NEW TREE SEED PROJECTS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Three new projects on tree seed procurement and management of forest genetic resources have recently been launched in the Southeast Asian Region, supported by Danish bilateral funding: "Forest Genetic Resources Conservation and Management Project" (FORGENMAP) in Thailand (1998-2000), "Indochina Tree Seed Programme" (ITSP) covering Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia (1998-2003), and "Indonesia Forest Seed Project" (IFSP) in Indonesia (1998-2002).

Forest Genetic Resources Conservation and Management Project (FORGENMAP)

The FORGENMAP project in Thailand, through strengthening of national institutional capacity, is addressing the following main issues:

• Maintenance, protection and rehabilitation of biological diversity
• Conservation and sustainable management of forest genetic resources
• Establishment of a sustainable supply of good quality seed
• Awareness creation of the need/benefit of using good quality seed.

The project is implemented by the Royal Forest Department (RFD) in Thailand in collaboration with Danagro Adviser, Denmark. FORGENMAP is funded jointly by the Danish Cooperation for Environment and Development (DANCED) and RFD.

Indonesia Forest Seed Project (IFSP)

IFSP aims at strengthening the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Forestry and Estate Crops (MOFEC) at central and provincial level and promoting collaboration between major stakeholders within the tree seed sector in Indonesia.

The major areas for IFSP activities and support are:

• Human resource development
• Specific technical issues (seed procurement, tree improvement, genetic resource conservation)
• Equipment and materials.

The project is implemented by MOFEC in collaboration with Danagro Adviser, Denmark. IFSP is supported by DANIDA, Denmark.

Both projects described above are supported technically by the DANIDA Forest Seed Centre (DFSC), Denmark and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia.

Indochina Tree Seed Programme (ITSP)

ITSP supports institutional capacity building of the national tree seed sectors in Indochina, i.e. Vietnam, Lao PDR and Cambodia, addressing the following main issues:

• Strengthening of national tree seed procurement organizations
• Assistance in establishing a forest seed network in Vietnam
• Development of genetic resource conservation strategies
• Establishment of training programmes.

The programme is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in Vietnam, the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) in Lao PDR and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) in Cambodia, in collaboration with Danida. A central project office has been established in Vietnam and project offices are being established in Vietnam, Lao PDR and Cambodia. The project is supported by DANIDA.

Regional collaboration

Regional collaboration between the three projects was envisaged when the projects were prepared, and the importance given to establishing such a collaboration during the initial phase of the projects is clearly stated in all Project Documents. The first consultation for planning of regional collaboration was held 23-25 March 1999 in Bandung, Indonesia, with participation from Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Indonesia.

The following areas for collaboration, related to tree seed supply, were identified for discussion at the consultation:

• Coordinate Human Resource Development
• Ensure optimal exchange and application of existing knowledge
• Exchange available research results and facilitate joint research activities.

The major outcomes from the consultation were:

• Plans were established for common training courses, study tours, attachments, etc.
• Collaboration was agreed upon on a limited number of well defined technical issues: seed source terminology, definition of seed quality standards and preparation of technical notes on biology and seed handling of a number of important species
• Exchange of project publications and other relevant information.

Representatives of the three projects will meet annually to report on ongoing work and plan for future collaboration. The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for March 2000 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

For further information on the above tree seed projects in Southeast Asia, please find contact addresses for each in the box below: