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Forest extension in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea
Conference paper   Open access

Forest extension in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea

V Andrew, W Andasua and Jack Baynes
Small-scale and Community Forestry and the Changing Nature of Forest Landscapes, Proceedings from the IUFRO Research Group 3.08 Small-scale Forestry Conference, pp.18-22
IUFRO Research Group 3.08 Small-scale Forestry Conference (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 11-Oct-2015–15-Oct-2015)
University of the Sunshine Coast
2016
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Abstract

Forestry Sciences
The Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea are experiencing a severe shortage of firewood. Residual native forest and some plantation forestry are insufficient to supply this need. In response, in October 2014, the Papua New Guinea Forest Authority (PNG-FA) undertook a three-day training program in the township of Goroka. Farmers received training in nursery techniques including seed collection, preparing nursery beds, germinating seedlings and out-planting seedlings. Farmers were supplied with seed, shade-cloth and polybags to start their own home nurseries. Follow-up interviews found that nine of thirteen participants had raised seedlings. However, for those farmers living outside of the Goroka environs, problems have emerged. A severe shortage of seed has resulted in farmers using inappropriate Pinus species. In PNG, land is often community-owned but managed by individual farmers. Long-term tenure is therefore subject to negotiation between clan members. Technology sharing is also not common between clans. In the grasslands, fire is always a problem. These findings indicate a need for an approach to forest extension which accommodates a low rate of technology diffusion between clans and in which farmers in remote locations receive almost one-to-one follow-up extension assistance and access to seed, and guidance to inter-crop planting patterns which provide protection from fire.

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