PNGAF MAG ISSUE # 9D4B3 of 12 Aug 2022 PNG Forest Plantation Research and Forest Researchers

AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9D4B3 of 12th Aug 2022 THE DEVELOPMENT OF PNG’s FOREST MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS A history of plantation development globally, especially in tropical rainforest areas as pertinent to PNG’s forest tree plantation development. A Historical Snapshot of PNG’s Forest Plantation Research and Forest Researchers. 1

Editor R B McCarthy2 2022. Klinkii Pine - Araucaria hunsteinii. Bulolo.

Teak - Tectona grandis Brown River.

Kamarere - E. deglupta plantations Kerevat. Tropical Pines - P. caribaea var hondurensis. Bulolo.

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Cartoon from Bob Brown’s Grass Roots Guide to PNG Pidgin South Pacific Post. Dick McCarthy District Forester TPNG 1963-1975.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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“FORWOOD”

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Pre-conference Tour 7th British Commonwealth Forestry Conference 1958 Overview of the Forest Research Station 1966 to 1974 - Dr B Gray Overview of the Forest Research Centre 1972-1975 - Dr J Davidson Research Trials Bulolo Research Trials Tropical Pines Research Trials Teak Research Trials Eucalypts TPNG Forests First Silvicultural Research Conference 1968 Further Domestication of Indigenous Forest Species - Dr R Thistlethwaite

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THE RESEARCH PLAYERS Australian TPNG Forest Cadetship Scheme 1948 to 1963 Jim McAdam MM 1938-1959 Dr Bill Heather 1947-1955 Robin Levingston 1963-1967 Dave Dun 1955-1961 Kevin White 1957-1977 Dr Joe Havel 1953-1965 Alan Cameron 1956-1970 John Smith 1956-1970 Leon Clifford 1958-1975 Dr John Davidson 1962-1980 Neville Howcroft 1965-2017 Dr Barry Gray 1966-1974 Dr Ross Wylie 1967-1974 Jim Riley 1967-1977 Dr Brenton Peters 1969-1970 Dr Bob Thistlethwaite 1971-1975 Dr Dave Lamb 1972-1977 Peter Shanahan 1972-1974 Other TPNG Forest Plantation Researchers

Page 41 Page 51 Page 53 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 60 Page 62 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 69 Page 71 Page 73 Page 74 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80

FRIENDS OF PNG FOREST PLANTATION RESEARCH Dr Garth Nikles

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ACRONYMS

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“FORWOOD” Successful species in forest tree plantations in PNG for wood fibre production, demonstrated characteristics of:3 • Light demanding. • Easy to grow within plantation format especially for in line crown competition. • Fast growing, naturally straight, self pruning. • Target tree by log classes of sawlog and peeler log. • Absence of browsing animals. • Little or no demand for thinnings. • Desirable wood fibre and/or other economic properties. PNGAF MAG # 9D4B3 is an historical snapshot of PNG’s Australian Forest Plantation Researchers long term scientific endeavours. Their efforts related to the technical details of wood production through the development of scientific procedures for the cultivation of PNG forest tree crops. They successfully created the development of the business of growing forest trees in PNG in plantation format, both for commercial and village interests. Nationally, their legacy continues to provide economic, political, social and conservation benefits. Australian Foresters’ research endeavours included: • Silviculture – studies of the silviculture of PNG and introduced forest tree species such as site factors, seedling production nurseries, plantation establishment, plantation maintenance, fire protection, etc. • Tree breeding for form improvement, selection of the most suitable races of various tree species and establish reliable sources of future planting stock. • Growth and yield studies including harvesting schedules by log type and tree selection for harvesting operations. • Establishment of arboreta to test the suitability of forest tree species and preparation of species fact sheets. • Studies in soils, nutrition, forest pathology and forest entomology. 1970’s Bulolo Forest Research Station. Photo credit Neville Howcroft.

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PNGAF MAG # (D4B1Why Certain Plantation Species in PNG? 31st May 2022 p5

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Those endeavours, from their home site of Bulolo, achieved in the period 1938 to 2000, a viable forest tree plantation estate of some 62,000 hectares4 of plantations. The major species planted include Araucaria cunninghamii (Hoop pine), Araucaria hunsteinii (Klinkii pine), Tectona grandis (Teak), Eucalyptus deglupta (Kamarere), Pinus spp as P caribaea; P merkusii; P patula, Ochroma lagopus (Balsa) and Acacia mangium. Minor species planted include, Eucalyptus robusta; Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus saligna, Anthocephalus cadamba (Labula), Terminalia species as T. brassii, Calophyllum sp and Octomeles sumatrana (Erima). Highlands.

Bulolo Wau Forest Area

Kerevat Forest Area

Forest Regions 1974/75 PNG

Mt Lawes Forest Area (Brown River)

Bulolo Forest Research Station 1974. Photo credit John Davidson.

Future PNGAF Mag Issues address the Australian Foresters research endeavours re PNG timbers, their structure, characteristics, and applications. 4

PNGAF Magazine Issue # 9D4F PNG Plantation Statistics of 10th March 2022.

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Seventh British Commonwealth Forestry Conference. Pre-conference tour5 1958

Dun, D. B. (1957). Plantation Research – Bulolo. Paper prepared for pre-conference tour (August 1957),7th British Empire Forestry Conference Australia and New Zealand. Pp. 1-9. McIntosh, D. H. (1957). Plantation establishment – Bulolo. Paper prepared for preconference tour (August 1957) 7th British Empire Forestry Conference Australia and New Guinea. Pp. 1-2. (1) Havel, J. J. (1957). Seed collection. Pp. 1-4. Nursery technique – Bulolo. Pp. 1-3. Paper prepared for pre-conference tour (August 1957) 7th British Empire Forestry Conference Australia and New Zealand. Womersley, J. S. and J. B. McAdam. (1957). The forests and forest conditions in the Territories of Papua and New Guinea. Paper prepared for the British Commonwealth Conference in Australia 1957. Papua and New Guinea Forest Service, Port Moresby. Pp. 162. March, E. W. (1958) The Seventh British Commonwealth Forestry Conference: Pre- conference tour of Papua and New Guinea. Empire Forestry Review, vol. 37, no. 1 (91), 1958, pp. 103–108. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/42600444 5

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OVERVIEW OF THE FOREST RESEARCH STATION, BULOLO - DR B GRAY

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The first Australian forester appointed in Papua New Guinea was Jim McAdam in 1938, based at Rabaul. Due to the pending war; the small service was shifted to Wau and disbanded in 1942 following the invasion of New Guinea by the Japanese Imperial Armed Forces. In 1946 the Department of Forests was newly constituted with Jim McAdam appointed as Director (refer R. J. B. Angus in “Encyclopedia of Papua and New Guinea”, Vol. 1, p.450, 1972). By 1972 three of the four divisions in the Department of Forests participated in research activities:(1) Division of Botany based in Lae; (2) Division of Utilization based in Hohola, Port Moresby, and at the Forest Research Station, Bulolo; (3) Division of Silviculture with researchers based at HQ and at the Forest Research Station, Bulolo. Some of the staff at the Bulolo Forestry College also conducted research. Before the establishment of the Forest Research Station a small coterie of foresters conducted pioneering research in the Bulolo-Wau area and at Brown River and Kerevat and, to a lesser extent, in the Highlands, as described below. The Forest Research Station was a late start-up in the scheme of things in the Department of Forests prior to 1975. During my time as OIC and Principal Research Officer the facility was called the Bulolo Forest Research Station, though some government departments, including that of the Chief Minister, named it the Forest Research Centre and I occasionally did so. My account covers the period up to April 1974 and outlines the events and principal players engaged in silviculture and ancillary research in Papua New Guinea prior to the establishment of the Forest Research Station and the years during my tenure as the OIC. It is not by any reckoning a comprehensive overview of silviculture and forest protection research up to 1974 in Papua New Guinea It is a precis of silvicultural research by individuals in Papua New Guinea based on memory and published papers. It has not been possible to pinpoint the first silvicultural research in the Department of Forests. The earliest published reference I could find to silvicultural research was that by Jim McAdam in his 1952 presidential address Forestry in New Guinea to the Papua and New Guinea Scientific Society which stated At Kerevat, the department has commenced silvicultural research work on the coastal stands. Kamarere, teak and balsa are being established on about 100 acres this year. p.18. He also indicated that 45 acres of hoop pine and klinki pine was planted the previous year. Ted Gray7 has recently informed me that Jim McAdam collected seed and established a nursery at Wau, but he could not recall any substantive research being conducted during his time in Bulolo from 1952-1954. The early plantings of hoop pine and klinki pine in the Bulolo-Wau area copied the techniques developed by the Queensland Department of Forestry. Dave Dun who was based at Bulolo in 1955 and then in Port Moresby as the Chief of the Division of Silviculture from 1956-1961 (refer David Boyd Dun story) prepared a paper in

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Dr Barry Gray Update 16/6/2022 Personal communication 16th May 2020

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1957 titled Plantation Research, Bulolo for the pre-conference tour by attendees at the 7th British Empire Forestry Conference. Joe Havel (1961) in his MSc. Thesis acknowledged Dun’s advice on design and analysis of experiments. I had the pleasure of meeting Dave in 1971 when he visited the country to advise the Department on a reorganization. No account can be given of silvicultural research in Papua New Guinea without mentioning the imprimatur of Kevin White, Chief, Division of Silviculture, who succeeded Dave Dun. Kevin played a pivotal role in the planning and supervision of silvicultural research in Papua New Guinea from 1961 to 1977. In a Departmental report covering the years 1960-1965 silvicultural research was formulated at the headquarters level with major priorities in improvement of nursery techniques; determination of thinning schedules for management objectives; selection and testing of parent trees and seed orchard establishment, and insect control. (Reference Progress Report 1960-65 prepared by the Department of Forests for the Commonwealth Forestry Conference. 1968, Pp. 1-21). The early research on teak in the Brown River was described by Robin Levingston (Reafforestation with Teak.) in the South Pacific Bulletin 1967, in which an eight-acre trial with teak very successful while the other tree species were failures or marginal. Following further trials in 1958-1959, the first large plantings of teak in the hilly country were commenced and planting in the logged lowland rainforest was reduced. Joe Havel was the first full time silvicultural researcher in the Department of Forests in Papua New Guinea. Havel, in the introduction in his M.Sc. Thesis (Thesis submitted to the University of Queensland 1961), notes: The investigations here described were intended to deal with the many problems met in raising and planting klinki pine seedlings. Though the Queensland hoop pine techniques were useful as a guide, a complete investigation of all aspects of raising and planting klinki seedlings was necessary. p.8.). His pioneering studies on klinkii pine in 1955-59 enabled the species to be grown more successfully in the nursery and plantations (refer Plantation establishment of klinkii pine (Araucaria hunsteinii) in New Guinea. Commonwealth Forestry Review, 44(3): 172-187, and Joe Havel’s story). Next followed the research by Alan Cameron in 1962-70. In 1962 Alan began tree breeding and selection studies into teak and kamarere (Refer Genetic improvement of teak in New Guinea. Australian Forester, 30: 76-87 (1966), and Forest tree improvement in New Guinea. 1 Teak. Paper prepared for 9th Commonwealth Forestry Conference, New Delhi 1968). Later, Alan conducted studies in the Bulolo plantations on hoop pine and klinki pine and supervised silvicultural research. Kevin White and Alan compiled the silviculture bible titled Silvicultural Techniques in Papua New Guinea Forest Plantations,” Bulletin No. 1, Division of Silviculture, Department of Forests, Port Moresby, 2nd Printing, Pp. 1-99 (1966). Alan left the Territory in early 1970 and later returned (refer Alan Cameron’s story).

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In 1963 Leon Clifford was relocated from Kerevat to Bulolo to work on tree improvement in the Araucaria (refer document Tree improvement Hoop and Klinkii Pines” Item No. 11, Silvicultural Research Conference, Bulolo, 1968. Pp. 1-9 plus three append.); Leon also established several yield plots and conducted a survey of termite damage in the hoop pine plantations (refer Ardley, Clifford, and Gay Termite damage to plantation-grown hoop pine in New Guinea. Paper presented to 12th International Congress of Entomology. Pp. 680-681, 1964). In 1965 Leon was catapulted into the position of Acting Principal of the Bulolo Forestry College following the departure of Joe Havel. The yield plots were used by the students at the Forestry College for training in mensuration and growth studies. Leon left Bulolo in late 1970 to take up the position of Regional Forestry Officer in Lae (refer Leon Clifford’s story). In 1964 John Smith commenced studies on Hoop Pine and Pinus. John introduced Pinus into the Highlands and in 1970 published: The silviculture of Pinus in Papua New Guinea. Bulletin No. 5, Division of Silviculture, Department of Forests, Port Moresby, Pp. 1-32. In October 1965 Neville Howcroft was recruited from the Queensland Department of Forests. John Smith and Neville conducted trials on Pinus spp. genetics and established Hoop Pine yield plots in the Bulolo and Wau plantations. In 1970 John was transferred to the Eastern Highlands as the Regional Forest Officer based at Mt. Hagen. Neville continued the research program on Pinus and several other projects while attached to the Bulolo Forestry Station and in April 1972 he joined the Forest Research Station. Neville had a long and distinguished career in Papua New Guinea departing in 2017 (refer Neville Howcroft’s story). The loss of Alan Cameron, John Smith, and Leon Clifford in 1970 left an enormous void in silvicultural research in the Department of Forests. John Fox joined the Department of Forests in 1972 to conduct silvicultural research based at HQ, but in 1973 John was posted to Mt Hagen as the Regional Forestry Officer. The void in research was filled by John Davidson. John conducted research on kamarere at Kerevat (June 1967-March 1969 and from October 1970 to January 1971) for which he was awarded a Ph.D. in 1972 from the Australian National University (Thesis titled Variation, association, and inheritance of morphological and wood characters in a tree improvement program for Eucalyptus deglupta Blume. In March 1972 John joined the Forest Research Station as Head of the Silviculture Section (refer John Davidson’s story). Silviculture research in Papua New Guinea prior to setting up the Forest Research Station had been conducted intermittently by a very small group of dedicated personnel based at various locations and on a small number of tree species. Their research provided crucial data on tree breeding and selection and on plantation practices in Papua New Guinea. Mention should also be made of the input of several personnel in the nurseries and plantations in the regional forest areas. I can recall Uncle Ted Collis and Neville Howcroft often informing me of their work under the guidance of Kevin White and John Godlee. The Department

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conducted numerous trials of different tree species at various locations in Papua New Guinea and as the plantations matured different thinning regimes and silvicultural practices were tried. I now turn to another chapter in research leading to the establishment of the Forest Research Station. Unfortunately, the monoculture plantations in the Bulolo-Wau area attracted several unwanted problems. Up until the early 1960s the Hoop Pine plantations were relatively pest free but an increase in damage by insects was being experienced. The Department utilized the services of the CSIRO, Canberra, and the Department of Agriculture, Stock and Fisheries (DASF), to advise on the problems up to 1966 (refer B. Gray story). In 1966 I transferred from the DASF to the Department of Forests as the forest entomologist to deal with the plantation pests and other insects affecting the timber industry in Papua New Guinea. No equipment or facilities were available at Bulolo. On completion of a small house on the Bulolo forestry station I used the premises also as my office and laboratory. This situation was soon found to be untenable and alternate accommodation was sought. Temporary facilities were set-up in early 1967 in a single quarters complex owned by the company (Placer Development Co. Ltd.) in Godwin Street. The quarters (barracks) had been vacant since the last gold dredge ceased operating in 1965. Because of the number of pest problems encountered a number of entomologists were recruited: Ross Wylie (February 1967 - February 1974), Ian Barber (July 1970 - January 1974), Brenton Peters (December 1969 - December 1971) and Lonnie Merrifield (July 1973 August 1974). I was asked to conduct research of the termite Coptotermes elisae and a large black weevil Vanapa oberthurii. In late 1966 the fire control officer John Buchter and I began a termite eradication programme in the Hoop Pine plantations using explosives as earlier suggested by Frank Gay from the CSIRO, Canberra. In 1967 Neville Howcroft assisted me in a study of the black weevil. The rapid spread of a branchlet-miner in the Hoop Pine plantations and the damage caused by larvae of Milionia isodoxa, a moth, led to a major change in priorities. Consequently, Ross Wylie upon arrival in early 1967 commenced full-time research on M. isodoxa and me on the branchlet-miner.

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1968 Youthful Ross Wylie. Photo credit Barry Gray.

In 1968 Jim Riley assisted in establishing several mensuration plots to study the effects of the insect infestation on tree growth.

Photograph courtesy John Davidson showing a very youthful Ross Wylie at a “sticky trap” flying insect sampling site in a hoop pine plantation at Bulolo. There were four panels oriented in cardinal directions, the ones on the left and right are edge on and the one at the rear is hidden in shadow and foliage. Photo credit John Davidson. In 1968, following pruning operations in the Hoop Pine plantations, considerable tree mortality was caused by the black weevil. Brenton Peters who originally came to Bulolo as a vacation student was recruited to study the biology of the weevil. Ian Barber, who took over from Brenton, studied the spread of the weevil and investigated possible control measures, while Brenton conducted a survey of insects associated with kamarere prior to his departure in late 1971. 10

Several support personnel were employed in the Entomology Section. These included office staff, technical assistants, and field workers. This enabled the Section to undertake research independently and efficiently without impinging too much on the resources of the forest stations. The Entomology Section operated as an independent unit within the Division of Silviculture and often addressed problems in the sawmilling and logging industry and insect damage in buildings. The section had an excellent working relationship with the DASF entomologists and relied heavily on their support in setting up. In 1971 Dr. Egon Horak, a mycologist, joined the Research Section and his wife Marianne taught mathematics at the Forestry College and translated several scientific papers from German into English for me. In June 1972, Marianne transferred to the Forest Research Station to assist Egon. The Horaks departed in July 1973. Egon went on to describe more than 1000 species of fungi and was renown in the field of mycology. Years later Marianne joined the CSIRO in Canberra and specialized in Lepidoptera taxonomy. The forest entomologists visited many sawmills and logging sites in Papua New Guinea and collected many new species; for example, 201 new species of Platypodinae and Scolytinae (borers) were described by Dr. K. E. Schedl. A large collection of fauna (>50,000) was eventually assembled and housed in the entomology building. This collection is now called the National Forest Insect Collection and in the 1980s it was moved to the Forest Research Institute in Lae. Ross Wylie curated the collection. In 1973 John Dobunaba spent seven months training as a curator in Australia at the CSIRO in Canberra and at the Australian Museum in Sydney, Australia. On his return to Papua New Guinea John took over from Ross and managed the collection for several decades, retiring in 2009. The Department of Forests had established several plantations and nurseries throughout Papua New Guinea and with plans to establish plantations in areas subject to large-scale logging for export. After the experience with the pests in the hoop pine plantations the forest entomologists were often alerted by the District Forest Stations of any insect infestations. In July 1968, the Forest Entomology Section moved into new laboratory facilities near the Bulolo Forestry Office. The building was officially opened on 15 August 1968. This was the first permanent building to be constructed on the Forest Research Station site. In 1971 an Insectory and a large storeroom were built at the rear of the laboratories.

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Entomology Building Bulolo 1968. Photo credit Barry Gray.

Photograph of front of entomology building. Opened in 1968. Note size of klinkii pines. These were probably the first plantings in Bulolo. Photo credit Barry Gray.

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Insectory and storerooms, Forest Research Station, Bulolo. Constructed 1971. Photo credit Barry Gray.

Forest Station Office Bulolo 28 February 1970. Photo credit Barry Gray. Forest Station Offices /storerooms and nursery stand-out beds. Photo credit Barry Gray. In early 1972 several new research personnel were appointed and stationed in Bulolo. There were no facilities available at the time to house these personnel. I met with Rod Weedon, the General Manager of the company, who again agreed to provide two vacant single quarters (barracks) for temporary use by the new personnel (Dave Lamb and Jack Simpson) and for the Silvicultural Section (John Davidson, John Dalton, Neville Howcroft, and Jeff Fairlamb). The barracks were renovated to accommodate the researchers. In addition, Rod agreed to rent out empty 15

houses to accommodate some of the professional and technical staff. These arrangements were temporary until permanent facilities were constructed on the forestry station. Technician Henry Ivagi in Entomology Section. Photo credit Barry Gray.

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In mid-1972, premises to house the Silviculture Section were built. John Davidson helped design the silvicultural offices and rooms to complement the entomology building and was offset parallel to it approximately 20m apart. Since time was of the essence, they had to be completed very quickly and their approval, design and construction could not go through the normal bureaucratic channels. I contracted Gordon Moore from Wau who had built the insectory and storerooms. In July 1972, upon completion of the Silviculture Building, John Davidson, Neville Howcroft, Jeff Fairlamb and supporting staff moved from the Godwin Street barracks into the new premises. To say the least, the Forest Research Station facilities, except for entomology, were spartan. Regrettably, there were no funds to construct premises for Dave Lamb (Nutrition) and Jack Simpson (Pathology). The Forest Research Station was now well and truly established on a multidisciplinary but fragmented basis and Bulolo became the center for silvicultural and forest protection and other research (shitake mushrooms, fungi, and distribution of Araucaria, for example) in Papua New Guinea. The first meeting of the section leaders and technical officers were held on May 18, 1972. For a brief period, the Forest Research Station had more professional and project staff (11) than the Botany Division (5) and Forest Products Division (10). The sudden increase in research staff created many problems in addition to accommodation. For example, I shared my office with the administration staff and there was only one telephone for the whole research group and in those days mobile telephones were non-existent. The 16

hierarchy had not given much thought to the requirements and servicing of the new recruits and there was the serious lack of research equipment and vehicles and support staff. This caused considerable angst as there was an expectation that these were already available. Thankfully, the entomology section was able to share equipment and vehicles initially until these were provided. Consequently, it took some time for the Forest Research Station to run smoothly due to teething problems and as protocols and bureaucratic procedures were implemented. There was also unease in some parts of the Department that the Forest Research Station was being showered with funding to their detriment. This was of course absurd, and the direct opposite was true. Because of these tensions the Director intervened, and several matters were put to rest including the need for more funding and support staff and as a result several laboratory assistants and other technical staff were recruited. Also, there was an issue involving communication with the regional forestry offices. This was essential as the researchers were now undertaking projects in many areas. In research matters, each silvicultural section reported directly to the Chief Research Officer, Silviculture Branch in HQ, whilst the forest product entomologist section reported to the Chief, Division of Utilization in Hohola. In 1973 Dave Lamb moved to HQ to continue his research on fertilizers and nutrition (D. Lamb “Kunjingini plantations 1965-1975”., Tropical Forestry Research Note Sr. 24, Pp. 1-15, 1975). In late 1973 John Dalton was posted to Dami New Britain. In 1973 Lonnie Merrifield joined the station from the University of Washington, Seattle, USA, to conduct research on using systemic insecticides to control insect pests of kamarere and Pinus as part of his Ph.D. thesis. Lonnie Merrifield departed November 1974. Here I digress to discuss two issues which had a substantial impact on the Forest Research Station in the years leading up to self-rule and independence. The first was the decision by the Australian Government to grant Independence to Papua New Guinea sooner rather than later. The second, emanating from that decision, was the rapid localization of the Public Service. In preparing the country for Self-Government and Independence ambitious goals were set and activities with a potential for employment and production of wealth were encouraged. Forestry was a major recipient of funds since it could play a significant role in achieving these goals. A substantial increase in plantations was planned, particularly in the timber concession areas where large scale logging was beginning or planned, in addition to agricultural pursuits as Palm Oil. Concomitant with this expansion was a dramatic increase in silviculture research funding. Consequently, several researchers were recruited from overseas and the research facilities were expanded at Bulolo in 1972 as described beforehand. The second issue of localization was empathic, and an Assistant Director of Localization (John Collins) was appointed in 1973. A directive was issued that 15% of the staff were to be localized each year. The Forest Research Station was not exempt from this edict and the station recruited several local administrative staff and technical officers (refer photograph of research group). The directive created considerable unease amongst expatriates. It led to a short-term failure to retain experienced researchers and technical staff as witnessed by the large turnover of expatriates who were more interested in a career pathway and security.

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I had some very lively discussions with the Public Service Board regarding the need for and necessity to retain skilled employees in the research domain. Furthermore, the policy encouraged short-termism in research projects. That is not good in the forestry industry which is fundamentally a long-term proposition. These are not criticisms but simply observations on the events experienced at the time. During the semester breaks several university students from the University of Papua New Guinea and from universities in Australia received training and work experience at the station over the years. For example, from 12-23 September 1972 five students (Balthasar Wayi, John Koma, Dike Kari, Paul Kuma, and Joseph Kauba) from the University of Papua New Guinea were engaged at the Forest Research Station, and in 1973 Paul Banguinau with Jack SimpsonPathology) and William Nano with Neville Howcroft-silviculture) were all from the University of Papua New Guinea. Andrew Yauieb (standing) Jan 1972 and Muka Gamea, technician. Photo credit Barry Gray Earlier in 1971 Andrew Yauieb, ANU Forestry School, Canberra, spent his summer break with the Entomology Section. In 1977 Andrew replaced Kevin White who was Acting Director as the Director of the Office of Forests.

The Forest Research Station had a close association with the Forestry College and several of the staff gave lectures at the college and at times engaged the students in field studies. The station also had a good relationship with the Bishop Museum field station in Wau which was headed by Dr. Lindsay Gressitt a renowned scientist; the field station hosted many visiting researchers and collectors. The researchers from the Forest Research Station and Bishop Museum and the staff and students from the Forestry College met monthly in 1972 for talks and seminars (the Forkol Seminars). Personnel from the Bishop Museum often met with the forest entomologists from 1969 onwards for discussions. The Forest Research Station had dealings with several forestry organizations in the Pacific Islands and gave technical advice.

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In 1972 Ross Wylie joined the Utilization Division but remained at the Bulolo Forest Research Station. He recruited well-known local identity Peter Shanahan as a Technical Officer. Previously Peter had been employed for several years by the Bishop Museum and had a very good knowledge of the New Guinea fauna. Ross and Peter conducted studies on insect borers affecting logs and timber. Ross departed Papua New Guinea in early 1974 and gained employment with the Queensland Department of Forests where he had a long and illustrious career (refer Ross Wylie story). Brenton Peters later joined the Queensland Department of Forests (refer Brenton Peters story). After semi-retiring in 2006, Ross was recruited as the Manager Science on the FIRE ANT Eradication Program in 2010. Again, semi-retiring in 2016 he was offered permanency in 2017 as Science Leader in the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (probably the oldest such employee ever). A sign of the times where the universities are failing to produce foresters and specialists and a tribute to Ross’s resilience and ability. In August 1972, the Forest Research Station comprised the following structure and a very broad outline of the major research activities of the sections is given. (A)Administration Section (B)Silviculture Section. Hoop pine and klinkii pine: seed collecting and provenance testing. Kamarere: tree breeding. Pinus: selection trials and reforestation of grasslands. (C) Nutrition Section. Fertilizer trials. Plant nutrition. Stunting in klinki pine nursery. (D)Pathology Section: Shiitake mushrooms. Fungal diseases in plantation trees (E)Entomology Section (Silviculture) Studies on major insect pests in hoop pine plantations. Termite problems. Surveys of forest insects and curation of insect collection. (F)Entomology Section (Forest Products) Collection of log and timber borers. Termite problems in buildings.

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I have not delved into any detail regarding the research activities of the personnel. Many reports, information sheets, notes, departmental research papers and published papers were produced by the personnel during their sojourn in Papua New Guinea before, during and after their time at the Forest Research Station. In addition to the scientific and technical personnel, many ancillary staff were employed at the Forest Research Station from 1968-1974: Phyllis Cattanach, Dianne Baker, Mary Amos (Ted Collis’s sister), Marion Barber, Betty Nissen, Gloria Davidson, Jalna Gloynes, Evelyn Grinstead, Pam Scraggs, and Iris Rooke, were among the expatriate secretarial and administration staff. As shown in the group photograph by 1973 most of the staff were Papua New Guineans, including typist Moya Sambus, administration clerk Oskar Kasokason, and storeman Moses Yawing in the administration section. One could write a book about the machinations and political manoeuvring for power and influence within the Department of Forests. I had some interesting discussions with John Womersley, the Chief of Botany. Whist camping at some godforsaken site during a forest inventory survey in 1969 John hinted it might be a good idea for the Entomology Section to amalgamate with the Botany Division. I discussed the proposal with Kevin White, and we gave it a very lukewarm response. In early 1973 John again approached me with another set of proposals including amalgamation of the research divisions and sections. After discussing the proposals with the section leaders, I again politely declined. These discussions are recalled because amalgamation and reorganization were obviously under protracted consideration over several years prior to Papua New Guinea gaining independence. * In 1974-75 a major reorganization and restructuring occurred with the Divisions of Botany and Forest Products absorbed with the Silviculture Research Branch and Forestry College into the Division of Research and Training under a First Assistant Director (Kevin White). In 1990 a Forest Research Institute was established with the headquarters at Lae comprising the following departments and workforce: a. Forest Management (15); b. Forest Products (12); c. Forest Protection (6); Botany (13); Administration (14)8. Another major project undertaken by me was a survey and field study of Araucaria, in Papua New Guinea over several years. Here I pay my respects to the late Jim Cavanaugh who earlier had visited several stands in the 1950’s. Whilst on a trip to Australia I discussed the variation and size in the natural hoop pine stand with Garth Nikles (Queensland Forestry) and he suggested a detailed study of provenances be undertaken. A proposal was put to Kevin White who approved it. This task was undertaken by Neville Howcroft who later made many trips throughout PNG and West Irian (refer Neville’s story). Finally, on completing my final contract, I departed Papua New Guinea in May 1974 (termination date October 1974 due to long service leave) to accept a research position at the College of Forest Resources, University of Washington, Seattle. John Davidson succeeded me as the OIC in April 1974. *Footnote: In a paper titled “Some thoughts on Forest Products Research in Papua New Guinea “(1973) John Colwell (Chief, Division of Forest Products Research and 8

Figures from “PNG Forest Research Institute Annual Report, 1990.” Pp. 1-45.

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Development) put forward several options regarding the future of forest products research in the country. To quote one option in particular: The operation continues as a Forest Research Institute under the wing of the Department of Forests or Department of Natural Resources. Under these conditions it would include the function of Forest Research and of a National Herbarium and most likely some Agricultural Research function. John dismissed this as the most unlikely of the four options.

Part of PNG Insect Collection Bulolo. Photo credit Dick McCarthy.

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FOREST RESEARCH CENTRE, BULOLO 1972 - 1975 Dr J Davidson 9 This timetable covers the period of my tenure at the Forest Research Centre in Bulolo 1972 to end of 1975. The Forest Research establishment at Bulolo seems to have been referred to interchangeably as “Forest Research Station” and “Forest Research Centre.” Forest HQ seemed to prefer “Station,” Barry Gray signed his letters and memos “Principal Research Officer, FOREST RESEARCH CENTRE.” Communications with me from the Chief Minister’s Office re termination/repatriation, etc. always used “Forest Research Centre” throughout my tenure.

Source John Davidson.

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Personal communication John Davidson 6 May 2020

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In early 1972, Jack Simpson, Dave Lamb, John Davidson, and John Dalton were accommodated in temporary offices rented in one of the vacant CNGT single men’s’ barracks in downtown Bulolo. After the new wing was built at the Centre, Jack Simpson occupied one end with a laboratory attached, John Davidson an office at the other end, with a work/map room attached. Dave Lamb still did not have enough space, so he was posted to HQ, Port Moresby. Nev Howcroft moved from his Bulolo Station office to a desk and office facilities set up in the room in the new wing next to John Davidson, but he did not have an office of his own. Jeff Fairlamb was also located in that room. 1972 • January – Dave Lamb FO 2 (CR 9) posted in from Australia on contract. • May 5 – John Davidson posted in after PhD studies ANU– Research Officer (FO) 2 (held against FO 2 position R.76 Goroka), appointed as OIC Silvicultural Research. • John Dalton – posted as Research Officer (FO 1) to Dami Forest Research Station (near Hoskins). • August – September – Barry Gray went on leave, John Davidson was Acting Principal Research Officer, HDA to FO 4 (also carried out duties of OIC Silvicultural Research). 1973 • July – Lonnie Merrifield posted to PNG ex PhD studies in the USA. • Neville Howcroft took over pine research after John Smith posted to Forestry College. Moved from Bulolo Station office to middle of new wing Forest Research Centre. He was already looking after araucaria research after Leon Clifford was posted to the Forestry College. Since all three officers were still in close contact in Bulolo there remained considerable collaboration among them in the office and in the field (at Geshes and Road 53) until John and Leon left PNG. 1974

Bulolo Forest Research Station 1974. Photo credit John Davidson. 23

• • • • • • • • • • •

January – John Davidson’s application for FO 3 successful, promoted to FO 3, notified 3 January 1974. January - John Davidson resumed duty after recreation leave as FO 3, OIC Silvicultural Research. January - John Davidson FO 3 R124, held against CR6 Entomologist Class 3, since no FO Class 3 on Bulolo Research establishment, still OIC Silvicultural Research. January – Ian Barber departs PNG. 25 February – John Davidson HDA to FO4, still substantive FO3 R124 OIC Silvicultural Research, but also became leader “Lowlands Reforestation Project”. (HDA to FO 4 continued without a break until 2 December 1975.) February – Ross Wylie departs PNG. April – Barry Gray departs PNG. 30 April – John Davidson continued HDA to FO4 (but held against CR3, Principal Research Officer) after departure of Barry Gray. 30 April – John Davidson applied for the Foundation Chair of Forestry and Head of Department of Forestry in the School (later Faculty) of Natural Resources at the PNGUT. November – Lonnie Merrifield departs PNG. November – John Davidson moved to Lae on secondment to PNG University of Technology PNGUT), retains HDA to FO4 position CR3; As Acting Head of the new

24

Department of Forestry had his FO4 salary topped up Head of Department level by the University; Jack Simpson became Acting OIC Forest Research Centre. 1975 • June – Jeff Fairlamb leaves PNG (As well as his primary posting to Bulolo, he had been involved in extended temporary research postings to Brown River October – November 1972 (Teak breeding work) and to Madang, Kunjingini and Baku 1973 and 1974 (Kamarere breeding work).) • 15 August – John Davidson returns to Bulolo, ex secondment to PNGUT. • December – Application for post of FO 4 RM 9 successful (Note: It took 14 months for the selection committee to make its decision!). • 10 December – John Davidson departs Bulolo for final time, transfers back to PNGUT, still paid by Forest Department to FO 4 level, supplemented by the University until mid-1976 when he left the PNG Public Service with the benefits the Employment Security Scheme locked in and transferred to a wholly PNGUT contract. Jack Simpson again became acting OIC Forest Research Centre.

\ 25

26

Research Trials Bulolo

Source John Davidson.

27

Source John Davidson.

28

Photo of the Klinkii orchard next to and south of Road 51, Geshes experimental area in 1974. (The E. deglupta seed orchard is to the left of it, only 11 trees remain!). Photo credit John Davidson.

There are three Garaina Klinkii Grey clones here in the Bulolo clonal orchard. Photo credit Neville Howcroft. First crop from Garaina klinkii grey clones recorded. Photo credit Neville Howcroft.

A climber collecting scion material from the very top of a tall hoop pine (necessary to avoid plagiotropic growth of the subsequent graft.) Photo Credit John Davidson 1975. Geshes Hoop pine clonal orchard section at age 40 years. Photo credit Neville Howcroft.

29

Above an image of Bulolo and surrounds from 29 December 2019, with high density housing taking over the Geshes Rd 51 experimental area. At the top centre of the image is the junction between Rd 51 and the Bulolo - Lae road. To John Davidson’s knowledge no new work was done after Howcroft and Davidson left Bulolo. The general Geshes area was largely neglected and suffered several fires carried through the untended kunai grass among the plots, and nowadays the area is being taken up with high density housing. Source John Davidson.

Source John Davidson.

30

Research Trials Tropical Pinus spp. Pinus plantation Bulolo. Photo credit Dick McCarthy 2004. Part of Pinus merkusii hybrid seed production area Bulolo. Photo credit Neville Howcroft.

Eastern Highlands plantations extension between Lapegu Goroka plantations and Lufa Henganofi towards Kainantu. Species include P. patula and some P. strobus var chaiapensis. Photo credit Neville Howcroft.

Species trial. Portion of a block Lapegu Goroka. Photo credit Neville Howcroft. Species trial. P. caribaea var hondurensis Rd 35 Bulolo. Photo credit Neville Howcroft. Pinus caribaea clonal orchard Bulolo Clones Australian and some local clones as well National Seed production area. Photo credit Neville Howcroft.

31

Progeny & provenance pilot plantings Pinus merkusii and Pinus latterii Rd35 research plantation Bulolo. Photo credit Neville Howcroft.

Pinus merkusii from Queensland in clonal seed orchard Heads Hump Bulolo. Good form and vigour. Photo credit Neville Howcroft.

Philippines Pinus merkusii centre of photo and on right F1 hybrid Pinus merkusii x latterii. Photo credit Neville Howcroft.

Pinus merkusii hybrids Rd 31. Bulolo. Photo credit N Howcroft.

32

Research Trials Teak

Source John Davidson.

Source John Davidson.

33

Source John Davidson. 34

Source John Davidson. Young teak stand. Source DOF.

35

Research trials Eucalyptus spp.

Source John Davidson. 6–7-month-old kamarere E deglupta Kerevat ENB. Photo credit Ian Whyte 1968. Cuttings of E deglupta four months after planting. Photographed early May 1968 in cuttings plantation in Compartment 2 Vudal. Photo credit John Davidson.

36

1968 TPNG Forests First Silvicultural Research Conference.

Photo credit John Davidson.

37

Anon, (1968). First PNG Silvicultural Research Conference. Office of Forests, PNG. 85 p. This publication is a collation of the papers presented at the conference in 1968 (refer A. L. Cameron 1968a, 1968b; L. T. Clifford 1968; J. Davidson, 1968d; J. E. Riley, 1968; J. E. N. Smith 1968; K. J. White 1968; P. Wright, 1968.) Cameron, A. L. (1968a). Experimental procedure and communication. Item No. 2. Pp. 1-4. Paper presented to Silvicultural Research Conference, Bulolo. Cameron, A. L. (1968b). Genetic improvement of forest trees in New Guinea. Item No. 9. Pp. 1-8. Paper presented to Silviculture Research Conference, Bulolo. Clifford, L. T. (1968). Tree improvement hoop and klinkii pines. Item No. 11. Pp. 1-12. Paper presented to Silvicultural Research Conference, Bulolo. (cyclostyled). Davidson, J. (1968d). Forest tree improvement kamarere. Item No. 10, Pp. 1-8. Paper presented to Silviculture Research Conference, Bulolo. (cyclostyled)# (1) # Smith, J.E.N. (1968). The introduction of exotic softwoods to the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. First PNG Silvicultural Research Conference. Office of Forests, PNG. p. 19-38. White, K.J., 1968. Exotic introductions - Forest hardwoods. First PNG Silvicultural Research Conference. Office of Forests, PNG. p. 39-47. Neville Howcroft described the five-day silvicultural research conference in August 1968 at BFC which examined the progress of current research and future developments in terms of project and staff. Attendees were J Smith, KJ White, A L Cameron, J Davidson, L Clifford, and N Howcroft. • • •

Leon Clifford and Neville Howcroft dealt with conifer and broad leaf species introduction. Alan Cameron, John Davidson, and Leon Clifford on tree breeding teak, kamarere and Araucaria spp. Leon Clifford and Neville Howcroft on vegetative propagation of Araucaria spp. and Pinus spp.

The Bulolo meeting discussed • • • • • • •

research programs, procedure, communications etc. current progress of silviculture. techniques for establishment of klinkii and Pinus (Godlee and Smith). hoop pine thinning trials. forest protection – entomology. mycology and pathology – P Wright. fire protection - J Reilly.

The conference paved the way for changes in the research pathways and set new targets, development date lines; concluded or increased the life of current projects; took on board recommended adoption of techniques and new projects and where needed new research staff to be recruited. Tree improvement and seed orchard establishment for araucaria; kamarere; teak and Pinus were outlined. Howcroft’s duties were adjusted to include seed tree and clonal multiplication; provenance trials etc including the araucaria tree breeding work.

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FURTHER DOMESTICATION OF PNG’S INDIGENOUS FOREST SPECIES Author Dr Robert Thistlethwaite Domestication of indigenous species is certainly the correct approach to plantation establishment in PNG, rather than relying on exotic species with which local people have no familiarity. Early plantation activity in PNG did rely on local species, Hoop Pine, Klinkii Pine and Kamarere. The introduction of Teak was an aberration in this regard, but understandable when directed to the strongly dry monsoon area near Mt Lawes, inland of Port Moresby. However, the establishment of plantations of Teak at Kerevat was less apt when many other domestic species could have been used. The Kerevat plantations were based on the performance of early introductions of Teak in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by the Germans from Burma for trial plantings at Alexishafen near Madang and Kokopo near Rabaul. The Kerevat plantations, which included Kamarere, Teak, Balsa and trials of other species were grown on an area which came under strong land dispute (Baining) and large areas have been cleared for gardens. They are no longer controlled by the Government. There was also some work undertaken on the domestication of Terminalia brassii and trial plantings were made both at Kerevat and at Baku on the Gogol River. T. sepicana was also evaluated along with some exotic Terminalia spp but proved (at Kerevat) quite susceptible to white ant attack. T. brassii performed satisfactorily, but there was nothing at the time to recommend it over Kamarere. However, it is well to note that there are two forms of T. brassii. One form has good form and no stilt roots, while the other has a more variable form and had stilt roots with lenticels. The stilt root variety grew in swampy ground. As I recall, the stilt root variety came from the Jaba River area of Bougainville, but I have found no information on what may have survived mining activity at Panguna. The variety without stilt roots came from Buin. There were small trials of Intsia bijuga, which proved very slow growing at Baku. There are a number of E. tereticornis provenances in PNG and some were used in trials, along with E. brassiana. Neither proved particularly promising over other species. However, in the Efogi/Launumu area (on the Kokoda Track), and at Buna/Gona/Dobudura Grasslands (Popondetta area), E. tereticornis was prized as a house post. Anthocephalus chinensis (Labula) was grown in trial plantations at Baku on the Gogol River, quite successfully, although as would be expected with such an aggressive primary colonizer, its initial very high rate of growth tapered off as the plantation matured. Once established, a restriction of side light from competing vegetation, such as bananas, did not worry Labula. Acacia auriculiformis and A. mangium were evaluated in small trials in the Sepik R. area, and commercial plantings of A. mangium were established at Gogol by JANT. The extensive Pinus trials at Bulolo, in the Markham Valley, and in the eastern, western, and southern Highlands were directed to forest establishment on impoverished anthropogenic grasslands. A wide range of Eucalypt trials were established in the Highlands for local wood supply and to meet the needs of the tea and coffee industry for firewood. Highlands people are more familiar with the native species Casuarina oligodon (Yar). 39

Issues It is considered the following issues should be considered in building a matrix to aid selection of commercial potential on which to focus efforts. • • • • • • • • •

Local knowledge and acceptance of species Ease of propagation Suitability as a plantation species Silviculture Pests & diseases Milling difficulty Lyctus susceptibility Seasoning Utility (range of uses in line with known market need)

Local knowledge and acceptance of species For local plantings, knowledge of the species by villagers is more important than academic knowledge of exotic origin. This should be a key factor in the selection of an appropriate species for a specific area in PNG, especially where the active participation by villagers is sought. However, in the local context, a species like Yar would be as exotic to someone in Bougainville as would Red Cedar in the southern Highlands. Thus, the species to be developed should, wherever possible, be matched to the area. Unfortunately, this requirement is often overlooked globally in plantation establishment. The corollary is that sites selected for plantation establishment, whether undertaken as a commercial venture or as woodlots by village/landowners, should be a natural habitat for the chosen species. Red Cedar plantings, especially where agroforestry or village-based ventures are sought, should be directed to areas in which Red Cedar grows naturally and with which the people are familiar. When successful plantations have demonstrated their financial attractiveness, plantation establishment can then be extended into other suitable areas, coupled with an appropriate landowner education program and extension support. Ease of propagation Red Cedar is easy to establish if the ground has been disturbed to provide a seed bed for direct sowing or is suitable for planting seedlings. Rosewood on the other hand is extremely easy to propagate, especially from cuttings. This provides rosewood with a strong advantage for tree improvement over some other species. Rosewood thus lends itself to establishment in village gardens or in plantation formation. Some species are listed in the table below for which there is little knowledge on ease of propagation. Indeed, in the case of many species there is an extremely short period of seed viability under ambient temperature conditions. An example is T. brassii which has a viability period of only about 3 days. This limitation would severely hamper the utility of such a species as a plantation candidate, unless seed viability can be extended, or longer-term storage conditions are developed.

40

Suitability as a plantation species From their natural occurrence, some species suggest they could be well suited for plantation monocultures. Such proved to be the case for Hoop and Klinkii pine and for Kamarere, although Araucaria hunsteinii proved it had enhanced performance when early shade was provided. Thus, there was a tendency at one time to plant Klinkii under a nurse crop. Certainly, where the intent was to convert grassland to Araucaria, then Klinkii establishment under a Pinus spp overstory proved beneficial. Pometia pinnata (Taun) experience suggests it could be planted as a monoculture, but from its natural occurrence, it may be desirable to mix Taun with Intsia spp. In nature, both species require heavy site disturbance (such as wildfire) for natural establishment. It is known from elsewhere that Flindersia spp, Endospermum medulosum, Anthocephalus chinensis, Octomeles sumatrana and Terminalia brassii will perform well in plantations. Of these species, Flindersia spp will provide high end-value timber, the others utility grade, and veneers for low-mid-value usage. It is perhaps neither necessary nor desirable to develop single species commercial plantations. A combination of species, perhaps along the lines used in Fiji, might be a more useful approach, both in terms of companion-species benefits, reducing the buildup of predatory insect populations, and the prevention of the spread of fungal root attack. Silviculture Only crude silvicultural information is known about most species listed in the table on page 43. The exceptions might be Labula, Calophyllum, and Red Cedar. Silviculture protocols would have to be developed for target species where little information is available. Pests & Diseases Some knowledge on pests and diseases in PNG is available only for species on which research has been conducted. There has been considerable work on Hypsipyla robusta attack on Red Cedar in the past both in Australia and PNG (some also in Solomon Islands). However, it is interesting to note that even in the Mt Austin trial plots on Guadalcanal, where red cedar plantings had been severely attacked causing multiple leaders, the timber volume of those multiple leaders contained an attractive volume of higher quality timber. Thus, even under conditions of high insect attack, a village-based planting might still yield an attractive income. The length of the period to produce a log might discourage some landowners. (These trees had also suffered wind damage from cyclones.) All the primary colonizing species such as Basswood, Labula, and Erima experience strong insect attack on the large succulent juvenile leaves, but they weather this phase without any marked ill effect. Taun can develop a fungal-based condition known as brittle heart, where the timber becomes quite brittle and snaps readily with a sharp blow. The condition was observed particularly in the Madang area where it may have been associated with stress climatic conditions but has 41

been reported from other locations. Little is known of the cause of the condition or its distribution. An investigation of this factor would be advisable before proceeding to evaluate other parameters for this species. In the village context, this is of lesser significance as the trees will be planted more for their fruit than their timber. Milling Milling should be included as a selection parameter. For example, Anisoptera polyandra has a high silicon content which quickly dulls saws. It could therefore be unsuitable for a villagebased activity where portable sawmills are likely to be used. Some timbers might have milling difficulties due to compression and tension wood or be subject to severe collapse, etc. I am not competent to comment in this area. Lyctus susceptibility Likewise, lyctus attack is an important factor in the utilization of PNG timbers for which specialist advice should be sought. Seasoning It is one thing to grow wood and another to capture the optimal price for the product in the market. The ease with which the timber can be managed off the green line, etc., is another parameter which should be factored into any species selection. The finish, stability and presentation of timber packs will be crucial in marketing the product. Grade standards would need to be developed to ensure an export product acceptable to the market. Utility This includes both ease of working the timber and the end uses to which the timber can be put. The wider the range of uses then the higher the score which should be allocated to a species. For example, PNG Rosewood has a multiplicity of end uses and can take a fine finish which makes it highly attractive for furniture manufacture. LAND TENURE CONSIDERATIONS The history of PNG forestry has been one of a series of ‘difficulties’ or ‘challenges’ through land tenure conflicts, sometimes between government and landowners, but more often between various groups of landowners. Each landowner wants his land logged earliest and planted soonest so he has income as soon as possible. As it is not possible to satisfy all landowners over a large area of land, some conflict or expressed dissatisfaction is inevitable. Where the PNG legislation for landowner participation through landowning companies in some joint venture or partnership arrangement with the land ‘developer’ is employed, there is perhaps a better prospect for harmonious relations between developer (whether government, foreign investor, or aid organization) and the landowning groups. However, even within such 42

arrangements, conflicts can arise due, for example, to a perceived or real inequity in the division or distribution of cash payments for land rent, stumpage, or royalty, etc. Aid organizations would be well advised to use one of several PNG specialists who can mediate a sound arrangement in the first place. The upfront cost may save headaches and expense later, especially where new landowning groups identify themselves only after agreements have been entered into. The acquisition of propagation material does not present a major problem, although there could well be protracted negotiations on price. The main problem is that where a perceived grievance exists, then it may not be possible to undertaken multiple seed collections over time from the one area or obtain cuttings. Any tree improvement program needs to build into the initial design a greater number of collection sites than may be considered necessary, so some sites can be lost without seriously hampering the whole exercise. SPECIES SELECTION Industrial use In addition to the current domesticated indigenous species Eucalyptus deglupta (Kamarere), Acacia mangium, Acacia auriculiformis, Araucaria hunsteinii (Klinki), Araucaria cunninghamii (Hoop), the table below includes 27 indigenous species which could be considered for larger scale establishment or enrichment of areas selectively logged. 1. Agathis spp (Kauri)

Araucariaceae

2. Anisoptera polyandra *

Dipterocarpaceae

3. Anthocephalus chinensis (Labula)

Rubiaceae

4. Calophyllum spp (C. kunstlerii) *

Guttiferae

5. Campnosperma spp

Anacardiaceae

6. Canarium spp (Galip)

Burseraceae

7. Dacrydium cupressum (NG Huon Pine)

Podocarpaceae

8. Dracontomelon mangiferum (NG Walnut) Anarcardiaceae 9. Elaeocarpus sphaericus (Quandong)

Elaeocarpaceae

10. Endospermum medullosum (NG Basswood) 11. Flindersia laevicarpa (Scented Maple)

Euphorbiaceae

12. Flindersia pimenteliana (Silkwood)

Rutaceae

13. Flindersia spp (F. schottiana, F. ifflaiana, F. amboinensis) (Silver Ash) 14. Gonystylus macrophyllus (Ramin)

Rutaceae

15. Hopea papuana and H. forbesii (Light Hopea)

Dipterocarpaceae

Rutaceae

43

Gonystylaceae

16. Intsia bijuga (wet lowland/coast) (Kwila)

Leguminoseae

17. Intsia palembanica (coastal foothills) (Kwila) 18. Koompassia excelsa (Kempas)

Leguminoseae

19. Octomeles sumatrana (Erima)

Datiscaceae

20. Palaquium spp (Pencil Cedar)

Sapotaceae

21. Planchonella torricellensis (Pencil Cedar)

Sapotaceae

22. Pometia pinnata (Taun)

Sapindaceae

23. Pometia tomentosa (Taun)

Sapindaceae

24. Pterocarpus indicus (Rosewood)

Leguminosae

25. Pterocymbium beccarii (Amberoi)

Sterculiaceae

26. Santalum macgregorii (Sandalwood)*

Santalaceae

27. Syzygium buettnerianum (Water Gum)

Myrtaceae

28. Terminalia spp (T. brassii)

Combretaceae

29. Toona ciliata/ T. sureni (Red Cedar) *

Meliaceae

30. Vatica papuana

Dipterocarpaceae

31. Weinmannia spp (NG Mahogany)

Cunoniaceae

Leguminoseae

Note: Species marked with an asterisk (*) have already been proposed as high value PNG species which have not previously been the target of domestication programs. To this list of prospect species should be added Sandalwood which is more suited to villagebased commercial activity rather than industrial projects. However, there cannot be one simple set of priorities for PNG as a whole. The country is too large and too diverse for such an approach to have any validity in the eyes of the landowners. Rather, it is suggested, there should be a number of priority sets to accommodate such biophysical and ethnic/social diversity. This is particularly important where the national policy for forestry development is one of involving the people in the development process – the landowners, villages, and communities. If a species being promoted in an area is alien to that area, whether it originates elsewhere in PNG or overseas, then there will be little local sense of ‘belonging’ and hence at best an indifferent acceptance of the development. The exception may be where, through judicious extension and education, the promotion of a species captures the national imagination, both culturally and financially. Such is the case with Sandalwood or Kauri in different areas of Vanuatu. Those who have lived in PNG are aware of the contrasting differences between the Highlands and the Lowlands. Both are different from island scenarios, such as Manus, and New Ireland. And then there are different ecosystems within lowland regions on the northern and southern coasts of the PNG mainland, and in New Britain and Bougainville. 44

I have suggested elsewhere that the Highlands need species which can reclaim degraded grasslands. These might include Agathis, Palaquium, Dacrydium or Podocarpus. However, grassfires are a real threat. The supply of firewood for cooking is now at a premium so Yar should be a priority firewood species for the Highlands, not Australian eucalypts. Different sets of priorities need to be built for the various regions of PNG and subsets within them for differing sites. While the issues addressed by a selection matrix can be engineered to apply across the nation, the weightings applied will vary from region to region. Where Calophyllum spp have always been a major part of the scene, as in Manus, then there will obviously be a greater weighting placed on that species there. Likewise, for Red Cedar in Milne Bay, and Rosewood in Central Province. Flindersia spp would have greater weighting in Morobe, wattles in Western and so on. Village-based/landowner There are many species which are of vital importance to the village community. These species may be used for any one or a combination of the following purposes. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Fruit, edible, planted and wild Nuts, edible and planted Edible leaves: commonly cultivated exclusively or partly to produce edible shoots or leaves. Buildings: rot-resistant posts, aerial members Canoes & outriggers Weapons Utensils Rope Fuelwood Live fencing e.g., NG rosewood Ornamental and shade Custom decorations (Bilas) Custom medicine Custom poisons Carving Custom resins and glues Custom boundary markers Custom scents Custom dyes and paints

Some varieties of species, such as Artocarpus, provide timber rather than breadfruit, but fundamentally the fruit trees are not cut. There is thus perhaps little real need to undertake any special conservation measures or a ‘domestication’ programme for such species. They have been domesticated for 1000s of years and are extensively planted. I provide a list below of species which I consider should receive special attention. Many have both a commercial prospect as well as a custom use. Some are ‘only’ of custom use, but nevertheless important. I consider they should be considered in a ‘domestication’ program, 45

where it has been traditional practice, for example, to collect fruit or nuts from wild trees, but the trees could also provide income beyond immediate village need and barter. Alternatively, where through logging or other activity wild trees are becoming scarce or less readily accessible to villagers, then such species might be included in a ‘domestication’ programme. We should also not forget that, especially in densely populated Highland areas and in the main cities of Port Moresby and Lae, firewood is now a scarce and expensive commodity for the average household. The proportion of available income spent on firewood has grave social consequences in my opinion. Some visitors might conclude from the heaps of yar or other hot firewood on sale in Mt Hagen markets that firewood is plentiful. That would be quite wrong. There is a lot of cut firewood on sale because there is an extremely high demand, and a few landowners can reap considerable profit by supplying the need. In the process, other more distant areas are being stripped of wood, and the price goes up. I have seen the need for government support for firewood plantations grow enormously over the past 40 years. Firewood production systems, in close co-operation with landowners or villages would provide additional employment opportunities and income streams; such firewood production systems would focus on major urban centres; where, not so long ago, we sought to grow teak at Mt Lawes and Brown River, a eucalypt coppice-wood silviculture would be worth further investigation. Some will recall there were firewood plantation trials in the grasslands off the road to Brown River (near Mt. Lawes); they suffered from lack of interest and were abandoned as we foresters sought to grow timber not firewood. I have also tossed in Balsa, because it is well suited to village production, has a 3-year rotation (gets red heart beyond 4-5 years), is easy to mill and transport and has a remarkably high return. It is of course suited only to those areas where there is a uniformly distributed rainfall with no pronounced dry period. In the Table below, I suggest 16 species, some specifically of lowland interest, others for the Highlands. 1. Antiaris toxicaria

Moraceae

Timber, cash. (Aerial house members in round.)

2. Endospermum medullosum (NG Basswood)

Euphorbiaceae

Timber, cash. (Furniture, utensils, interior work.)

3. Macaranga aleuritoides

Euphorbiaceae

Timber-village construction in the round, light construction, interior finish.

4. Manilkara kanosiensis

Sapotaceae

Carving, cash, timber. (Wellknown carving timber in Sandaun and East Sepik.)

5. Pterocarpus indicus (NG Rosewood)

Leguminosae

Carving, furniture, posts, houses, firewood, cash. (Most underrated indigenous spp.)

6. Octomeles sumatrana (Erima)

Datiscaceae

Cash, village construction timber, utensils.

46

7. Inocarpus fagiferus

Leguminosae/ Papilionoideae

Food (nut), cash, timber, soil improver. (Trees rarely cut while producing nuts.)

8. Syzygium spp

Myrtaceae

Food (fruit), timber.

9. Terminalia kaernbachii (Okari) 10. Casuarina oligodon (Yar)

Combretaceae

Food (nut), cash.

Casuarinaceae

Hot firewood soil improver, timber, cash.

11. Heritiera littoralis

Sterculiaceae

Hot firewood.

12. Diospyros spp (Ebony)

Ebenaceae

Carving- d’Entrecasteaux and Louisades, cash.

13. Elmerrillia papuana (Wau Beech)

Magnoliaceae

Canoes, timber (interior finish or furniture).

14. Santalum macgregorii (Sandalwood) 15. Toona ciliata/T. sureni (Red Cedar)

Santalaceae

Cash, medicine, timber.

Meliaceae

Cash -high value end product timber.

16. Vatica papuana

Dipterocarpaceae

Cash, timber. (Source of damar. Light construction, moulding, interior finish.)

Casuarina oligodon is the premier tree of the highlands both for maintaining soil fertility, as fuel, charcoal, and a heavy construction timber. Village-based and landowner plantings are feasible. No training for planting or maintenance is required; western Highlanders know more about silviculture of this species than outsiders. Rosewood has a wide range of uses and a wide distribution. It provides very hot firewood, house posts, live fences, a prized carving wood and also a high-end value for furniture and veneer. The tree does not always have good form in the wild, but there are good prospects for improvement of form. The species is highly prized right throughout Melanesia. In Vanuatu it is one of the most significant custom trees and is cultivated in the gardens and used as a live fence, to prop bananas etc. The tree is easy to establish from cuttings and needs little attention except early vine control. Taun can provide a sought-after fruit and has a multiplicity of other uses. The species is sometimes planted in gardens close to villages. Like Intsia, it is thought to require land disturbance for successful establishment and can form nearly pure stands. A focus on establishment in gardens during, say Year 2 of garden tending would seem appropriate, with tending (particularly for vines) maintained for 2 years beyond other garden cultivation. Sandalwood has been considered by a number of Pacific Island countries for village-based income generation (e.g., Kadavu in Fiji, and Erromango in Vanuatu). It is regarded as a sound prospect for a village-based investment to produce highly priced oil and incense, as well as 47

timber for specialty furniture items. However, advice should be sought from New Caledonia on technical aspects of production. Galip (Canarium spp) has a potential as a nut tree, as well as supplying a useful timber for interior finish, utility furniture and flooring. Its main distribution is in East/West Sepik, New Britain, and Central Provinces. It is not included in the list above because of the time to produce nuts. Relevant but dated papers are: • • • • • •

Lane-Poole, C.E. (1925) The Forest Resources of the territories of Papua and New Guinea, Commonwealth Papers, Vol 2. Dadswell H.E. and Eckersley A.M. (1943) Some Timber Species of Papua and New Guinea with Descriptive Notes on Properties and Uses and Means of Identification. CSIR Division of Forest Products, Report No. 1, 1943. Dadswell H.E. and Eckersley A.M. (1944) Notes on Some Timber Species of Papua and New Guinea. Additions to Report No 1. TPNG, Dept of Forests (1957) The Forests and Forest Conditions in the Territories of Papua and New Guinea. Port Moresby. Louise Morauta, John Pernetta (Eds) (1982): Traditional conservation in PNG: Implications for today. Monograph 16: William Heaney Institute of Applied Social and Economic Research. Various Tropical Forest Research Notes by Silviculture Research personnel. 1971 onwards.

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THE RESEARCH PLAYERS

John Davidson Photograph 1973 Forest Research Staff Bulolo. The first is of the whole group (except me who is behind the camera!). Of the expatriate men in the back row, left to right, are Ross Wylie, Peter Shanahan, Neville Howcroft, Jeff Fairlamb, Ian Barber, Jack Simpson? Merrifield? and Barry Gray. Of the three expatriate women, Evelyn Grimstead, Pam Scraggs, and Betty Nissen (holding her child). An unframed enlargement of this photo with everyone, including local staff, identified in a caption underneath, was on the wall above the map cabinet in the newer FRS Bulolo building when I left. (Did it go down to Lae to the FRI?)

John Davidson Photograph 1973 is of the Entomology Section Bulolo. Expatriates are left to right: Ross Wylie, Lorne Merrifield, Ian Barber, Peter Shanahan and Barry Gray, and Evelyn Grimstead, Pam Scraggs, and Betty Nissen again among the women. 49

Photo Credit N Howcroft. Jack Simpson and staff Godfrey/? /Lawrence at Bulolo FRI

Photograph 1973. Silvicultural Section (minus John Davidson as he was the photographer) Neville Howcroft centre and then Jeff Fairlamb.

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AUSTRALIAN TPNG FORESTRY CADETSHIP SCHEME10 1948 to 1963 After the Second World War, a cadetship scheme was undertaken by the Australian Department of Territories to train Australian Forest Scientists to ensure sufficient professional staff for the purposes of creating a functional Forest Department for TPNG.

11

The cadetship scheme comprised two years at an Australian university undertaking an approved forestry science course, followed by a field year in TPNG to gain practical experience in all facets of forestry, followed by two years at the Australian Forestry School in Canberra. In later years, the field work requirements were changed to include all university vacations must be spent in PNG, thus reducing the training program by one year before graduation but still meeting the condition of 12 months field work. Surname

Positions

Edward Charles Gordon Gray (NG) Alexander John Hart (NG) Donald Henry McIntosh (NG12) Kevin Joseph White (Q) Jaroslav Joseph Havel (WA)13 Robin Bilbrough Morwood (NG) Frank Harry Coppock (NG) Elliot Carby Tuckwell (NG) John Godlee (NG)14 Ian Grundy (NG) Eric Hammermaster (Q/NG) Des Harries (NG) Gerry Vickers (NG) Alan Cameron (NG)15 John Smith (NG) Brian O’Hagen (NG)

TPNG Cadetship 1948 1946 1946 Qld 1953 1952 1953 1953 1954 1955 1955 1955 1955 1956 1956 1956

AFS 1950/51 1950/51 1950/51 1950/51 1953/54 1955/56 1956/57 1956/57 1957/58 1958/59 1958/59 1958/59 1958/59 1959/60 1959/60 1959/60

Year graduation 1952 1952 1952 1952 1955 1957 1958 1958 1959 1960 1960 1960 1960 1961 1961 1961

The appointments of Australian TPNG Forestry Cadets were summarized in LT Carron’s book in 2000 titled “A brief history of the Australian Forestry School (AFS) 11 Cadet Forest Officer pamphlet courtesy Des Harries 2019 12 Don McIntosh Third Director of Forests PNG 13 Joe Havel First Principal Bulolo Forestry College 14 Fourth Principal Bulolo Forestry College 15 Alan Cameron Schlich 1960 10

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Neil Brightwell (NSW) 1960 1960/61 1962 Alan White (NG) 1960 1960/61 1962 Leon Clifford (NSW)16 1958 1961/62 1963 Evan Shield (NG) 1958 1961/62 1963 John Lake (NG) 1962/63 1964 Ian Currie (NG) 1963/64 1965 John Harrison (NG) Medi vac out Last field 1961 1964/65 1966 Chris Borough (NG) Field year year for 1960 1964/65 1966 Bob Bruce (NG) no field year cadets 1961 1964/65 1966 Rex Grattidge (NG) no field year 1961 1964/65 1966 17 John Davidson (NG) no field year 1962 1965/66 1967 Paul Ryan (NG) no field year 1962 1965/66 1967 Rod Holesgrove (NG) no field year 1963 1965/66 1967 Jim Belford (C) 1966 1966/67 1968 Dick McCarthy (NG) no field year 1963 1966/67 1968 Dave Num (C) 1965 1966/67 1968 R G Lyons (NG) no field year 1965 1966/67 1968 Gary Archer (NG) no field year 1966 1967/68 1969 Chris Done (NG) no field year 1966 1967/68 1969 Ken Hart (NG) no field year 1963 1967/68 1969 Ian Whyte (C) 1966 1967/68 1969 Abbreviations. TPNG - Territory of Papua New Guinea, NG- New Guinea, Q – Queensland, WA – Western Australia, NSW- New South Wales, C- Commonwealth, AFS - Australian Forestry School, BFC - Bulolo Forestry College. Notes John Harrison18 completed his forestry degree in 1965 but during his field year in 1963 he was bitten by a Papuan black snake near Brown River. He joined the Division of Wood Technology NSW Forestry Commission. Brian O’Hagen19 had to leave TPNG due to a health issue related to malaria. He became a soil science lecturer at the Gatton Agricultural College. Note in Les Carron’s AFS list his surname spelt incorrectly i.e., 2THagen instead of O’Hagen. Alec Hart20 returned after five years in TPNG, (the last few years being at Kerevat), to his home state of Western Australia in 1957. Robin Livingston was the long serving Regional Forest Officer for Papua until approximately. 1968/69. He then took up a position with FAO based in Rome. John Lake21 returned to Tasmania for family reasons. He worked with Kauri Timber Company and then went to Private Forestry Tasmania. Ian Currie22 after serving one term in PNG returned to Australia joining ACT Forests. Chris Borough23 was the last to do a field year. Rob Bruce and Rex Grattidge were a year behind me at Sydney Uni. but caught up at Forestry School because they didn't do a field year.

Leon Clifford Second Principal Bulolo Forestry College John Davidson Schlich Medal 1966; First Forestry Professor UNITECH. 18 Per Com Chris Borough 21/10/18. 19 Per Com Des Harries per com19/9/18. 20 Per com Joe Havel/Roger Underwood. 21 Per com Evan Shield per comm 11/9/18. 22 Per com Gary archer 21/6/19. 23 Per com Chris Borough 2/8/21. 16 17

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AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975 `

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4M3 of 12th Aug 2022 AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

FOREST MANAGEMENT.

Eminent TPNG Forester Jim McAdam MM 1938 - 1959. First Director Forests. Editor R B McCarthy Jim McAdam’s MM (TPNG Forests 1938 - 1959), influence on the practice of PNG forestry, from being the first Chief Forester to the First Director of Forests, was such that the proper scientific and utilisation activities were undertaken and at the same time his protection of the traditional rights of the forest owners led to the establishment of what is today the Department of Forests of PNG, PNG’s forest industry and its allied tertiary forestry training institutions. He took PNG forestry from a regime of tracing the early explorers of the forest resource, a small mission-based sawmilling industry supplying local needs and the export of valuable cabinet species as walnut to what it is today. During the war years and beyond, McAdam24 had many prominent foresters and scientists such as Carron, Jacobs, Head, Suttie, Hall, Mair, Chandler, Head, Saxton, CT White, and Dadswell, to assist in the development of scientific management of TPNG’s forest resources. The Australian forest industry contributed greatly to TPNG’s forest industrial development as demonstrated by the sawmilling expertise of the Australian Army Forestry Units in TPNG during World War 2. Throughout all those turbulent times, McAdam’s leadership and foresight was demonstrated through: •

•

•

His use of the results of Army Forest Resource Survey Group (he commanded) to define forest types of PNG and make a reasonable estimate of large resources for future development. To McAdam’s credit, he insisted that all timbers harvested be recorded for eventual recompense to be made to the native owners for use of their trees. This became part of official Australian orders. Bennett25 described in some detail following the war, the compensation program undertaken by McAdam and his officers between 1947 and 1960, paying customary owners for the timbers harvested during the war. His post-war activities associated with providing timber for reconstruction of war damage and laying foundations for future forestry development

PNGAF Mag # 3 of 3 November 2022. Bennett J A Allied logging and milling in Papua New Guinea during World War 2. Fifth National Conference on Australian Forest History edited by John Dargavel, Denise Gaughwin and Brenda Libbis in 2002 ISBN 0867405309 . 24 25

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•

• •

•

•

•

His use of former Australian army forestry personnel to undertake the running of sawmills for post-World War 2 reconstruction of the towns and out centres of TPNG such as Jim Cavanaugh; Ted Collis, John Lowien, Reay Weidenhofer, Eric Dobson, Robert Cattanach, Alan Fraser, Ken Fraser, Keith Cullen, Darby Munro, Don Fryar, Bill Suttie, George Barrcroft, Bert Gloynes, Dick Reilly, Michael Jackson, Kevin White,; Ernie Clifton, Frank Vickery, Frank Holland, Alec Richardson, Col Pittaway, Bill Jenkin, John Thompson, James Nugen, Larry Edwards. The establishment of a forest ordinance. His initiatives led to the establishment of plantations at Kerevat, Bulolo and Wau. These early initiatives lead to the establishment of a specific forest plantation research section. This has culminated in the viable PNG forest plantation sector of today. His development by 1948 of the TPNG cadetship scheme for highly qualified and experienced Australian forest officers to implement his visions came into being. The first TPNG forestry cadets included returned serviceman Don McIntosh (third Managing Director Dept. of Forests) together with Alec Hart (later to join CALM WA) and Ted Gray (later to join the World Bank). That same year had returned serviceman Kevin White (Deputy Director) as a forestry student who was then sponsored by Queensland Forestry but later to join TPNG Forests. They were followed by TPNG Forestry cadets as Joe Havel, Robin Morwood, Frank Coppock, Elliot Tuckwell, John Godlee, Ian Grundy, Eric Hammermaster, Des Harries, Gerry Vickers, Alan Cameron, John Smith, Brian O’Hagen, Neil Brightwell, Alan White, Leon Clifford, Evan Shield, John Lake, Ian Currie, John Harrison, Chris Borough, Bob Bruce, Rex Grattidge, John Davidson, Paul Ryan, Rod Holesgrove, Dick McCarthy, Ken Hart, Bob Lyons, Dave Num, Jim Belford, Chris Done, Ian Whyte and Gary Archer. His concept of large-scale ongoing forest resource investigations continued after World War 2. This was coupled with the commencement of detailed research investigations for viable industrial wood processes for the conversion and treatment of PNG woods such that a structured wood processing and construction industry be established. His initiatives led to the establishment of PNG’s tertiary forestry training institutions, especially at Bulolo Forestry College followed later by the establishment of the forestry degree course at UNITECH Lae under foundation Professor John Davidson.

“JB” James Bannister McAdam MM 1910-1959 Graduate of the University of Queensland & Australian Forestry School and in 1932/33 Dux- winning the Schlich Medal. In 1934 joined Queensland Forestry. In 1938 joined TPNG and Chief Forester 1939; 1939-45 World War 2. awarded the Military Medal; 1944/45 Lt Col 1 Aust CRE (New Guinea Forests) 1946 became Director of Forests; died 1959.

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AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4H5 of 12th Aug 2022 FOREST MANAGEMENT. Eminent TPNG Forester Bill Heather 1947-1955 Editor R B McCarthy AFS Class 1943-1944. L to R. Dick Woods (SA) awarded Schlich Medal, Alan McArthur (NSW), Bill Hindmarsh (NSW), Bill Heather (NSW), Hugh Bell (NSW). Source ANU AFS archives.

Kamarere (Eucalyptus deglupta) plantation Kerevat Forest Area New Britain. Source Encyclopedia of PNG. 1948 E deglupta (Kamarere) Kerevat ENB planted by Bill Heather and Forest Ranger W R Fryar. Photo credit John Davidson 1972.

In 1955 Bill Heather published Heather, W. A. (1955). The Kamarere (Eucalyptus deglupta) forests of New Britain. Empire Forestry Review, 34: 255-278.vol 3. This paper descibed the environmental conditions under which E deglupta occurs naturally in New Britain. Silvicultural characteristics and requirements of the species are outlined. A silvicultural system and policy of management are proposed. Information on growth, yield, major properties and uses of the timber is summarised. NAME Occupation Work Locations Life after PNG

Bill Heather 1923-2004 Forest Officer Rabaul 1940’s and early 1950’s New Britain. He established Kerevat Plantation program with E deglupta (kamarere). Lecturer in forest pathology and wood science at AFS. Bill Heather’s thesis in 1965 for his Ph.D. was on: Some aspects of the ecology and pathology of phaeoseptoria eucalypti Hans. emend. Walker on some species of the genus eucalyptus. Heather, William Aloysius.

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AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4L5 of 13th Aug 2022 FOREST MANAGEMENT. Eminent TPNG Forester Robin Levingston 1963 - 1967. Editor R B McCarthy A description of early research in the Brown River was made by Robin Levingston (TPNG Forests 1952-1967) Reafforestation with teak in the South Pacific Bulletin 1967. Robin described the establishment of an eight-acre trial in 1955-56 of Araucaria, Cedars, Eucalypts, Pinus, and Teak. The teak was very successful while the others were failures or marginal and following further trials in 1958-1959 the first large plantings of teak in the hilly country commenced and a reduction in planting the logged lowland rainforest. The seed for the original Brown River plantings came from the old German teak plantings at Sek near Madang. These German plantings (dated 1914?) of some 2400 acres had the best trees harvested by the Japanese during WW2.

Robin Levingston AFS 1953 Graduates. Source ANU AFS archives.

Name Date joined Forestry PNG Occupation

Robin Levingston 1963-1967 Regional Manager Papuan Region

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AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4D2 of 13th Aug 2022 FOREST MANAGEMENT. Eminent TPNG Forester Dave Dun 1955 - 1961. Editor R B McCarthy Dave Dun (TPNG Forests 1955-1961) was first based at Bulolo in 1955 and then in Port Moresby as the Chief of Division of Silviculture from 1956-1958 to Deputy Director in 1961. He participated in forest plantation research. In 1957 Dave prepared a paper titled “Plantation research, Bulolo” for the pre-conference tour 7th British Empire Forestry Conference. 1957. L-R Jim McAdam, Dave Dun, Bill Suttie Bulolo. Photo credit Linda Cavanaugh.

Name Year of birth Date joined Forestry PNG Occupation Work Localities Departure PNG

Dave Dun 1924 1955-1961 Chief Division of Silviculture Bulolo Forest Research 1961 to FAO

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AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4W3 of 14th Aug 2022 FOREST MANAGEMENT. Eminent TPNG Forester Kevin White 1957-1977. Editor R B McCarthy

Kevin White26 (TPNG Forests 1957-1977) succeeded Dave Dun as Chief of Silviculture from 1958 to 1977. Kevin played a pivotal role in the planning and supervision of silvicultural research in PNG. In a departmental report covering the years 1960-1965 silvicultural research was “formulated at the headquarters level with major priorities in improvement of nursery techniques; determination of thinning schedules for management objectives; selection and testing of parent trees and seed orchard establishment, and insect control”. (REF Progress report 1960-65 prepared by the Department of Forests for the Commonwealth Forestry Conference. 1968, Pp. 1-21). Photo credit John Davidson.

Gogol Survey 1963. Evan Shield, John Lowien, Eric Hammermaster, Bill Jenkin, Norm Endacott, Kevin White. Photo Credit M Jenkin.

26

PNGAF MAG # 3 of 3 Nov 2022 p 85, PNGAF MAG # 4 of 21/11/2022 p35-37, PNGAF MAG # 6 OF 8th Jan 2021 p 45-47

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NAME YEAR OF BIRTH DATE JOINED FORESTS PNG OCCUPATION

LOCALITIES OF WORK DEPARTURE PNG LIFE AFTER PNG

Kevin White 1924-2012 1957 Assistant Botanist and Plant Ecologist Division of Botany Lae Chief of Division Silviculture Assistant Director Forests Throughout PNG 1977 FAO Bangladesh ADB Nepal Various consultancies

Kevin White’s Niece Therese Toohey27 Good evening to all, I am sorry to inform you this way and apologies to those who have already been informed. Kevin died last Thursday 28 June 2012 peacefully in his sleep. He led a most amazing life, travelling and working widely, and ultimately enjoying life to the full. He was our Uncle and generous with his time and care for our mother and our family. In more recent years, he played an important part in keeping our branch of the White family in contact with each other. Having written the family history, it was only just he saw his generation through to the end, outliving his sister by 2 weeks.

27

Personal communication Rose Toohey 11 April 2019.

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AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4H7 of 15th July 2022 FOREST MANAGEMENT. Eminent TPNG Forester Joe Havel 1953-1965 Editor R B McCarthy Joe Havel (TPNG Forests 1953-1965) was the first full-time silvicultural researcher in the Department of Forests in Papua New Guinea. Early research into Klinkii Pine silviculture28 was undertaken by Joe Havel which was completed by 1959 and published in 1965. Joe Havel in his M.Sc. Thesis acknowledged his time at Bulolo from 1952-1954. Havel, in the introduction in his M.Sc. Thesis29 (Thesis submitted to the University of Queensland 1959), notes “the investigations here described were intended to deal with the many problems met in raising and planting klinkii pine seedlings. Though the Queensland hoop pine techniques were useful as a guide, a complete investigation of all aspects of raising and planting klinkii seedlings was necessary.” His pioneering studies on klinkii pine in 1955 to 1959 enabled the species to be grown more successfully in the nursery and plantations (Ref. 1965 Plantation establishment of klinkii pine (Araucaria hunsteinii) in New Guinea. Commonwealth Forestry Review, 44(3): (172-187). Dr Joe Havel did extensive research into the ecological studies of the PNG Araucaria forests which have been published internationally. Ref. Havel, J. J. 1971. The Araucaria forests of New Guinea and their regenerative capacity. J. Ecology, 59: 203-214. (1).

Joe Havel with students studying botanical specimens PNG Forestry College Bulolo. Photograph 1964 Dept. of Forests Port Moresby.

Havel J J 1965 Plantation establishment of klinki pine (Araucaria hunsteinii) in New Guinea. Common Forestry Review 44 (3) 172-87 29 Havel, J. J. (1962). An investigation of problems of plantation establishment of klinki pine (Araucaria klinkii). M.Sc. Thesis submitted to University of Queensland, Brisbane. 28

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Name Joined PNG Forestry Occupation

Havel Jaroslav Joseph 1953 Cadet Forest Officer Forest Officer Acting Regional Forest Officer Principal Forestry College Bulolo 1955-56 Bulolo 1957-58 Bulolo and Highlands 1959-60 Rabaul 1962-64 Bulolo 1965 I had to restart in WA practically from scratch, but ultimately progressed to Director of Research and Planning in Department of Conservation and Land Management in WA. Yes. 1953 Graduation 1955. Bill Finlayson who was Deputy Principal of the Forestry College 1963-65. He was from UK. Address unknown

Work Locations

Departure PNG Life after PNG

PNG Forestry Cadetship Any other staff

30End

of 1964 Photo Forestry College staff housed in temporary quarters near Bulolo Forestry Station Office. Front row L to R Hi, Norma Collis, Arthur "Blue" Ramsay, Joe Havel, Bill Finlayson and Heinar Streimann. Photo credit Norma/Cheryl Colis.

30

Personal communication Gary Archer 25th January 2021.

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AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4C2 of 16th Aug 2022 FOREST MANAGEMENT. Eminent TPNG Forester Alan Cameron TPNG Forests 1956-1970. Editor R B McCarthy In 1962 Alan began tree breeding and selection studies into teak and kamarere (refer “Genetic improvement of teak in New Guinea.” Australian Forester, 30: 76-87 (1966), and “Forest tree improvement in New Guinea. 1 Teak.” Paper prepared for 9th Commonwealth Forestry Conference, New Delhi 1968). Later, Alan conducted studies in the Bulolo plantations on hoop pine and klinki pine and supervised silvicultural research. Kevin White and Alan compiled the silviculture “bible” titled “Silvicultural techniques in Papua New Guinea forest plantations,” Bulletin No. 1, Division of Silviculture, Department of Forests, Port Moresby, 2nd Printing, Pp. 1-99 (1966).

Alan left the Territory in early 1970 and later returned (refer Alan Cameron’s story). AFS 1960. Source. ANU-AFS Archives.

Alan Cameron & Ken Granger Brown River burn, October 1967. Photo Credit Ken Granger.

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NAME Qualifications

Awards

Joined PNG Forests Occupation Work Localities Departure PNG Life after PNG

Organisations

Work Fields

Alan Lachlan Cameron 1937B.Sc. For. (Hons) University of Queensland (1960), (1962) Diploma of Forestry (with distinction) Australian Forestry School (1960) Various Technical College qualifications at Certificate level in horticultural practices, including irrigation, agricultural chemical use, plant culture, harvest, and post-harvest quality control Sir William Schlich Memorial Gold Medal (1960) Hedges Prize (1965) Churchill Fellowship (1966) 1956 Cadet Forest Officer, 1956-1960 Forester, various ranks, PNG 1961- 1969 Throughout PNG 1970 Project Director, Savoy Corporation Ltd (1970-1973), (1975) Director, Walnut Island Plantations Ltd (1970-1973) Managing Director, Foreign Management Consultants Pty Ltd (19731975) Indonesia Senior Research Officer, C.S.I.R.O., Division of Forest Research (1975-1979) Resource Manager, PNG Forest Products Pty Ltd (1979-1980) General Manager, PNG Forest Products Pty Ltd (1980-1986) Director, Golden Pines Pty Ltd (1981-1986) Director, PNG Forest Products Pty Ltd (1981-1986) Managing Director, Forest Management Services Pty Ltd (1984-1985) Member, PNG Shippers Council (1980-1986), Chairman (1983-1985) Member, PNG Forestry Council (1981-1985) Member (Management Committee), PNG National Business Association (1981-1985) Member, PNG Forest Industry Association (1980-1986) Chairman (1983-1985) Managing Director, Alarc Consultants Pty Ltd (1986-2005) Managing Director, Kei Beseu Kampani Pty Ltd (1989-1990) Manus Island PNG Manager, P.T. Achenusa Indrapuri, (1993-1997) Indonesia Director, Mountain Top Coffee Ltd (1999-2004) Director, Macadamia Processing Company Ltd (2001-2004) Director, Australian Commercial Bamboo Corporation Ltd (19992004) Chairman (2001-2004) Institute of Foresters of Australia (1960-2005) Avocado Growers Association (1987-2004) Low Chill Stone Fruit Growers Association (1986-2004) Macadamia Growers Association (1989-2004) Australian Commercial Bamboo Corporation Ltd (1999-2004) Banana Growers Federation Ltd (1986-2004) I initiated the forest tree genetic improvement program in PNG in the early 1960’s and have been involved in selection of species/varieties/clones for cultivation in the forestry and horticultural sectors. I have conducted nutrition research for forest plantations and horticultural crops over a long period of time.

63

I conducted forest management research in PNG and general forest administration in Australia and PNG. I was involved in the early development of the woodchip industry in Australia and development and management of several forest harvesting and processing operations in Australia, PNG, and Indonesia. I have been a consultant to FAO, UNIDO, UNHCR, IFAD, Asian Development Bank, World Bank, AusAid, in the fields of forestry, forest industry, agro forestry, plus several private companies in forest industry, forest product marketing and horticultural project design and property assessment, plus some training of government and private company staff in developing countries. In doing so I have worked in 25 countries, dealing frequently with rural people at and near the subsistence agricultural level. 1979-1986 PNG 1986 Solomon Islands - Ausaid 1987 North Qld World heritage area assessment. 1987 Bangladesh Project evaluation 1987/88 Iran Site degradation 1988 Bangladesh 1988 Ghana 1989/90 Manus Is 1990 Guyana 1990 Sri Lanka 1991 Fiji, Sol Is. Vanuatu 1993-97 Indonesia 1994 PNG 1995 Ghana I was involved in Horticulture, growing vegetables, coffee, various fruit crops, bamboo, and Macadamia nuts from 1986 to 2004 and continue a small operational interest in some crops

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AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4C2 of 16th Aug 2022 FOREST MANAGEMENT. Eminent TPNG Forester John Smith TPNG Forests 1956-1970. Editor R B McCarthy Forest plantations, especially tropical pines, became John’s enduring professional interest. John introduced Pinus spp. into the Highlands. 31 Eastern Highlands Plantations. Species P. patula and P. strobus var chaiapensis. Photo credit Neville Howcroft.

Pinus caribaea var hondurensis Bulolo. Photo credit Neville Howcroft

L-R. Bob Bruce and John Smith at plaque for Jim McAdam at McAdam Memorial Park Wau 1968. Photo credit John Davidson.

NAME Joined PNG Forests Occupation Work Localities

Departure PNG LIFE AFTER PNG TPNG cadetship

31

John Edward Nayler (“JEN”) Smith 1937-2011 As a cadet forester in February 1956 Forester 1961-62 Kerevat 1963-64 Wewak 1965-69 Bulolo 1970-71 Mt Hagen 1972-73 UNE Master of Natural Resources 1974-76 Bulolo 1976 1977-79 National Parks South Australia 1979-97 APPM Forest Products Tasmania Yes – 1956. Graduated AFS 1961.

Smith JEN 1970 Silviculture of Pinus in PNG Silviculture Bulletin No 5

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AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4C2 of 17th Aug 2022 FOREST MANAGEMENT. Eminent TPNG Forester Leon Clifford TPNG Forests 1958-1975. Editor R B McCarthy In 1963 Leon Clifford was transferred from Kerevat to Bulolo where he worked on tree improvement in Araucaria. Spp. REF. Tree improvement hoop and klinkii pines. Item No. 11, Silvicultural Research Conference, Bulolo, 1968. Pp. 1-9 (plus three append). Leon also established several yield plots and conducted a survey of termite damage in the hoop pine plantations (refer Ardley, Clifford, and Gay “Termite damage to plantation-grown hoop pine in New Guinea.” Paper presented to 12th International Congress of Entomology. Pp. 680-681, 1964). In 1965 Leon was appointed to the position of Acting Principal of the Bulolo Forestry College following the departure of Joe Havel. The yield plots were used by the students at the forestry college for training in mensuration and growth studies. Leon left Bulolo in late 1970 to accept a position at the Regional Forestry Office, Lae. Photo credit Phil Pope. .

NAME BORN DATE JOINED FORESTRY PNG Occupation Work Localities Departure PNG PNG FORESTRY CADETSHIP DATE OF GRADUATION

Leon Thomas Clifford 1936 1958 Forest Officer Kerevat New Britain, Bulolo, Bulolo Forestry College, Regional Forest Officer Lae. December 1975 Yes. 1958 November 1962 66

AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4D3 of 18th Aug 2022 FOREST MANAGEMENT. Eminent TPNG Forester John Davidson TPNG Forests 1962-1980. Editor R B McCarthy John Davidson (TPNG Forests 1962-1980) addressed the void in research on kamarere. John studied kamarere at Kerevat (June 1967-March 1969 and from October 1970 to January 1971) for which he was awarded a Ph.D. in 1972 from the Australian National University (Thesis titled “Variation, association and inheritance of morphological and wood characters in a tree improvement program for Eucalyptus deglupta Blume”. In March 1972 John transferred to the forest research station initially as head of the silviculture section and then head of the station before being appointed Foundation Professor of Forestry at UNITECH Lae in 1975. .

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NAME YEAR OF BIRTH TPNG FORESTRY CADETSHIP DATE OF GRADUATION

DATE JOINED DEPARTMENT OF FORESTS PNG WHAT WAS YOUR OCCUPATION?

WHAT LOCALITIES DID YOU WORK IN?

WHAT DATE DID YOU LEAVE PNG? LIFE AFTER PNG BRIEFLY

John Davidson 1943 Yes (for four years). March 1962-March 1964; March 1965-March 1967. 8 March 1967 (would have been early November 1966 with BSc (Forestry), but under Australian Forestry School/Australian National University transition arrangements, undertook the inaugural Honours course from April 1966. This required an additional five months of full-time intense course work and language study, as well as completion of a mini thesis, all of which led to the award of BSc (Forestry) with First Class Honours being conferred on 13 April 1967). 11 March 1967, following Forestry Cadetship. (Actual Seniority Date in the TP&NG Public Service: 5 March 1962). Forest Officer Classes 1, 2, 3, 4 (All Forest Researchrelated posts in the Department of Forests) 11 March 1967 – June 1976; Professor, Foundation Chairman and Head of the Department of Forestry July1976 – December 1978, Dean Faculty of Natural Resources 1978, Pro-Vice Chancellor 1979 – February 1980 at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNGUT). Bulolo (December1963 - March 1964; March1972 December 1975) Brown River (January - February 1965) Keravat (11 March 1967 – March 1969; October 1970 – January 1971) Lae (December 1975 – 4 February 1980). 4 February 1980. PNGUT terminal study leave 1980-1981 in Australia (including 6mths Visiting Scientist, CSIRO Canberra), Brazil and other countries. Senior Forestry Officer (P5 L10) Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations 1982-1984. Forestry and Environment Consultant and Director, in Resource and Environmental Services and Eucalyptus and Forestry Services, two businesses operating out of Armidale NSW 1984-2005. Research Scientist, Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra 2005-2009. “Semi-retired” late 2009 to present.

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AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4H9 of 19th Aug 2022 FOREST MANAGEMENT. Eminent TPNG Forester Neville Howcroft OBE 1965 - 2017. Editor R B McCarthy . A constant factor in PNG’s forest tree plantation development program from 1965 through to the current day, has been Neville Howcroft OBE who must be given special recognition for his professionalism and relentless devotion to forest tree plantation development in PNG.32 Neville Howcroft at presentation of final Balsa Project ITTO meeting Japan with Dick McCarthy PNGFIA & Diki Kari NFS. Photo credit N Howcroft. Okaspmin Locality – Nev Howcroft using climbing irons for Hoop Pine seed collection 1975. Photo credit Howcroft collection. Da signature pipe and gun (for collecting seed as eucalypts, kauri etc). Photo credit Howcroft collection.

L-R Bob Thistlethwaite, Neville Howcroft, and Dick McCarthy. Neville Howcroft with his signature pipe getting ready to say something for the recorder Legume Field Day Bulolo 21/2/1974. Photo credit John Davidson.

Home away from home. Bulolo golf club. R-L Neville Howcroft; Director FRI Dr Prem Srivastava; Dr Hywell Roberts; Japanese Visitor; John Mukiu; Japanese Visitor. Photo credit Nev Howcroft.

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REF PNGAF MAG ISSUE # 9B4B1 of 31 May 2022.

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Neville Howcroft (TPNG Forests 1965-2017) in October 1965 was recruited from the Queensland Department of Forests. Neville Howcroft’s forestry duties became more diversified over time involving, forest protection with entomology, while in other areas leading into the establishment of tree breeding programs and seed orchard of several Pinus species using clonal and seedling seed orchard strategies). Howcroft trained staff and initiated PNGs first ever controlled pollination program to produce its first hybrids involving Pinus merkusii provenances and Pinus Latteri. Shortly after this he became responsible for the Araucaria improvement and research program. This now included the establishment of PNG partnering FAO in exploration of natural forestry resources and perceived conservation status, estimates of seed production, time, and ease of access and to expedite collections for national and international provenance trials and to identify and recommend ex situ conservation stands. Initially this involved PNG and West Papua Araucaria cunninghamii and A. hunsteinii as well as with Eucalyptus deglupta; these followed targets identified and set by the new senior staff, Mr Barry Gray and Dr. John Davidson and in collaboration with Australia National Tree Seed Centre, ACIAR and overseas supporters and partners interested in specific PNG genera and species. Neville Howcroft and John Smith conducted trials on Pinus genetics and established hoop pine yield plots in the Bulolo and Wau plantations. In 1970 John was transferred to the Eastern Highlands as the Regional Forest Officer based at Mt. Hagen. Neville continued the research program on Pinus and other projects while attached to the Bulolo forestry station and in April 1972 he joined the Forest Research Station. Neville had a long and distinguished career in Papua New Guinea departing in 2017 (refer Neville Howcroft’s story).

NAME YEAR DATE JOINED DEPT OF FORESTRY PNG WHAT WAS YOUR OCCUPATION

Neville Howcroft OBE 1938 to present 1st October 1965

Senior Technical Research Officer Forest Consultant University Lecturer WHAT LOCALITIES DID YOU WORK Bulolo/Wau/UNITECH Lae; EHP; WHP; IN Enga; NGI; Central; Western Province. Lae FRI; Sepik; Irian Jaya; Milne Bay New Britain Rabaul/Vudal;/UNRE 2007 WHAT DATE DID YOU LEAVE PNG 29th November 2017 LIFE AFTER PNG IF YOU WISH TO Still kicking, writing, and missing PNG COMMENT BRIEFLY

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AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4G5 of 20th Aug 2022 FOREST MANAGEMENT. Eminent TPNG Forest Entomologist Dr Barry Gray 1966 - 1974. Editor R B McCarthy

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“STILL LOST”

Photo R-L Dr Gary Bacon and Dr Barry Gray.

Name Year of birth Date joined Forestry PNG Occupation Work Localities Departure PNG Life after PNG

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Barry Gray 1940 1966 Forest Entomologist Bulolo Forest Research 1974 Research Associate College of Forest Resources, University of Washington. Visiting Professor Oregon State University, then to life in Beerwah and Peachester Queensland.

Source. Post Courier Friday 1st August 1969.

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AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4W5 of 20th Aug 2022 FOREST MANAGEMENT. Eminent TPNG Forest Entomologist Dr Ross Wylie 1967-1974. Editor R B McCarthy Ross Wylie Bulolo 1968. Photo credit Barry Gray. Dr Ross Wylie Science Leader National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program Biosecurity Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

NAME

Biography – Dr Francis Ross Wylie BSc. MSc. PhD

Joined PNG Forests

1967

OCCUPATION

Entomologist

Work Localities

Bulolo

DEPARTURE PNG

1974

LIFE AFTER PNG

Ross is an entomologist who commenced his career in 1967 with the PNG Department of Forests studying insect pests of trees and timber. From 1974-2006 he worked with Queensland Forestry, mainly researching pests of plantation trees and production native forests, forest health surveillance, native tree dieback and forestry quarantine. He has led research projects and carried out consultancies for agencies such as ACIAR, AusAID, FAO and Asian Development Bank in 18 countries in Asia and the Pacific. Ross has written over 100 journal and technical publications and four books, the latest being “Insect Pests in Tropical Forestry” (CABI). Since leaving forestry he has been Science Manager and now Science Leader in Biosecurity Queensland working on invasive ants, particularly red imported fire ant.

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AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4R4 of 21st Aug 2022 FOREST MANAGEMENT. Eminent TPNG Forester Jim Riley 1967 - 1977. Editor R B McCarthy

Jim Riley as Fire Protection Officer for the Bulolo Wau plantation complex, reviewed in 1968 (paper enclosed) the fire issues affecting the hoop and klinkii plantations. Given the susceptibility of hoop and klinkii to fire, enormous challenges faced the Bulolo foresters in developing the plantations. Howcroft34 described the importance of fire, culturally and environmentally to the traditional owners. He highlighted the introduction to the fire hazard and the need for plantation fire protection.

Photo Credit Philip Pope

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Howcroft PNGAF Mag # 9B-5B4H9 p16/p17

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Name Year of birth Joined Forestry PNG Occupation

Work Locations Departure PNG Life after PNG

Jim Riley 1941 1967, Resigned 1971, Re-joined 1975. Prior to PNG service, joined NZ Forest Service 1958 as a Ranger trainee, 9 years’ service including general silviculture, ecological forest survey North Island’s major mountain ranges, 3 years on sand dune reclamation works, 2 years OIC small forests. PNG commenced as Technical Assistant at Bulolo with John Smith on Pinus sp. Research, then Fire Officer Bulolo, then Lecturer Bulolo Forestry College. Bulolo 1977 2 years with J Groome & Associates Forest Consultants 7 years with Fletcher Forests Ltd, Logging Manager at Tairua Forest, A2 Hauler crews, 1 skidder crew operation Subsequently, approximately 20 years harvest planning the logging of forests in the upper North Island for several Forestry Corporations.

Aftermath of Heads Hump Fire of September 1972. More than 800 ha of immature hoop pine killed which was unsalvageable and immediately attacked by fungi and beetles. The fire burnt through most of the grassland on the slopes but did not penetrate the relatively intact rainforest. Photo credit John Davidson. 75

AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4C2 of 21st Aug 2022 FOREST MANAGEMENT. Eminent TPNG Forest Entomologist Brenton Charles Peters TPNG Forests 1969-70 Editor R B McCarthy . Brenton Charles Peters35 1948-2019 Forest Entomologist Bulolo 1969-1970.

Name Date joined Forestry PNG Occupation Work Localities

Brenton Peters 1969-1970 Forest Entomologist Bulolo Forest research

35

Obituary prepared by Dr Ross Wylie Jan/Feb 2019 Source: http://www.esq.org.au/bulletins/ESQ46[9]E.pdf Used with permission of the Peters family and Web Manager Entomological Society of Queensland.

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AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9D4I of 21st Aug 2022 FOREST MANAGEMENT Eminent TPNG Forester Dr Bob Thistlethwaite TPNG Forests 1971-1975. Editor R B McCarthy

Dr Robert ‘Bob’ Thistlethwaite (31/8/41-9/5/21) .

Shiitake party 1973. L to R: Bob Thistlethwaite, Jack Simpson, Dave Lamb (partly obscured at rear), OIC Mori Research, Egon Horak, Kisaku Mori in Castanopsis forest at Bulolo. Photo credit Bob Thistlethwaite.

NAME DATE JOINED DEPT OF FORESTRY WHAT WAS YOUR OCCUPATION

LOCALITIES DID YOU WORK IN WHAT DATE DID YOU LEAVE PNG LIFE AFTER PNG

Dr Robert (Bob) Thistlethwaite May 1971 OIC Forest Research 1963 AFS; 1964 BSc (For); 1971 PhD (ANU) Port Moresby December 1975 Australian Public Service Research/Extension Northern Territory Pacific Regional Team DFAT consultant to 12 Pacific Island Countries Consultant to SE Asia, India. 77

AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4L4 of 21th Aug 2022 FOREST MANAGEMENT. Eminent TPNG Forester Dr Dave Lamb 1972 - 1977. Editor R B McCarthy . Dave Lamb worked closely with APFNet supporting capacity building programmes in the training series on forest rehabilitation and management. Professor David Lamb at an APFNet workshop

Dave Lamb’s first professional appointment was to undertake research on nutrition for forest plantation development throughout PNG. He worked closely with Dr John Davidson and Ian Whyte on land use studies for new forest plantation developments in forest concessions such as the Gogol Timber Area Madang and Open Bay Timber Area in New Britain.

NAME

David Lamb 1941 -2019 Jan 1972 Research Officer Bulolo, Madang, Kerevat, Highlands 1977 Joined University of Queensland and taught forest ecology.

JOINED DEPT OF FORESTRY PNG WHAT WAS YOUR OCCUPATION WORK LOCALITIES WHAT DATE DID YOU LEAVE PNG LIFE AFTER PNG IF YOU WISH TO COMMENT BRIEFLY

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AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4C2 of 22nd Aug 2022 FOREST MANAGEMENT. Eminent TPNG Forester Peter Shanahan TPNG Forests 1956-1970. Editor R B McCarthy

Peter Shanahan 36with Ross Wylie Wau, 1968. Photo credit Ross Lockyer. Name Date joined Forestry PNG Occupation Work Localities

36

Peter Shanahan 1972-1974 Zoologist Bulolo Forest Research

Obituary Peter Shanahan PNGAA – PNG Kundu Vol 1 No 2 June 2020 p 59.

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OTHER TPNG FOREST PLANTATION RESEARCHERS 1948 E deglupta (Kamarere) Kerevat ENB by Bill Heather. Photo credit John Davidson 1972.

Eastern Highlands plantations extension between Lapegu Goroka plantations and Lufa Henganofi towards Kainantu. Species include P. patula, P. strobus var chaiapensis. Photo credit Neville Howcroft. Acacia mangium Gogol TA Madang JANT plantations. Photo credit Dick McCarthy.

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NAME Work Location Period

Ian Barber Entomologist Forest Research Bulolo 1970-1974

NAME Work Location Period

John Dalton Forest Research Dami/Bulolo 1972-1974

John Davidson37 reported that John (and Sara) Dalton left Hoskins in late 1974. He went to Syracuse, New York, USA to study for a Master’s Degree in Forestry at the University of Syracuse. He was also learning Spanish with a view to joining FAO in the Amazonian Basin in Colombia. John Dalton, Research Forester, Dami Forest Research Station near Cape Hoskins New Britain (rear) and Jack Simpson Pathologist Forest Research Centre Bulolo (kneeling in foreground) make observations in the one-year-old E. deglupta provenance trial at Dami in May 1972. Photo Credit John Davidson.

NAME Work Location Period

Marianne and Egon Horak38 Forest Research Bulolo 1971-1973 The 6-man Japanese Mori team at Bulolo with Bob Thistlethwaite and Marianne and Egon Horak. Photo credit Bob Thistlethwaite. Marianne Horak is a Swiss Australian entomologist who specialises in Australian Lepidoptera particularly the phycitine and torticid moths. She did extensive field work in PNG from 1971 to 1973.

Egon Horak is an Austrian mycologist who has described more than 1000 species of fungi, including many from the Southern Hemisphere, particularly New Zealand and South America. He did extensive field work in PNG from 1971 to 1973.

37 38

Personal Communication John Davidson 24 October 2018 Personal Communication John Davidson and Wikipedia

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NAME Work Location Period

Jack Simpson Forest Pathologist 1972-1976? Shiitake Mori party Bulolo Forests. L to R: Japanese researcher, Bob Thistlethwaite, Egon Horak, Jack Simpson, Dave Lamb, Kisaku Mori. Photo credit Bob Thistlethwaite.

Jack has worked as a Forest Pathologist and Mycologist all his adult life and is now retired. He worked with State Forests of NSW for more than 20 years working on leaf diseases and stem decays in particular. As a mycologist he served as president of the Australasian Mycological Society for several terms and was co-editor of Australasian Mycologist for some time. NAME Jeff Fairlamb Work Location Forest Research Bulolo Period 1970-1975 John Davidson39 reported that Jeff went to Oxford in the middle of 1975. I last heard he was working with Dr Burley on some measurements on Kamarere at the Department of Forestry, Commonwealth Forestry Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK... NAME Work Location Period

Lonnie (and Carol) Merrifield Forest Research Bulolo 1973-1974

40

John Davidson reported that Lonnie went to the College of Forest Resources, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington in the mid-1970s (just after he left Bulolo) to do a higher degree. He was last working in Bulolo on controlled release insecticides from various polymers to guard against insect attack on Kamarere. He was to write up this work in the USA. Jim Powell took over this work at Bulolo. 41

Peter Graves recalls that Carol Merryfield (wife of Lonnie) was at Forkol during his time as an assistant to Bob Johns in Botany

John Davidson personal communication 24 October 2018 John Davidson personal communication 24 October 2018 41 Peter Graves personal communication 13 th April 2020 39 40

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EMINENT FRIENDS OF PNG FOREST PLANTATION RESEARCH

Bulolo Wau Plantation establishment. Photo credit Cliff Southwell. Wau Anderson’s Hoop Pine Plot (planted c.1940) surrounded by 1950’s plantations. Photo credit Des Harries 1960.

Klinkii Pine Bulolo. Photo credit Dick McCarthy.

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AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975

PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4N2 of 22nd Aug 2022 FOREST MANAGEMENT. Eminent Friends of PNG Forest Plantation Research - Forester Garth Nikles Editor R B McCarthy Dr Garth Nikles 2020. Photo credit Garth Nikles. Joe Havel. ANU AFS Archives.

Part of PNG klinkii/hoop pine trial Danbulla NQ. Age 21.5 years. Bulolo Klinkii left and Okasa Hoop right. Photo credit Garth Nikles.

NAME

Dr (Donald) Garth Nikles Qualifications

Occupation Friend of PNG Forest plantation research tree breeding researchers.

B For Sc (UQ, 1954), Dip For (Australian Forestry School, Canberra, 1954), Master Qualifying (UQ, 1960) and PhD in Tree Breeding (North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA, 1966). Renowned international tree breeder especially for Araucaria spp (Hoop pine) and Pinus spp. Cooperative activities re Teak, Hoop Pine, Klinkii pine and tropical Pinus spp with Joe Havel, Alan Cameron, Kevin White, John Davidson, and Neville Howcroft and ongoing PNGDOF staff.

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ACRONYMS AAD ACT ACIAR ACLMP AEC AFAP AFS AFPNG AIF AMF ANBG ANGAU ANU APMF APPM ASIO ASOPA AusAID BA BCOF “Beer Time” BFC BGD BNGD BUC C cm CALM CFA CNGT CRE CRE

CSIRO CHAH DASF DBH/ dbh DEPT DIES DPI DOF ENB e.g. Etc

Australian Antarctic Division Australian Capital Territory Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research AusAid funded World Bank Land Mobilisation program. Administrators Executive Committee Australian Foundation for the Peoples of Asia & the Pacific Ltd. Australian Forestry School Association of Foresters of PNG Australian Infantry Forces Australian Military Forces Australian National Botanical Gardens Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit Australian National University Australian Paper Manufacturers Forestry Pty Ltd Australia Paper and Pulp Manufacturers Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Australian School of Pacific Administration Australian Aid Agency basal area British Commonwealth Occupational Force 1945-52 Any time. Bulolo Forestry College Bulolo Gold Dredging Company British New Guinea Development (Company Limited) Bulolo University College Commonwealth Centimetre Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management Commonwealth Forestry Association Commonwealth New Guinea Timbers Bulolo Commander Royal Engineers CRE is a term inherited by RAE from RE and is the term for the Commanding Officer of a RAE unit which is headed by a Lt Col. Although the officer is called the CRE the name is also used for the name of his unit. E.g., CRE Aust Forestry Group or 1(NG Forests). Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria Dept of Agriculture, Stock and Fisheries Diameter at breast height Department Department of Information and Extension Services. Department of Primary Industry Department of Forests East New Britain Province. For example et cetera (more of the same) 85

FAO F &TB FIM FMA FPRC FRA FRG FRI Forkol FSP/PNG GAB Gbhob Gubab GIS ha IBRD IFA IFY ITTC ITTO JICA L of N LRRS m3 MCCAF MHA MM MUS NAA NARI NB NDS NFCAP NGM no. NG NGF NGIB NGI NGO NGVR NZ NSW NTSC OIC OISCA OTML P or p PIB

Food and Agriculture Organisation Forest and Timber Bureau Canberra Forest Information System Forest Management Agreement Forest Products Research Centre Hohola Forest Resource Assessment Forest Red Gum Forest Research Institute Lae Bulolo Forestry College Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific Girth above buttress Girth breast height over bark Girth under bark above buttress Geographic Information Systems Hectare International Bank for Reconstruction and Development Institute of Foresters of Australia International Year of the Forest International Tropical Timber Council International Tropical Timber Organization Japanese International Cooperation Agency League of Nations Land Resource Soils Survey (branch of CSIRO) cubic metre McCarthy & Associates (Forestry) Pty. Ltd. Member of House of Assembly PNG Military Medal Malayan Uniform System National Archives Australia National Agriculture Research Institute New Britain Northern District Sawmills PNG National Forestry and Conservation Action Plan New Guinea Mainland Number New Guinea New Guinea Forces (relates to plant collection of Lae Herbarium) New Guinea Infantry Battalion New Guinea Islands Non-Government Organisation New Guinea Volunteer Rifles New Zealand New South Wales National Tree Seed Centre PNG Bulolo Officer in Charge Organisation for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement International Japan. Ok Tedi Mining Ltd page Papuan Infantry Battalion 86

PIR PNG PNGAA PNGAF PNGFA PNGFIA PNGRIS PNGUT POM Q QF RAE RPC RRA SFM SMS SP sq m TAG TSS UK UN Unasylva UNE UNEP UNI UNITECH UNRE UPNG UQ US USA TPNG TUBL TA TA TRP Vol VSF WA WB

Pacific Islands Regiment Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Australia Association Papua New Guinea Australian Foresters Magazine Series Papua New Guinea Forest Authority PNG Forest Industries Association Papua New Guinea Resource Information System PNG University of Technology Port Moresby Queensland Queensland Forestry Royal Australian Engineers/Australian Army Royal Papuan Constabulary Rapid Resource Appraisal Sustainable Forest Management Selective Management System Malaysia South Pacific square metres Trade Advisory Group of ITTO Tropical Shelterwood System United Kingdom United Nations Journal of FAO of UN University of New England Armidale NSW United Nations Environment Program University University of Technology Lae PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment University of Papua New Guinea University of Queensland United States United States of America Territory of Papua and New Guinea Territory United Brewery Ltd Timber Area Timber Authority Timber Rights Purchase volume Victorian School of Forestry Western Australia World Bank

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