wheat field regen) � some species form lignotubers � corky/paperybark to protect epicormic buds.

______________________________________________________________

Fire and Melaleuca ______________________________________________________________

Regeneration after Fire ______________________________________________________________

Fire ______________________________________________________________

Conclusion

� Melaleuca - a large and interesting genera � Some species suited to very difficult sites � Local species M. cajuputi ssp cumingiana � Local Melaleuca forests have many uses � Desirable wood properties � Little undisturbed native forest left � Sensitive to fire � No clear relation between increment and inundation ______________________________________________________________

23

APPENDIX 2


Notes on the Environmental Impacts of Melaleuca Forests

NOTE: In order to limit file size, photographs, maps, graphs and speaker notes have not been included – copy of full presentation held by Project Office, Rach

Gia

24

Notes on ECOLOGY, SILVICULTURE and ENVIRONMENT


ENVIRONMENT

______________________________________________________________

Environmental Issues

� Water quality (status, trends and downstream impacts)

� Effect of drying on soil pH

� Seasonal changes in water pH/EC

� Water Quality ______________________________________________________________

Water Quality

Melaleuca forests provide environmental benefits including:

� Suitable habitat for birds and fish � Prevent acidification of topsoil and surface water � Storage and renovation of water � Flood and erosion mitigation

______________________________________________________________

Effects of Soil Drying on Soil pH

� Important to understand the effect of managing water levels in Melaleuca forests on edaphic conditions (pH, Al, Mn toxicity, nutrient imbalances. ______________________________________________________________

Effect of drying of soil pH Sulphitic layer (80-120 cm)

______________________________________________________________

Water Quality

� Management of oxidation/reduction within the soil is critical in controlling water quality.

� ASS have potential to release large acid loads into the environment.

� Well understood and well researched.

� 3 contrasting sites monitored for 15 months as part of the LX project ______________________________________________________________

25

Seasonal Changes in Water Quality

(Average of monthly records for 15 months) ______________________________________________________________

Water Quality

� Higher water pH recorded in ponded forest. � Water pH in non ponded areas was low and relatively constant over the period. � By Australian standards, water from ponded area suitable for many uses but

water from non-ponded area was unsuitable for wide range of uses. � Water pH was positively related to depth of inundation.

______________________________________________________________

Conclusions

� Difficulties with managing ASS well recognized and well researched by Vietnamese researchers.

� Melaleuca is one of the few tree species that can grow successfully of these difficult sites and yield many commercial, non-commercial and environmental benefits.

� Important to understand Melaleuca ecosystems and their ‘on’ and ‘off’ site impacts when planning and implementing development schemes.

______________________________________________________________

26

APPENDIX 3


Notes on the Silviculture of Melaleuca Forests

NOTE: In order to limit file size, photographs, maps, graphs and speaker notes have not been included – copy of full presentation held by Project Manager, Rach Gia

27

Notes on ECOLOGY, SILVICULTURE and ENVIRONMENT


Part 3 – Silviculture ______________________________________________________________

Melaleuca Plantations - Silviculture

� Main considerations prior to establishing Melaleuca forests include: � Biodiversity aspects (Conservation vs production forests) � Site availability � Species selection and performance � Environmental impacts � Outputs and markets � Economics ______________________________________________________________

Silviculture of Commercial Melaleuca Forests

� Stands derived from natural regeneration or seed sowing

� Plantations ______________________________________________________________

Silviculture

� Site selection

� Species selection

� Planting stock

� Tree spacing

� Site preparation

� Weed control

� Fertilising

� Thinning and Pruning

� Yields (inc. biomass, volume functions)

� Harvesting ______________________________________________________________

Site Selection

� Land availability

� Location (Proximity to markets)

� Topography

� Climatic conditions (Rainfall, temperature)

� Edaphic conditions (soil type, fertility, depth and duration of inundation, sulphate, salinity, extent of degradation, etc)

� Economic conditions (land cost/rent, production, rotation, markets) ______________________________________________________________

28

Soils

� Best soils used for agriculture

� Soil Taxonomy (Difficult, widely used, based (in part) on severity and depth to sulphuric and sulphitic layers)

� 78% of Triton District ASS (40% severe, 24% moderate, 13% slight – Salinity a problem near coast)

� Depth and duration of inundation ______________________________________________________________

Acid Sulphate Soils ______________________________________________________________

Inundation ______________________________________________________________

Site Factors vs tree growth

Volume MAI (m3ha/yr) = -9.564 +1.111 Soil +0.00058 Stocking +1.106 Flood height +4.715 Area -0.6801 Area squared (R2 = 0.52) Soil code = Subjective 1-9 worst to best Flood 1 = shallow - 3 = very deep Area 1 to 8 for different forest areas

______________________________________________________________

Silviculture

� Site selection


� Planting stock

� Tree spacing


� Weed control

� Fertilising



� Harvesting ______________________________________________________________

29

Species Selection

� Options – select species suited to conditions (low cost = low prodn) or modify conditions to suit favored species (high cost = high prodn)

� 3 species trial established 1993 - 5 testing: � 8 Melaleuca species, � 60 provenances (8 from VN) and � 2 Asteromyrtus sp.

______________________________________________________________

Species trials (Number of provenances) ______________________________________________________________

Species selection Hon Dat - Age 36 months

______________________________________________________________

Species selection Binh Minh - Age 17 months

______________________________________________________________

Species selection Vinh Dieu - Age 18 months

______________________________________________________________

Species selection

� 12 species and 51 different provenances tested at 3 sites

� Hon Dat - Inund 30-60 cm 4-5 mths soil hanSAP (tSAP, sTAP)

� Binh Minh – Inund 150-200 cm 4-6 mths. Soil tSAP

� Vinh Dieu – Inund 30-60cm 6-8 mths. Soil hanSAP (tSAP, sTAP) ______________________________________________________________

Species selection

� Not suitable: Asteromyrtus and M. citrolens, M. stenostachya

� Poor performers: M. dealbata, M. clarksonii, M. quinquenervia and M. viridiflora

� Promising species: M. argentia (deep inundation?), M. fluviatelis and M. saligna

� Best species: M. leucadendra and selected provenances of M. cajuputi ______________________________________________________________

M. leucadendra plantation ______________________________________________________________

30

Silviculture

� Site selection


� Planting stock

� Tree spacing


� Weed control

� Fertilising



� Harvesting ______________________________________________________________

Silvicultural options Planting stock

� Natural seeding � Low cost, variable results, high thinning cost, less production

� Broadcast sowing � Low cost, variable result, high thinning cost, low productivity

� Planting � Expensive, better genetic material, more productive plantations, easier to access

and manage __________________________________________________

Seeding

______________________________________________________________ Nursery Stock

______________________________________________________________

Planting: Season Survival (%) (Means of 16)

______________________________________________________________

Silviculture

� Site selection


� Planting stock

� Tree spacing


� Weed control

� Fertilising



� Harvesting

31

______________________________________________________________

Silvicultural options Planting: Spacing

Mean Height (cm) at age 4 years ______________________________________________________________

Spacing

� Limited data for Melaleuca

� Need to consider establishing trials with systematic designs ______________________________________________________________

Silviculture

� Site selection


� Planting stock

� Tree spacing


� Weed control

� Fertilising



� Harvesting ______________________________________________________________

Site Preparation Mounding

______________________________________________________________

Mounding ______________________________________________________________

Silviculture

� Site selection


� Planting stock

� Tree spacing


� Weed control

� Fertilising



� Harvesting ______________________________________________________________

32

Weed Control ______________________________________________________________

Weed Control ______________________________________________________________

Silviculture

� Site selection


� Planting stock

� Tree spacing


� Weed control

� Fertilising



� Harvesting ______________________________________________________________

Fertilising

� Response depends on:

� Site

� Species

� Type, rate and timing of fertiliser

� Economics important ______________________________________________________________

Fertilising ______________________________________________________________

Fertiliser response - Tra Su ______________________________________________________________

Silviculture

� Site selection � Species selection � Planting stock � Tree spacing � Site preparation � Weed control � Fertilising

� Thinning and Pruning � Yields (inc. biomass, volume functions) � Harvesting

______________________________________________________________

33

Thinning and Pruning

� High value trees (large size) need growing space (fewer large trees vs many small trees)

� Clear (defect free) high value wood may have to prune

� High stocking promotes branch shedding but produces small piece size

� Wide spacing can lead to poor stem form ______________________________________________________________

Silviculture

� Site selection � Species selection � Planting stock � Tree spacing � Site preparation � Weed control � Fertilising � Thinning and Pruning

� Yields (inc. biomass, volume functions) � Harvesting

______________________________________________________________

Volume Tables

� Volume was calculated as: V = 0.45 Basal Area x Height.

� Equations developed to allow reliable estimates of : Total Volume (OB and UB), Merchantable Volumes (ground level to 2, 4 or 6 cm TED - OB).

� Based on DBH, DGL, with or without tree or stand height. ______________________________________________________________

Volume Tables

� Coefficients of Determination for the regressions (equations) ranged from 0.88 to 0.99.

� These volume tables provide a reliable means of predicting OB and UB total stem volumes as well as volumes OB to TED of 2, 4 or 6 cm.

� Tables constrained by the range of tree sizes sampled (max. 10 cm DBH and 10 m tall). ______________________________________________________________

34

Total Volume OB

� Total Volume over bark =

� Intercept -156.89

� Slope +302.84 DBH2

� Coefficient of determination 0.958

� TVOB = - 4551.2 + 151.89 DBH2 + 948.74 Ht + 11.7 DBH2 by Ht (R2 = 0.97) ______________________________________________________________

Yields – Biomass

� Estimate yield of various tree fractions

� Estimate quantities of non-commercial fractions

� Comparison of productivity between different tree species and crops

� Allows estimation of nutrient capital and removals - nutrient balance sheets ______________________________________________________________

Biomass Estimation

� Five Cajuputi stands covering from a range of sites either 4 or 8 years were sampled

� Independent variables: Height and DBH

� Dependent variables: Stem, bark, roots, branch weights ______________________________________________________________

Biomass Equations

� Sound relationships between DBH and dependent variables

� Except for Aerial Roots and Dead Branches

� Very high R2 (0.88 - 0.98) for total tree dry weights

� Parameters with R2 make small contribution to total biomass ______________________________________________________________

Biomass Productivity

� Above ground productivity 29 - 104 t/ha

� Roots concentrated in top 10 cm of soil

� Only 7 - 18% of biomass is below ground

� Annual production is 3 and 13 t/ha/an cf. up to 30 t/ha/an for high productivity Eucalypt forests ______________________________________________________________

35

Biomass Comments

� Overall productivity of the better Melaleuca forests compares well with some intensively managed industrial plantations

� Seems to be considerable room for improvement in productivity through improved silviculture

� These data very useful for establishing the carbon footprint of Melaleuca forests ______________________________________________________________

Yields

� Lot of inventory data available for Cajuput forests but silvicultural management of these forests may have been sub-optimal.

� There are now available intensively managed rotation aged Leucadendra forests in the An Giang (at least) which could provide more relevant productivity data

� Productivity data collected from pole stands may not be relevant to stands managed specifically for sawlogs. ______________________________________________________________

Silviculture

� Site selection � Species selection � Planting stock � Tree spacing � Site preparation � Weed control � Fertilising � Thinning and Pruning � Yields (inc. biomass, volume functions)

� Harvesting ______________________________________________________________

Harvesting

� Usual practice is clear falling

� Small piece size easily handled manually

� Maybe an interest in integrated regimes - post/poles from thinnings and select trees carried to longer rotation for sawlogs

� Sawlog regimes will require a greater degree of mechanization in harvest ______________________________________________________________

36

______________________________________________________________

Concluding Comments

� Producing small piece size material maybe profitable but the market is unstable.

� Processing small piece sizes for high value end products (veneer, sawnwood) is currently uneconomic.

� There is a large future market for high value timber (supply vs. demand) and this equates to large piece sizes.

� Melaleuca is particularly suited to the environment in the Mekong Delta but a lot more silvicultural research required to define optimum silvicultural regimes.

37

APPENDIX 4


Observations, comments and conclusions

NOTE: In order to limit file size, photographs, maps, graphs and speaker notes have not been included – copy of full presentation held by Project Manager, Rach

Gia

38

APPENDIX 5

ESTABLISHING A NELDER WHEEL TRIAL WITH MELALEUCA Introduction Melaleuca are very important commercial tree species for the inundating Acid Sulphate Soils of the Mekong Delta. There is little information available on the effects of planting spacing on the growth and development of Melaleuca species in Vietnam. Nelder Wheel/Fan trials provide a simple, efficient means of collecting data on the impact of a wide range of stocking rates on tree growth and development. The trials are easy to establish, very economical on stock requirements and maximise information obtained from a minimum land area. However, the site must be uniform, survival must be close to 100% and the trial well maintained. Where there are site constraints, the field layout can be altered to accommodate site limitations (e.g design can be split into quarter or half circles). Design The design recommended consists of planting trees at ever-increasing distances apart, commencing near the centre, along the spokes of an imaginary wheel. Suggested that 20 spokes form the imaginary wheel and trees be planted at the following radial distances from the centre of the wheel: - 1.0, 1.3, 1.75, 2.42, 3.43, 4.95, 7.32, 10.65, 15.77 and 23.46 m The trees at 1.0 and 23.46 m are isolation (guard) trees and are not measured. The 8 measure trees represent stockings of 63463, 31491, 15127, 7073, 3170, 1477, 679 and 303 stems/ha. Details shown in table attached. Establishment Select a uniform area 50 m by 50 m (alternatively two area 50 m by 25 m). It is vitally important that these areas are uniform and suitably buffered from any drainage line. Cultivate the entire area and eliminate any grass or competition.

39

Broadcast apply phosphorus fertiliser at the rate of 100 kg/ha elemental P. Arrange supply of plants – say 250 Melaleuca leucadendra (allows for 50 refills). Mark out the area for planting. Establish a base line (diameter) and peg the centre point. Attach 2 wires or ropes to the centre peg in such a way that they are free to swivel about the peg. Mark each rope with paint at the points corresponding to the distances apart for each plant (i.e. 1.0, 1.3, 1.75, 2.42, 3.43, 4.95, 7.32, 10.65, 15.77, 23.46 m). On each rope, attach a peg at the last mark to allow the rope to be stretched tightly along the ground. Join the two end pegs with a piece of rope the length of the side distance for the last tree (i.e. 7.34 m). One long rope is stretched along the base line and the second rope along the next spoke. Plants are then put in against each mark. The base line rope is then moved across the second rope, which is left in place, and the triangle stretched tight again. The first rope is then repositioned as the third spoke. This leap-frogging process is repeated until the whole area is covered. Excess plants should be planted adjacent to the site and used as refills as needed. Regular inspection is necessary, as the need for 100% survival cannot be stressed too strongly. For each missing tree measures from all surrounding trees (8 in total) must be discarded. With only 160 measure trees to start with there is really for mortality. Measure and Maintenance Measure tree height after planting and at 3, 6, and 12 months and biannually thereafter. DBH to be recorded as soon as trees exceed 2 m high. Tree form should be recorded on a subjective scale at the time DBH measures commence. Consideration should be given to form pruning as tree age but records of the extent of any pruning should be kept. The site should be kept weed free if possible. If this is not possible it is important that as a minimum, a meter wide strip along each row be kept free of competition.

40

Details of proposed Melaleuca Nelder Wheel trial

Radial dist 1 1.3 1.75 2.42 3.43 4.95 7.32 10.65 15.77 23.46

Area 0.157570507 0.317552185 0.661053926 1.413791307 3.154492818 6.768875531 14.72996584 33.02506993 73.77161304

In distance 0.3 0.45 0.67 1.01 1.52 2.37 3.33 5.12 7.69

Out distance 0.45 0.67 1.01 1.52 2.37 3.33 5.12 7.69 11.54

Side distance (Curvilinear, along arc) 0.408407045 0.549778714 0.760265422 1.07756628 1.555088364 2.299645822 3.345796176 4.954291615 7.370176365

Side distance (straight line) 0.406729609 0.547520628 0.757142811 1.07314043 1.548701204 2.290200568 3.332054105 4.933943027 7.3399051

Stocking 63463.65332 31490.88704 15127.35891 7073.17972 3170.081714 1477.350256 678.8882003 302.8002672 135.5534953

41

Notes on ECOLOGY, SILVICULTURE and ENVIRONMENT of

MELALEUCA forests

Comments and Conclusions ______________________________________________________________

Melaleuca

� Much of the native forest has been lost and remaining natural stands have been put under heavy pressure

� Vietnam is working positively to conserve and manage remnant stands

� Melaleuca is the best (only) timber species suitable for the difficult inundating ASS as it requires minimum site disturbance ______________________________________________________________

Melaleuca

� Melaleuca forests provide many commercial, aesthetic and environmental benefits.

� Market for Melaleuca posts and poles is unstable and piece size too small for economic processing into high value products. Pulp uneconomic.

� Will be a large demand in the future for larger logs for processing into high value products.

� Biomass production from Melaleuca forests (13 t/ha/yr) is acceptable and there is every indication that this can be increased markedly by improved silviculture. ______________________________________________________________

Observations

� Lots of development in Kien Giang since 1996

� Changes in building construction from Melaleuca poles to cement

42

� Decline in prices and profitability of Melaleuca plantations

� Melaleuca forests currently being converted to rice ______________________________________________________________

Conclusions

� My ToR for this visit refers to ‘…..increasing production from improved silviculture….’

� Productivity can be improved by identifying, selecting and planting selected provenances of M. leucadendra or M. cajuputi.

� Desperate need for more silvicultural trials. Representative areas need to be identified and weed control, fertiliser, spacing and thinning trials established ______________________________________________________________

Conclusions

� Acute shortage information on spacing both for short term rotations for poles and for long term rotations designed for high value products.

� Suggest that Nelder or Scotch Plaid designs be considered. ______________________________________________________________

Conclusions

� Thinning trial established on Mr To’s farm will provide valuable data

� Currently furniture timber from rainforests 60-80 x 106 VND per m3

� Price will increase as supply decreases

� Opportunity for Melaleuca timber

� Maybe should be targeting high value markets.

43

______________________________________________________________

Price projections (maybe!!) ______________________________________________________________

Conclusion

�In conclusion THANK YOU for the opportunity to visit such a lovely part of the world.

�I sincerely appreciate all the effort put into making my visit so rewarding technically, culturally and socially.

�Too many people to thank individually. ______________________________________________________________

IMPROVING PRODUCTION AND INCOME TO FARMERS FROM MELALEUCA … · Improving production and income to...

Documents

Transcript of IMPROVING PRODUCTION AND INCOME TO FARMERS FROM MELALEUCA … · Improving production and income to...