Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development Project Progress Report 032/05VIE Sustainable and profitable development of acacia plantations for sawlog production in Vietnam MS9: THIRD SIX-MONTHLY REPORT (MARCH 2007-AUGUST 2007) Friday, September 28, 2007 Table of Contents Institute Information Project Abstract Executive Summary Introduction & Background Progress to Date 5.1 Implementation Highlights 5.2 Smallholder Benefits 5.3 Capacity Building 5.4 Publicity 5.5 Project Management Report on Cross-Cutting Issues 6.1 Environment 6.2 Gender and Social Issues Implementation & Sustainability Issues 7.1 Issues and Constraints .5 7.2 Options 7.3 Sustainability Next Critical Steps Conclusion 10 Statutory Declaration Error! Bookmark not defined Institute Information Project Name Sustainable and profitable development of acacia plantations for sawlog production in Vietnam Vietnamese Institution Forest Science Institute of Vietnam Vietnamese Project Team Leader Dr Ha Huy Thinh Australian Organisation Ensis Australian Personnel Dr Chris Harwood, Dr Sadanandan Nambiar, Dr Chris Beadle, Mr Khongsak Pinyopusarerk Date commenced 1/03/2006 Completion date (original) 31/12/2008 Completion date (revised) Reporting period 1/3/2007– 31/08/2007 Contact Officer(s) In Australia: Team Leader Dr Chris Harwood Name: Principal Research Scientist Position: Organisation Ensis Telephone: Fax: Email: +61-3-62267964 +61-3-62267901 Chris.harwood@ensisjv.com Telephone: Fax: Email: +61-3-95452222 +61-3-95452446 Linda.berkhan@ensisjv.com In Australia: Administrative contact Linda Berkhan Name: Contracts Officer Position: Organisation Ensis In Vietnam Dr Ha Huy Thinh Director, Research Centre for Forest Tree Improvement Organisation FSIV Name: Position: Telephone: Fax: +84-4-8389813 +84-4-8369722 Email: rcfti Project Abstract This project supports the development of profitable smallholder tree plantations in Central Vietnam, growing high-value acacia sawlogs for Vietnam’s solid-wood processing industries The project builds the scientific capacity of the Forest Science Institute of Vietnam (FSIV) to breed acacia varieties most suited to sawlog production, and to conduct applied silvicultural research to support sustainable and profitable plantations It will strengthen the extension capacity of provincial and local forest development authorities to demonstrate optimum growing technologies for the improved acacia breeds, and will help tree-farmer groups to optimise financial and labour inputs to suit their local circumstances Project components include: • Formulation of silvicultural guidelines for sustainable acacia sawlog production • Selection of most appropriate breeds for sawlog plantations in central and northern Vietnam, and planning for further genetic improvement to improve sawlog value • Field trials to compare extensive and intensive silvicultural treatments and determine best technologies to boost productivity, sawlog yields, profitability and sustainability for farmers • Financial models to help growers judge profitability and select best silvicultural methods • Training in Australia and Vietnam for managers, scientists, technicians and extension officers The project activities are described in the Executive Summary and Section Executive Summary The project continued satisfactorily with all the relevant project components completed according to schedule This report covers the period March 1, 2007 to August 31, 2007 The three-week scientists training in Australia (Output 4.2) was conducted in March-April 2007 Six scientists from FSIV were nominated to attend One scientist, Dr Pham The Dung, had to default owing to unforeseen work commitments that arose in Vietnam Five other scientists attended and successfully completed the training in Western Australia and Tasmania These five scientists worked together to produce two separate written trip reports, provided under separate cover as part of this milestone A project training course “Tree Improvement for Acacia Plantations and Silvicultural Techniques for Sawlog Production” was held over the period 11-15 June 2007 at the Southern Forest Science Sub-institute of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City The course was attended by 13 young Vietnamese scientists and forest technicians (11 men and two women), from different branches of FSIV and provincial forestry agencies, all of whom were involved in tree improvement and/or silviculture The course included days of lectures, exercises and discussion and days of field work, visiting genetic and silvicultural research trials, participating in stand management demonstrations, and visiting a sawmill to discuss wood utilization As part of the course, simple pre- and post-course written assessments were conducted, which indicated that the course was well-targeted to the audience and that learning had been effective Follow-up survey of the participants will be conducted after 12 months to determine the extent to which knowledge has been applied by the participants A separate report on the training course is attached One additional demonstration pruning trial was established in a stand of Acacia auriculiformis at the Ba Vi forestry research station in northern Vietnam The report for Milestone 5, Baselines Established, was submitted to CARD in May, 2007 Completion of Milestone 7, Acacia Silviculture Demonstration Trial, will take place in November 2007 when the trial is planted out Substantial preparatory work at the field trial site at the FSIV North-Central Station near Dong Ha, including fencing to protect the trial from interference by livestock, has been undertaken by FSIV during this reporting period Introduction & Background The overall project purpose is to generate and improve incomes for forest growers, particularly poor forest farmers in the rural areas of central and northern Vietnam, through the development of sustainable and profitable acacia plantations for sawlog production The project has formulated “best-bet” silvicultural guidelines for sustainable acacia sawlog production based on Vietnamese and overseas experience It has reviewed progress in acacia genetic improvement in Vietnam with the specific aim of selecting the most appropriate acacia breeds for sawlog plantations in central and northern Vietnam, and will develop a strategy for further genetic improvement to improve acacia sawlog value Further genetic improvement will depend on a better understanding of the quality requirements of Vietnam’s wood-processing industries, which is being obtained through surveys of sawmills and wood manufacturing plants Field trials will be established to compare extensive and intensive silvicultural treatments and to determine and demonstrate best technologies to improve plantation productivity and sustainability, sawlog yields and quality, and profitability for farmers Simple spreadsheetbased financial models will be developed, incorporating existing knowledge and project results, to help extension agents and growers to judge profitability of sawlog regimes for acacia plantations and select the best silvicultural methods for their situations A two-week study tour was conducted in Australia in May-June 2006 for eight for Vietnamese scientists and managers, to expose them to the management and research environments underpinning established sawlog-growing industries More detailed training in silvicultural and genetic research was provided for six FSIV scientists who visited Australia for three weeks in March-April 2007 A training course was conducted in Vietnam in June 2007 for junior scientists and technicians Three further practical training courses are scheduled forest extension officers and tree farmers These courses will emphasise hands-on training in the field and visits to the project’s demonstration field trials Extension materials including written guidelines, posters and audio-visual materials will be produced These materials will be used by extension agents to describe the technology package developed by the project to a wider target audience of tree farmers The scientific capacity of FSIV will be strengthened through acquisition of additional equipment for wood quality analysis Advice has been provided on upgrading FSIV Hanoi laboratory facilities for chemical analysis of soil and plant samples The project will achieve capacity building through a combination of formal and on-the-job training, and at the same time is establishing field trials that will serve as demonstrations of the recommended technologies, provide valuable results in the short term to underpin sawlog growing In November 2007 the project will establish a major experimental trial at Dong Ha, central Vietnam, for long-term studies of plantation sustainability The project incorporates three training courses for forestry extension agents and lead farmers to enable them learn a technology package for acacia sawlog production, and production of written and audio-visual extension materials to support a wider dissemination to tree growers across Vietnam Progress to Date 5.1 Implementation Highlights for the Review Period The three-week scientists training in Australia (Output 4.2) was completed during MarchApril 2007 Six scientists from FSIV were nominated to attend One scientist, Dr Pham The Dung, had to default owing to unforeseen work commitments that arose in Vietnam Five other scientists attended and successfully completed the training in Western Australia and Tasmania They were: • Mr Vu Tan Phuong, Research Centre for Forest Ecology and Environment, FSIV Hanoi • Mr Le Anh Tuan, Research Centre for Tree Breeding and Improvement, FSIV Hanoi • Mr Pham Xuan Dinh, North-Central Research and Production Stattion, FSIV Dong Ha • Mr Dang Thinh Trieu, Silviculture Division, FSIV, Hanoi • Mr Vu Dinh Huong, Forest Science Sub-Institute of Vietnam, Ho Ch I Minh City These five scientists worked together to produce two separate written trip reports, one by Mr Phuong Mr Dinh and Mr Tuan, and the other by Mr Trieu and Mr Huong Their reports are provided under separate cover In addition to the nominated Ensis project scientists, several other Ensis scientists contributed to the training, including Dr Daniel Mendham, Dr Don White, Mr Maurice McDonald and Mr Luke Bukeley A project training course “Tree Improvement for Acacia Plantations and Silvicultural Techniques for Sawlog Production” was held over the period 11-15 June 2007 at the Southern Forest Science Sub-institute of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City The course was attended by 13 young Vietnamese scientists and forest technicians (11 men and two women), from different branches of FSIV and provincial forestry agencies, all of whom were involved in tree improvement and/or silviculture Khongsak Pinyopusarerk of Ensis, Nguyen Duc Kien and Vu Dinh Huong of FSIV were the trainers The course included days of lectures, exercises and discussion and days of field work, visiting genetic and silvicultural research trials, participating in stand management demonstrations, and visiting a sawmill to discuss wood utilization As part of the course, simple pre- and post-course written assessments were conducted, which indicated that the course was well-targeted to the audience and that learning had been effective Follow-up survey of the participants will be conducted after 12 months to determine the extent to which knowledge has been applied by the participants A separate detailed report on the training course is attached One additional demonstration pruning trial was established in a stand of Acacia auriculiformis at the Ba Vi forestry research station in northern Vietnam The report for Milestone 5, Baselines Established, was submitted to CARD in May, 2007 5.1 Smallholder Benefits A few smallholders around the demonstration trials near Hue and Dong Hoi have now been exposed to demonstrations of good silvicultural practice for sawlog production Major benefits will occur later during the project lifetime 5.2 Capacity Building Five senior Vietnamese project scientists received training in Australia on research planning and research methods Thirteen young Vietnamese forestry scientists and technicians received one week’s training in silviculture, genetic improvement and wood utilization relating to acacia sawlog production 5.3 Publicity None during the review period 5.4 Project Management Project management continued to proceed well Planning meetings for the next phases of the project took place in April 2007, when Vietnamese project scientists visited Australia, and in June 2007, when Mr Pinyopusarerk visited Vietnam to lead the training course there Regular contact (several times per month) has been maintained between Ensis and FSIV by e-mail and telephone, throughout the reporting period Funds were transferred from Ensis to FSIV for the training course in June 2007 Report on Cross-Cutting Issues 6.1 Environment No specific issues have arisen during the reporting period 6.2 Gender and Social Issues Gender balance in the scientific and technical staff receiving training in the course of the project has been identified as an issue requiring close attention, but unfortunately suitable women candidates for the training visit to Australia could not be identified Two out of thirteen of the junior scientists participating in the course in Vietnam in June 2007 were women Implementation & Sustainability Issues 7.1 Issues and Constraints No major obstacles to the successful implementation of the project have emerged to date 7.2 Options Not applicable – project is proceeding as planned 7.3 Sustainability No major issues Next Critical Steps The establishment of the major silvicultural trial at Dong Ha will take place in November 2007, during the rainy season in central Vietnam Dr Nambiar and Dr Harwood will visit the site with FSIV project staff in October 2007 just prior to trial establishment to re-sample soil and litter layers to confirm spatial patterns in soil fertility found in the previous sampling conducted in September 2006 While in Vietnam, Dr Harwood will refine the spreadsheet financial modelling with FSIV and provincial staff, and prepare for the first extension course In late 2007, the first of three extension training courses will be held in central Vietnam This will be attended by 15 forestry extension agents and lead farmers This course will utilize the resource of demonstration thinning and pruning trials established in the Hue region in late 2006, which by that time will be sufficiently advanced to provide good practical demonstrations of plantation response to thinning and pruning Dr Chris Beadle of Ensis will lead this first extension course in December 2007 He will also lead a detailed measure and analysis of the thinning response trial at Dong Hoi Conclusion Not applicable Project Progress Against Proposed Objectives, Outputs, Activities And Inputs Project Title VIE 032/05 Sustainable and profitable development of acacia plantations for sawlog production in Vietnam Vietnamese Implementing Institution: Forest Science Institute of Vietnam Narrative OBJECTIVES Information Required PROPOSAL Performance Measures Assumptions To review currently available genetic material for acacia sawlog plantations in Vietnam and recommend best available germplasm for sawlog production Written review and recommendations provided to CARD and adopted by MARD Vietnamese literature can be accessed and cogently summarized To develop guidelines for sustainable plantation silviculture for acacia sawlog production in Vietnam Written guidelines provided to CARD and adopted by MARD Vietnamese literature can be accessed and cogently summarized To demonstrate and verify the recommended package of germplasm and silvicultural techniques for sustainable acacia sawlog production through a scientifically designed and monitored establishment trial, and thinning and pruning trials in alreadyestablished plantations, in Central Vietnam Establishment field trial and silvicultural field trials set up and monitored, results of trials reported in scientific publications Suitable sites for field trials located, trials can be established, protected and assessed To strengthen the skills and capacity of staff of the Forest Science Institute of Vietnam in advanced genetic improvement strategies and technologies so they can deliver future genetic improvement in acacia varieties suitable for sawlog production Study tour and training course in Australia, and training courses in Vietnam, provided as per project log frame Suitable participants for study tour and training courses can be identified To strengthen the skills and capacity of staff of the Forest Science Institute of Vietnam in silvicultural research that will underpin sustainable plantation management for acacia sawlog production Study tour and training course in Australia, and training course in Vietnam, provided as per log frame PROGRESS REPORT Information Required Suitable participants for training courses can be identified All the project objectives as per the original log frame are considered to remain appropriate To strengthen the capacity of provincial forestry technical and extension staff in acacia sawlog plantation technology transfer to tree farmers OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES Objective 1, Output Written review detailing best available acacia breeds and best mass-propagation techniques for each breed Three training courses for provincial extension staff provided as per project log frame Extension materials produced and adopted by provincial extension services Written review published yr1/09 Suitable participants for training courses can be identified Appropriate and reliable information available for review (Progress in achieving each relevant Output is described below under ‘Activities’, to the extent possible for each Output and Activity at this early stage of the project) Milestone completed November 2006, report provided to CARD Activity Following inception meeting, C Harwood and FSIV staff will work together to review all available documentation on acacia species/varieties suitable for sawlog production in Vietnam, identify the best available genetic material and appropriate propagation techniques for each promising candidate species Joint review work carried out and report written, report to be completed by y1/09 Objective 2, Output Written review and guidelines providing silvicultural guidelines for acacia sawlog production in Vietnam Written review and guidelines published yr1/09 Silvicultural methods can be identified for effective and profitable acacia sawlog production for Vietnamese smallholder farmers Milestone completed February 2007, report provided to CARD Thinning/pruning trials established Suitable locations for field trials available including agreement from two landowners Milestone completed January 2007, report provided to CARD Activity Following inception meeting, C Beadle and C Harwood work with FSIV staff to carry out comprehensive review of local and overseas experience with acacia sawlog production and produce silvicultural guidelines for sustainable acacia swlog production in Vietnam Objective 3, Output 3.1 Three 1-hectare thinning/pruning trials established in young plantations, written schedule for trial management and measurement produced for on-farm trials Activity 3.1 C Beadle works with FSIV to establish three thinning and pruning trials in already-established fast-growing acacia plantations (two on-farm in Central Vietnam and one on-station in Northern Vietnam) and guidelines for trial management and assessment Trials established by y1/04 and trial report completed Objective 3, Output 3.2 12-month responses to initial thinning and pruning treatments assessed, second series of pruning and thinning treatments imposed 12-month assessment completed and treatments imposed 12-month assessment of main trial completed in June 2007 Demonstration trials will be visited in October 2007 and follow-up treatments specified in conjunction with first extension course in December 2007 Activity 3.2 C Beadle visits Vietnam to lead inspection and assessment of thinning and pruning trials at age 12 months and imposition of follow-up thinning and pruning treatments Objective 3, Output 3.3 30-month responses to thinning and pruning treatments assessed Activity 3.3 C Beadle visits Vietnam to lead inspection and assessment of thinning and pruning trials at age 30 months Report on 30-month thinning and pruning response Objective 3, Output 3.4 One 4-hectare silvicultural field trial planted on-station in Central Vietnam, written guidelines for trial management and assessment produced Silvicultural trial planted, guidelines for management produced Activity 3.4 S Nambiar and K Pinyopusarerk work with FSIV to establish one research and demonstration planting trial in central Vietnam, comparing extensive and intensive silviculture, using the best available improved germplasm of Site has been cleared and fenced during review period Final preestablishment inspection and soil sampling to take place in October 2007 10 acacia varieties, and silvicultural technologies that can be taken up by smallholder growers Written guidelines for trial management and assessment produced Objective 3, Output 3.5 Performance of silvicultural trial assessed One-year and two-year reports on assessment of silvicultural trial and analyses of results conducted Activity 3.5 K Pinyopusarerk and FSIV conduct 12-month assessment of silvicultural trial S Nambiar and FSIV conduct 24-month assessment of silvicultural trial S Nambiar provides guidelines for long-term management of experiment Objective 4, Output 4.1 FSV managers made familiar with Australian research programs and management relating to sawlog improvement Managers have participated in Australian Study Tour and have prepared a report by yr1/06 The study tour was successfully conducted, in collaboration with CARD ProjectVIE 033/05 A total of senior forest research managers from MARD and FSIV visited Australia for a two-week study tour in May-June 2006 Activity 4.1 K Pinyopusarerk and C Harwood conduct one two-week Study Tour to Australia for four senior FSIV and Provincial managers on forest tree improvement and silvicultural techniques Objective 4, Output 4.2 Six senior FSIV and Provincial scientists trained in advanced tree improvement and silvicultural research techniques relevant to acacia sawlog production Scientists have participated in Australian training course and have prepared a report by yr2/03 Training course was completed in March-April 2007, and five course participants prepare reports which have been submitted to CARD 11 Activity 4.2 C Harwood, C Beadle, K Pinyopusarerk and S Nambiar conduct one three-week Training Course in Australia for six FSIV and Provincial scientists on tree breeding and plantation silviculture including wood quality assessment and development of improvement objectives Objective 4, Output 4.3 Ten junior FSIV and provincial scientists and technicians trained in basic tree improvement and silvicultural research techniques relevant to acacia sawlog production Scientists and technicians have participated in Vietnam training course and have prepared a report by y2/09 Course was conducted in June 2007 in southern Vietnam, led by Mr Pinyopusarerk, Mr Kien and Mr Huong Attended by 13 trainees Surveys completed by y1/09 and report produced The Milestone report (Project Milestone 5) was completed and approved by CARD in May 2007 Written strategies published by yr1/09 Substantial work undertaken during the review period Dr Harwood has co-authored tow journal papers on Acacia auriculiformis breeding strategy with Mr Phi Hong Hai of FSIV This milestone will be completed by December 2007 after Dr Harwood visits Vietnam Activity 4.3 C Harwood and C Beadle conduct 1-week training courses in acacia genetics and silviculture including managing the silviculture technology transfer package for 10 Vietnamese scientific and technical staff Objective 4, Output 4.4 Report detailing acacia sawlog harvesting, transport and pricing completed Activity 4.4 C Harwood and FSIV staff carry out baseline surveys of acacia plantations, wood harvesters and buyers and sawmills in Central Vietnam to determine prices paid for acacia logs, and effects of log size and log defects on price paid Objective 4, Output 4.5 Written strategies developed for FSIV acacia sawlog breeding Activity 4.5 C Harwood and FSIV staff prepare written strategies for acacia sawlog improvement 12 Objective 5, Output 5.1 As per 4.1 As per 4.1 Objective 5, Output 5.2 As per 4.2 As per 4.2 Objective 5, Output 5.3 As per 4.3 As per 4.3 Objective 5, Output 5.4 Advice provided to FSIV recommending priorities for silviculture laboratory upgrade Written report produced by y1/06 Activity 5.4 S Nambiar and FSIV review options for upgrade of silviculture lab and associated skills for soil and plant nutrient analysis Objective 5, Output 5.5 Spreadsheet financial models for acacia sawlog production systems developed and tested Spreadsheet financial models produced, calibrated and tested using data from DSIV and provincial acacia plantations Activity 5.5 C Harwood, C Beadle and FSIV staff develop and test financial models incorporating genetic quality of planting stock, site quality, silvicultural inputs, growth rates, log prices and rotation ages that will assist farmers and forest enterprises to choose the most profitable species and silvicultural methods Models and associated report finalised by Y2/09 Objective 6, Output 6.1 Forestry extension staff and lead farmers acquire knowledge and skills relating to acacia sawlog growing technology package Includes establishment of small-scale on- This activity was undertaken in September 2006 when Dr Nambiar visits Vietnam Dr Nambiar’s written report and recommendations were provided to FSIV in October 2006 many of his recommendations have been adopted Dr Nambiar will make follow-up visits to the Hanoi and HCM City laboratories in October 2007 and provide further advice A simple spreadsheet financial model for acacia pulpwood growing has been produced as part of Project Milestone It will be checked by FSIV project scientists and provincial extension agencies during forthcoming training courses and project work It will be expanded to model the financial returns from thinning and pruning treatments as results from the project experiments become available over the next year Three training courses held for 15 extension staff and lead farmers 13 farm demonstration trials Activity 6.1 K Pinyopusarerk and FSIV staff conduct three one-week Training Courses in Vietnam for forestry extension staff and farmers in silvicultural techniques for sawlog production, including smallscale on-farm demonstration trials Objective 6, Output 6.2 Extension training materials produced Activity 6.2 C Harwood, C Beadle and K Pinyopusarerk work with FSIV staff to produce extension materials, includes testing drafts during training courses INPUTS List inputs expected to be provided during the course of the project Three training courses completed by y3/09 Training materials produced Training materials produced by y3/11 Planning for the training courses, course content, materials and identification of participants has commenced and will be completed when Dr Harwood visits Vietnam in October The first course, led by Dr Beadle, will be held in December 2007 in the Hue and Dong Ha regions During the review period two additional pairs of hand pruning shears and two pruning saws valued at $100 total were provided to FSIV 14 ... defined Institute Information Project Name Sustainable and profitable development of acacia plantations for sawlog production in Vietnam Vietnamese Institution Forest Science Institute of Vietnam. .. sustainable and profitable acacia plantations for sawlog production The project has formulated “best-bet” silvicultural guidelines for sustainable acacia sawlog production based on Vietnamese and overseas... applicable Project Progress Against Proposed Objectives, Outputs, Activities And Inputs Project Title VIE 032/05 Sustainable and profitable development of acacia plantations for sawlog production in Vietnam