W. Samoa to plant more forests

Press, 7 December 1981, Page 20

W. Samoa to plant more forests

By

NEVILLE PEAT,

of

Foreign Affairs, Wellington Western Samoa is increasing its commitment to build forests on marginal land, A new agreement involving an Asian Development Bank loan of $1.74 million and grant, aid . from New Zealand will-increase planting jates on the main island of Upolii and establish a new forest of exotic species on the eastern end of Savai’i, Western Samoa’s second main island. Most of the development in forestry, up to now has been focused on the western end of Savai’i where a big sawmill is using native trees at a rate natural regeneration has no hope of matching. Since 1976 New Zealand has appointed teams of forestry advisers to the Asau (Savai’i) project, has provided training in New Zealand for Samoan staff, and has given machinery, equipment and materials in support of the planting target of 400 ha a year. The Asau project represents. New ■. Zealand’s biggest contribution towards economic development in Western Samoa. Since 1976 New Zealand has also provided Samoa with foresters on long-term assigbmerits to give advice on the direction and form of forestry development. .

New Zealand would contribute $2,757,000 towards a long-term forestry development project in Western Samoa, it was agreed .in October. Expanding on development already under way to establish a sawtimber resource, the project involves join funding by the Asian Development Bank, the Western Samoa Government and New Zealand. New Zealand’s contribution, channelled through the Bilateral Aid Programme, will be spread over the five years, 1981-86.

Mr lan Armitage, formerly of Palmerston North, is the third adviser in this role; As principal adviser in the Forestry Division based in - Apia, Mr Armitage is closely involved with both the Asau project and the planning going into the new phase of development. “The over-all aim-remains ■ to create a saw-timber' resource that will meet future building requirements, in Samoa and contribute to export receipts,” he said. “This' sort of development provides quite a large number of jobs and leads to a better use of land — land which would otherwise have limited agricultural use be- *

cause of its rocky, volcanic nature. Afforestation is going on here in some pretty tough country.” Logging in support of the Asau sawmill has left gaps in the dense native forests of Savai’i. But these ate now being filled up- by fast-growing general-purpose exotics such as Eucalyptus deglupta and Cadanba. Tropical hardwoods such as teak and mahogany are - also being planted. ■ In the forestry draughting office at Vailima, Mr Rod Matthews, is helping establish a mapping and .record system in support of forest management. He and his counterpart, Pau - loane, are drawing maps based on aerial colour photographs. . “The maps will show tree species and age classes, and they will constitute an important management tool for the Forestry Division,” said Mr Matthews. . Besides being a base for timber use and draughting work, Vailima is also a nursery. Present production of about 100,000 seedlings a year will be doubled in anticipation of the increased planting on Upolu. According to Mr Armitage, the nursery will concentrate

on producing species for general building purposes. “That does not mean we have discounted other enduse possibilities, we are keeping options open. Power generation from waste wood is an idea that is being tossed around. “Forestry is now an accepted part of the primaryproduction scene in Samoa and is being given high priority by the Government here as a land-use alternative to agriculture,” said Mr Armitage.