Báo cáo Nghiên cứu khoa học Strengthening Capacity in Forest Tree Seed Technologies Serving Research and Development Activities and ex-Situ Conservation: Second Six Monthly Report

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 MS5: Second Six Monthly Report JULY – DECEMBER 2005 1 1. Institute Information 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 18 th April 2005 Completion date (original) February 2007 Completion date (revised) April 2007 Reporting period July – December 2005 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: Ms Irena Mahnic Telephone: +61 3 95452222 Position: Finance Officer Fax: +61 3 95452448 Organisation CSIRO FFP Email: Irena.Mahnic@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 1 2. 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 operat• ions manual provided in English. • KP - Training course in seed orchard management conducted • Guidelines on seed orchard management provided to RCFTI. . Installation of seed database made on computer at RCFTI in Hanoi and Operations Manual provided in English. • Research trial established to assess silvicultural management techniques on seed production in an Acacia crassicarpa established seed orchard. • Training provided in seed orchard management supported by guidelines on seed orchard management provided to RCFTI in English and Vietnamese. • Documentation on RCFTI’s seed stocks recorded • All forms realting to seed documentation have been prepared and printed 3. Executive Summary This progress report covers the period 1 July to 31 December 2005. Modifications to the seed database were completed. The database was installed into the computer at RCFTI and staff trained in its use. An operations manual written in English was also provided. Translation into Vietnamese is in progress. While attempting to enter seed information onto the seed database, RCFTI staff experienced problems which may be associated with the supporting Microsoft software installed initially on the computer required to run the database. Action has been taken to address this software problem. RCFTI have designed and arranged printing forms for use in documenting seed handling. Mr K. Pinyopusarerk conducted a training course in Vietnam in establishment and management of seed production areas in Vietnam in August 2005 which was attended by 12 Vietnamese scientists and technicians. Written guidelines, which were also translated into Vietnamese language, were provided to RCFTI for use in implementing changes to management for improved seed production. A silvicultural trial was set up in an A. crassicarpa seed production area in northern Vietnam to demonstrate the impacts of thinning and fertilization on seed production. 2 4. Introduction & Background A summary of the project objectives, outputs and approach is listed below: • 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 of the ATSC and visit seed orchards in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria ƒ Technical staff training – eight persons in four groups of two each for 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 one initial hands-on training course in seed collection at a pre-determined location (Dongha) in 2005 attended by 15 participants and facilitated ensis staff. This will be followed up with a second visit in 2006 to assess application of training techniques through visiting the participants at their place of work. 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 selected seed orchards located in the north, centre and south 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 3 • RCFTI and ATSC staff will work together to produce a Seed Centre Operations Manual for RCFTI, adapted from the existing ATSC Operations Manual Progress to Date 4.1 Implementation Highlights The seed database was installed at RCFTI during the week commencing 19th September 2005. A report on the training and database installation was submitted to CARD following the visit by Ms Clarke. This was undertaken in conjunction with training provided by Ms Clarke in management and use of the database system. Initial training was provided to 10 participants from RCFTI, FSIV and the Central Forest Seed Company. This enabled the participants to gain an understanding about the capability of the database and how it would support the seed handling processes at RCFTI. Ms Chi, the key person responsible for the database, was able to demonstrate her ability to successfully install the database on the computer using the notes provided. All seed records have been entered on the database as per Attachment 1. An English version of the seed database operations manual has been provided to RCFTI as part of the training workshop discuss above. Ms Chi has made considerable inputs into the Vietnamese translation of the manual. It is anticipated that the translation will be completed by the end of February. Following the visit to Canberra earlier in the year, RCFTI staff designed and arranged printing of forms required supporting seed handling (Attachment 3) • Seed collection data sheet • Seed germination test sheet • Seed moisture content test sheet • Seed record card • Seed pre-treatment codes A training course on establishment and management techniques to improve seed production was conducted at the Forest Science Institute of Vietnam, 22-24 August 2005. A report on this vist was submitted to CARD by Mr Pinyopusarerk. A copy of the report is also contained in this report under Attachment 2. It was attended by 12 scientists from various forest offices in nine provinces. The course was designed to provide Vietnamese staff involved in the management and procurement of seed with the necessary knowledge and skills to efficiently and confidently undertaking establishment and management of seed production of priority species for reforestation programs in Vietnam. The lecture session covered the following issues: seed quality, seed producing stands and development of seed production areas. There was a practical session in which participants were involved in selection and thinning in a E. pellita seed production area. Written guidelines were provided to the RCFTI and a Vietnamese version was made available to training participants. A silvicultural trial was set up in a 6-year-old stand of A. crassicarpa to study the impacts of thinning and fertilizer application on seed production. The treatments have been laid out in a completely randomised block design with 4 replicates, 2500m2/plot as follows: 1. Control, no thinning 2. Thinning 50% 3. NPK 10:5:10 fertilizer 2 kg/tree 4 4. Thinning 50% + NPK 10:5:10 fertilizer 2 kg/tree 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. 4.4 Publicity No publicity material has resulted from this project. 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 Following installation of the seed database, it was discovered that the process of backing up the data in Access does not operate which will make the data vulnerable to being lost. 6.2. Options Install licensed software version of Microsoft Windows XP Professional with (SP2) and MS Office Professional 2003 in order to run the seed database and backup with greater assurance of security of data. This acquisition was not envisaged in the project proposal. In order to acquire this software it will be necessary to commit an additional A$1200. 6.3.Sustainability Next Critical Steps The next six months covers the period January to June 2006. Activities during this period include 5 • Visit by B. Gunn to review project activities and hold progress meeting in January 2006 (visit underway at time of preparing this report) • B. Gunn to make a 2nd visit to Vietnam in order to conduct laboratory training in seed technology including handling of recalcitrant seed. Date to coincide with seeding of indigenous recalcitrant species. • J. Larmour to conduct a training course in Vietnam on seed collection and documentation in May 2006 to coincide with seeding of Acacia crassicarpa seed orchard in Dong Ha. • Four Vietnamese scientists to receive training in Australia in breeding strategy and seed orchard management in March/April 2006. RCFTI to nominate participants. • K. Pinyopusarerk to conduct further training in seed orchard management in Vietnam in May/June 2006 designed to analyse information from trials for use in determining which trees should be thinned as part of improving the genetic quality of the resulting seed. 6