Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development ___________________________________________________________________________ CARD Project Progress Report 033/05 VIE Field evaluation and advanced vegetative mass- propagation technology for scaling up high-value plantations of Pinus caribaea and related hybrids in Vietnam MS3: Second Six Monthly Report September 2006 – February, 2007 Institute Information Project Name Field evaluation and advanced vegetative mass-propagation technology for scaling up high-value plantations of Pinus caribaea and related hybrids in Vietnam Vietnamese Institution RCFTI, Forest Science Institute of Vietnam (FSIV), MARD Vietnamese Project Team Leader Dr Ha Huy Thinh Australian Organisation Forestry Plantations Queensland (Formally trading as DPI Forestry) Australian Personnel Mr Ian Last Date commenced February 2006 Completion date (original) February 2008 Completion date (revised) February 2008 Reporting period 6 months to February 2007. Contact Officer(s) In Australia: Team Leader Name: Ian Last Telephone: +61 (0) 7 5482 0891 Position: Manager, Forest Policy Fax: +61 (0) 7 5482 3430 Organisation Forestry Plantations Queensland Email: ian.last@fpq.qld.gov.au In Australia: Administrative contact Name: Ian Last Telephone: +61 (0) 7 5482 0891 Position: Manager, Forest Policy Fax: +61 (0) 7 5482 3430 Organisation Forestry Plantations Queensland Email: ian.last@fpq.qld.gov.au In Vietnam Name: Dr Ha Huy Thinh Telephone: Office: (84) 4 8389369 Mob: (84) 9120 60717 Position: Director Fax: (84) 4 836 2280 Organisation Research Centre for Forest Tree Improvement, (RCFTI) Email: rcfti@vnn.vn 2 1. Project Abstract The Project seeks to review existing experience with and performance of several tropical conifer species in Vietnam, particularly Caribbean Pine, and to establish further trials of improved genetic material, including hybrids. The project will also provide capacity building for Vietnamese Forest Research institutions relating to Pinus tree improvement and mass propagation systems via training in Queensland and Vietnam, development of small scale hedge and nursery infrastructure, and a study tour to Australia, involving innovative Vietnamese forest managers / researchers. Finally, the project will build awareness amongst large and small-scale forest growers including ethnic minorities, through the establishment of collaborative demonstration plantings in priority regions for Pinus plantation expansion, supported by appropriate training. Key achievements during the 2 nd six-monthly reporting period include: 1. Genetic evaluation trials established to compare performance of locally available and introduced tropical pines in Vietnam (Milestone 4); 2. Further pine seed sent to Vietnam and plants being raised for larger scale demonstration trials (part of Milestone 9); 3. Pilot scale hedge facilities established at 3 sites for the production of Pinus cuttings (part of Milestone 7); and 4. Comparative performance of tropical pines in Vietnam completed including technical report (Milestone 8) 2. Executive Summary Progress during the 2 nd six- month reporting period has been in accordance with the project Logframe. Highlights include: • establishment of genetic evaluation trials at six sites; • completion of pilot scale hedge facilities at three sites; • completion of technical report titled “Review of the Performance and suitability of Pinus caribaea in Vietnam” The Australian project leader and a nursery specialist plan to visit Vietnam in May 2007 to conduct nursery training, to inspect genetic evaluation trials, to discuss plans for larger scale demonstration trials and to generally review progress against all objectives and discuss any emerging issues with Vietnamese partners. 3. Introduction & Background Project objectives, outputs, approach and methodology can be summarised as follows: 3 Objective 1: Identify the most highly productive, well-adapted varieties and hybrids of Pinus caribaea, in comparison to other pine species currently planted, for priority pine planting zones. Output 1.1: Review and report on comparative performance of pines in Vietnam based on existing trials and related information. Output 1.2: Establish genetic evaluation trials to compare performance of locally available and introduced pines on multiple sites throughout key regions in Vietnam. Output 1.3: Review pine genetic resources and related breeding strategies and capabilities / resources in Vietnam, particularly for Pinus caribaea and related hybrids. Objective 2: Provide practical training and support to forest research institutes in Vietnam to enable the development and local adaptation of hedge and containerised nursery systems for the mass propagation of containerised pine cuttings. Output 2.1: Trained personnel able to establish and manage hedge beds, collect and set shoots and raise containerised cuttings. Output 2.2: Locally adapted Nursery Manual and related checklists developed. Output 2.3: Three pilot scale hedge and containerised nursery facilities established and various prescriptions tested. Objective 3: Create improved awareness amongst rural poor smallholders and industrial forest growers in key pine growing regions, regarding the potential performance of improved varieties of Caribbean pine to supply a range of forest products and services via the establishment of demonstration plantings in collaboration with local land owners. Output 3.1: Establish two demonstration trials with large scale forest growers. Output 3.2: Establish community and individual farmer managed plantings in collaboration with local ethnic minority communities. 4. Progress to Date 4.1 Implementation Highlights General  Inception Meeting at Hanoi (15/2/06) attended by over 20 participants  Study tour to Australia by Vietnamese researchers (Jun’06) Objective 1  Output 1.1: Completed. Technical report titled “Review of the Performance and suitability of Pinus caribaea in Vietnam” (in English and Vietnamese) submitted to CARD PMU (Milestone 8)  Output 1.2: Completed. Genetic evaluation trials established at 6 sites. Report to be submitted under Milestone 4.  Output 1.3: Discussions on breeding strategy held during July’06 visit (Dr Dieters). Objective 2  Output 2.1: Nursery training in Queensland completed (May’06). Training in Vietnam scheduled for May’07  Output 2.2: Nursery Manual prepared and circulated. To be reviewed in May’07  Output 2.3: Three pilot scale hedge and nurseries established and first batch of pine cuttings set. 4 Objective 3  Outputs 3.1 & 3.2: Discussions held with local minority people at Dak P’Lao, site of proposed demonstration planting (Feb’06 and Nov’06)  Discussions and inspection (Ngoc Lac) with Thanh Hoa Raw Material Company  Seed for demonstration trials forwarded to Vietnam and plants currently being raised. Trial sites and partners to be finalised during May’07 visit. Detailed implementation progress is recorded in attached Progress Report Logframe 4.2 Capacity Building Australian Study Tour (June’06) was reported in the 1 st six-monthly Progress Report. Additional funding was secured under the ATSE Crawford Fund, an initiative of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. This enabled Miss Nghiem Quynh Chi (one of the key project staff) to visit Queensland for 3 months (late August– late November ‘06) to support project outcomes. Miss Chi participated in a wide range of capacity building activities covering: pine pollination, pine grafting, seed centre management, pine tissue culture, nursery and hedge management, genetic trials inspections, quantitative and molecular genetics theory and, of course, speaking English! 4.3 Training Programs Nursery training (4 participants) in Queensland (May’06) is detailed in the 1 st six-month Progress- report. A draft Nursery Manual (Vietnamese and English) has been provided to participants) and will be revised following scheduled training in Vietnam (May’07), once partners have had more local experience with the techniques. 4.4 Publicity The project was featured in the latest CARD Newsletter (No. 2, December’06). 4.5 Project Management There have been no major issues relating to Project Management. 5. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues 5.1 Environment There have been no major (negative) environmental issues associated with the Project. 5.2 Gender and Social Issues The Nursery Training in Queensland was conducted by women and involved 50% representation by women trainees. The 3-month ATSE Crawford Fund Traineeship provided additional capacity building opportunities for one of the key (female) project staff. Discussions with small holders and ethnic minority groups regarding demonstration plantings are at a formative stage. Smallholder involvement is planned as a year 2 output. 5 6. Implementation Issues 6.1 Issues and Constraints To date, there have been no major issues or constraints. Minor issues relate to:  Incomplete germination of seed forwarded to partners resulted in minor modifications to previously agreed design of genetic evaluation trials.  Lack of site uniformity and patchy survival at some genetic evaluation sites may complicate long-term data analysis.  Patchy survival at for some hedge plants (FRC, Phu Ninh) may reduce number of cuttings produced at this nursery. 6.2 Options Refilling of plants in genetic evaluation trials and nursery hedge plants has occurred to minimise long-term impacts. 7. Conclusion The project is progressing well with most activities either complete or well advanced. The May’07 visit will enable the Nursery Manual to be finalised and progress with setting cuttings and hedge management to be reviewed. It will also enable plans for the demonstration trials to be finalised and some genetic evaluation trials will be inspected. 6 . Institute Information Project Name Field evaluation and advanced vegetative mass-propagation technology for scaling up high-value plantations of Pinus caribaea and related hybrids in Vietnam. 033/05 VIE Field evaluation and advanced vegetative mass- propagation technology for scaling up high-value plantations of Pinus caribaea and related hybrids in Vietnam MS3: Second. building for Vietnamese Forest Research institutions relating to Pinus tree improvement and mass propagation systems via training in Queensland and Vietnam, development of small scale hedge and