Timber processing and sustainable management of forest resources of the Wallis and Futuna island state is expected to improve following an assistance program facilitated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community. Source: The Fiji Times
This is as a result of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community facilitating travel of a two-member team from the island state forestry sector earlier this month.
David Devynck, a forest engineer with the Wallis and Futuna State Department and Taifisi Folituu, a sawmill owner from Wallis, visited Fiji to study the development of the forestry sector.
During their five-day trip, the duo visited members of SPC’s Land Resources Division (LRD), Fijis Forestry Department and various forestry enterprises around Viti Levu, including saw millers, timber exporters and timber value adding companies.
According to a statement from SPC, the representatives learnt more about timber treatment and visual identification of timber species in a bid to ensure that they imported only species that could withstand the conditions in Wallis and Futuna.
Wallis and Futuna has problems with invasive species such as falcataria moluccana and they asked LRD for assistance in this area, especially in the mapping of the affected areas.
Other areas of support include the provision of seeds of selected timber tree species, an inventory of their pine plantations, and assistance in improving timber utilisation, especially in the areas of timber processing and treatment.
