Đề tài Strengthening Capacity in Forest Tree Seed Technologies Serving Research and Development Activities and ex-Situ Conservation - MS7

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development CARD Project Progress Report 058/04VIE Strengthening Capacity in Forest Tree Seed Technologies Serving Research and Development Activities and ex-situ Conservation MS7: Third Six Monthly Report January – June 2006 1 Project Name Strengthening Capacity in Forest Tree Seed Technologies Serving Research and Development Activities and ex-situ Conservation (No. 058/04VIE) Vietnamese Institution Research Centre for Forest Tree Improvement (RCFTI), Forest Science Institute of Vietnam, Hanoi Vietnamese Project Team Leader Dr Ha Huy Thinh Australian Organisation Ensis. (Joint Venture between CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products and Scion, New Zealand) Australian Personnel Brian Gunn, Khongsak Pinyopusarerk Date commenced 18th April 2005 Completion date (original) February 2007 Completion date (revised) April 2007 Reporting period January – June 2006 Contact Officer(s) In Australia: Team Leader Name: Brian Gunn Telephone: +61 2 62818211 Position: Research Officer Fax: +61 2 62818266 Organisation Ensis Email: Brian.Gunn@ensisjv.com In Australia: Administrative contact Name: Mr Kerry McNamara Telephone: +61 3 95452222 Position: Finance Manager Fax: +61 3 95452448 Organisation CSIRO FFP Email: Kerry.McNamara@csiro.au In Vietnam Name: Dr Ha Huy Thinh Telephone: +84 4 8389813 Position: Director Fax: +81 4 8362280 Organisation Research Centre for Forest Tree Improvement, FSIV Email: rcfti@netnam.vn 2 1 Project Abstract The Government of Vietnam (GoV) has embarked on a massive tree plantation program. By 2010 it plans to establish an additional 5 million hectares of plantations on cleared land, over and above the current plantation estate of one million hectares, plus the equivalent of more than 50,000 hectares of community forests in scattered plantings. The GoV is committed to improving the quantity and quality of tree seed produced from its own seed orchards, which is a more sustainable strategy than depending on imported seed. This project aims at strengthening the capacity of RCFTI and selected regional production centres in forest tree seed technologies through development of a functional tree seed centre. Ensis is the Australian project partner contracted to provide the necessary training. Since the previous Progress Report covering the period from Inception to 30th June 2005, activities have continued to be undertaken largely in accordance with the milestone descriptions under the project document. Key activities undertaken • Seed database installed on RCFTI computer in Hanoi • Seed database operations manual provided in English. • KP - Training course in seed orchard management conducted • Guidelines on seed orchard management provided to RCFTI. . The Government of Vietnam (GoV) has embarked on a massive tree plantation program. By 2010 it plans to establish an additional 5 million hectares of plantations on cleared land, over and above the current plantation estate of one million hectares, plus the equivalent of more than 50,000 hectares of community forests in scattered plantings. The GoV is committed to improving the quantity and quality of tree seed produced from its own seed orchards, which is a more sustainable strategy than depending on imported seed. i project aims at strengthening the capacity of RCFTI and s lected regional production cent in for st ree seed tec n logies through development of a functional tree eed centre. En is is the Australian pr ject partner contracted to provide the necessary training. ince the Second Progress Report covering the period from July to December 2005, activities have continued to be undertaken largely in accordance with the milestone descriptions under the project document. Key activities undertaken • Following installation of licensed software the seed database is now running effectively. • Translation of the seed database in to Vietnamese complete. • Training workshop provided to participants in seed collection and processing. • Establishment of a silvicultural trial to study the impact of thinning and fertilizer application on seed production in Acacia crassicarpa seed production area. 2 Executive Summary This progress report covers the period 1st January to 30th June 2006. The seed database is now operating effectively following the installation of Microsoft Windows software and reinstallation of the seed database. The translation of the seed database manual from English in to Vietnamese is completed. Seed handling forms designed by RCFTI have been printed and are now in use. Mr J Larmour conducted a nine day training course in Vietnam on seed collection and processing between 22 – 30 May 2006. The course was attended by fifteen participants representing various tree seed handling agencies. A silvicultural trial has been set up at Cam Quy, Ba Vi to study the impact of thinning and fertilizer application on seed production in Acacia crassicarpa seed production area. Brian Gunn visited Hanoi and Ba Vi Forest Research Station to review progress with the project. This trip was important in terms of identifying solutions to the issue relating to the seed database, discussing equipment requirements, progress with activities, preparation of reports and plans for the coming six months and beyond. The trip also afforded the opportunity to discuss the project with the management of the Central Seed Company and visit the CARD office. 3 Introduction & Background A summary of the project objectives, outputs and approach is listed below: 3 • A total of 12 Vietnamese staff will participate in one study tour and four training visits to Australia. ƒ Managerial level training – four persons for two weeks at the commencement of the project to study general operation in Australia to include the ATSC, visit seed orchards in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. ƒ Technical staff training – eight staff comprising four groups of two to receive hands-on training and lectures in seed technology associated with field work (seed collection and processing, seed orchard management, seed laboratory training and associated documentation. Training will also cover development of tree breeding strategies, trial design and data analysis of trials associated with seed orchard activities. Techniques to monitor the reproductive biology of key species will also be studied. The understanding of reproductive biology is an important component of understanding outcrossing rates and factors influence quality and quantity of seed production. • Four ensis staff will make a total of 12 visits to Vietnam to work with RCFTI and regional centres over the course of the project. ƒ Project inception meeting followed by visit of field sites and regional collaborators ƒ install the computerised seed database and train staff. This to be undertaken in 2005 with a follow-up visit in 2006 to assess and make modifications to the database to ensure the process is working effectively and data has been correctly entered. ƒ a hands-on training course in seed collection at a pre-determined location (Dongha) for 10 participants and facilitated by ensis staff. Post harvesting seed processing and seed storage requirements, reproductive biology studies will also be covered. ƒ extensive field assessments of seed orchards in the north, centre and south of Vietnam ƒ analyse field data to determine genetic variation within seed orchards and to provide baseline data for thinning based on genetic parameters. ƒ set up experimental plots for silvicultural treatments within one selected seed orchards. Results will have application throughout all seed orchards in the country. ƒ monitor flowering rate and seed production capacity in the sample plots ƒ determine outcrossing rates of seed-orchard seeds to confirm genetic quality ƒ develop breeding strategies for long-term genetic improvement and conservation • Vietnamese staff will be trained how to properly document Seed Centre operations and to use the ATSC seed database, and will discuss with ATSC experts the appropriate modifications to documentations and database, for RCFTI. • RCFTI and ATSC staff will work together to produce a Seed Centre Operations Manual for RCFTI, adapted from the existing ATSC Operations Manual. 4 Progress to Date 4.1 Implementation Highlights Following the initial installation of the seed database under the supervision of Ms Clarke (Ensis), problems were encountered in effectively backing up the data. The issue posed a potential problem of data loss in the furure. After a lengthy exchange of information between RCFTI and Ensis, it was determined that the current software on the RCFTI computer was unsuitable. A licensed version of Microsoft Windows XP Professional and MS Office Professional 2003 was installed followed by the reinstallation of the seed database by Ms Chi. This modification has 4 resulted in the seed database running effectively and able to carry out back-ups. The exercise served to reinforce Ms Chi’s ability to install and enter the information on to the seed database independently. The English version of the Seed database Operations Manual has been translated into Vietnamese and submitted to CARD during this reporting period. A silvicultural trial to study the impacts of thinning and fertilizer application has been established within an existing 9-year-old A. crassicarpa seed production area at Cam Quy, Ba Vi. The treatments include: 1. Control (no thinning and no fertilizer) 2. No thinning + fertilizer (2 kg NPK 16:16:16)) 3. 50% thinning + no fertilizer 4. 50% thinning + fertilizer It is expected that another application of the same fertilizer will be applied during the rainy season in 2006. A training course on Seed collection and processing including tree climbing techniques was presented over a nine day period at Forest Science Institute of Vietnam between 22 – 30th May 2006 by John Larmour of Ensis. 15 participants attended the course as detailed in Appendix I. The course was designed to provide the Vietnamese participants with the skills to successfully harvest seed from trees, process the seed and enter the same in to the store. Strong emphasis was also placed on detailed documentation to support any seed collections especially seed from research trials where individual tree family seedlots were to be kept as pedigree and therefore not mixed. The course highlighted the need to ensure the process was supported by appropriate equipment and maintenance of identity. Practices in the past were sufficient to enable small collections to be made effectively but such practices would not be sufficient to cope with large quantities of seed in which the identity of each collection required to be kept separate and maintained throughout. Participants should now be well aware of the resources required and planning this is required in order to ensure a successful seed collection outcome. Further recommendations for improvements to the RCFTI system are highlighted in the training report. The project leader Brian Gunn, spent one week with staff at RCFTI in Hanoi. The purpose of the visit was to review project activities and hold a PCC meeting with key staff, most notably Dr Thinh. One of the key issues resolved related to the seed database. Other issues discussed included acquisition of equipment, modification to current facilities to meet seed handling needs and preparation of the second progress report and respond to queries from CARD Milestone Appraisals. A trip was also made to Ba Vi to inspect the Acacia crassicarpa seed production area which the RCFTI staff had thinned and applied fertilizer in accordance with a trial design to test the effects of silvicultural management on seed production. 4.2 Smallholder Benefits Activities under the project have related to capacity building within RCFTI. There are therefore no smallholder benefits to report on. 4.3 Capacity Building Training of RCFTI staff has been the key activity within the reporting period as outlined above and in the Logframe. 5 4.4 Publicity The Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia, Mr Nguyen Thanh Tan visited Ensis where he was briefed on the various collaborative activities taking place between Ensis and Vietnamese institutions. Mr Tan was very pleased with the progress of two CARD projects (058/04VIE and 032/05VIE) managed by Ensis. An article titled Progress with CARD project 058/04VIE ‘Strengthening Capacity in tree seed technology R&D’ was published in CARD’s Newsletter No.1, June 2006. 4.5 Project Management The project has been managed within the framework of the Project Proposal. Effective collaboration has been on-going between RCFTI and Ensis. 5 Report on Cross-Cutting Issues 5.1 Environment No issues to report. 5.2 Gender and Social Issues No issues to report. 6 Implementation & Sustainability Issues 6.1 Issues and Constraints The training schedule in tree seed technology and training in seed orchard management could not be undertaken in this reporting period. 6.2 Options Plans are already underway for these training schedules and information development to be prepared in the next reporting period. The tree seed technology course is planned for August while the training in seed orchard management was conducted in July 2006 but will be reported as part of the next reporting period. The postponement of these activities in no way adversely affected the project and in fact have been re-scheduled to accommodate people involved to ensure their availability. 6.3 Sustainability There are no sustainability issues associated with the above options. 7 Next Critical Steps Planned activities over the next six months are to include: • K. Pinyopusarerk to conduct a one week training program in seed orchard management, July 2006 (completed at time of preparing this report). • B. Gunn to conduct laboratory training in seed technology. Planned for August 2006. 6 • Four Vietnamese scientists to receive two weeks training in Australia associated with development of a breeding strategy, develop skills in seed orchard management, trial design and analysis of data. Planned for August 2006. • A genetic framework plan with timelines, accountabilities and responsibilities for implementation by RCFTI to be written • As an outcome from the training workshop on development of breeding strategies for selected tree species, develop a tree breeding strategy for implementation by RCFTI. • RCFTI to implement a training module for provincial forestry department staff related to field aspects of seed handling. • RCFTI to prepare a report on quality and value of training program implemented above • Develop a commercialisation and implementation plan for RCFTI seed distribution. (This is likely to be finalised in early 2007 as part of a planned visit by Pinyopusarerk and Gunn to RCFTI. • Development of a strategy for distribution network for improved seed (This is also likely to be finalised in early 2007 as part of a planned visit by Pinyopusarerk and Gunn to RCFTI) 8 Conclusion The project has been most effective in reaching the required milestones thanks to the very close collaboration between RCFTI and ensis staff. Much of this success can put down to the strong commitment by all concerned to reach successful outcomes. The next six months will be very challenging as the benefits from the training are required to be adopted in the workplace and work is required to be undertaken to co-ordinate and implement extension and outreach activities. 7