Milling demonstration

The coconut palm is the ‘tree of life’ for people of the Pacific Islands. In Kiribati, coconut trees play an important role in providing food, building materials, health supplements and protection of fragile coastal areas against the impacts of extreme climatic and natural processes that small atoll island countries frequently face. The Government of Kiribati recognizes the multiple benefits provided by the “tree of life” and is committed to protect and sustainably manage its coconut palm resources.

Mr. Tianeti Ioane, the Acting Director of the Agriculture and Livestock Division explained. ”The broad policy agenda of the Government is to assess existing old or senile coconut palm resources, efficiently convert these coconut palms into timber and undertake a replanting programme.” During their peak years, coconut trees can bear between 40 and 65 nuts per year. Senile coconut palms refers to trees that bear very few nuts or none at all. Kiribati has a vast resource of senile coconut palms which if developed and managed well, can bring many benefits for resource owners, investors and the Government.

FAO approved initial funding under its Technical Cooperation Programme to assist the Government of Kiribati to support this initiative. Technical assistance targeted three key areas; (i) assessment of the existing senile coconut palm resources; (ii) utilization of coconut palm logs into useable timber; and (iii) build the institutional and technical capacity of the Kiribati Agriculture Department as the regulatory body to oversee sustainable development and utilization of the senile coconut palms. As well as technical assistance, the project provided equipment such as chainsaws, a mobile sawmill, a log arch, a six-tonne vehicle and essential safety equipment. The equipment is mobile for easy transportation, assembly and operation to different locations.

FAO acknowledges the on-going work on senile coconut palm utilization by other regional partners and institutions in building partnerships and expanding networks in Kiribati. FAO cooperated with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community - Applied Geoscience and Technology Division (SOPAC) on resource assessment and mapping work, the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNG UNITECH) Timber and Forestry College (PNGTFC) to support the timber utilization and capacity building.

In August 2014, a two-week sawmill training course was conducted in Tarawa for 10 members of the Agriculture and Livestock Division staff and the Outer Island Councils of Abemama and Abaiang. The training course covered both the theoretical and practical side of timber milling and its focus targeted at building and increasing the knowledge, skills and competencies of the trainees. Through the course, trainees are able to assemble equipment, prepare the logs and safely operate and maintain the equipment for producing quality timber. Milling palm logs in Kiribati is now a reality and can be successfully implemented by the trained staff of the Agriculture Department. The milling exercise produced quality coconut timber and as a consequence, generated a lot of interest within communities, the private sector and the Government. A second and similar training will be conducted in late November early December 2014 on Abaiang island, to re-assess the skills and knowledge-base of each participant. To conclude the capacity building exercise, each participant will be certified as technically qualified and competent sawmill operator.