Report 01. Status of seed orchards and tree improvement trials in Haiti and plan of activities 1993-1994

Abstract

1. The status of tree improvement activities developed during the AOP and AFII projects is reviewed and specific recommendations are made for the utilization of improved sources during the PLUS project. Information is provided to allow PLUS to pass on the benefits of improved germplasm to the Haitian farmer. 2. Over six hundred and fifty superior candidate trees have been selected throughout Haiti. More than one hundred orchards, progeny/provenance trials and arboreta have been established. The genetic diversity and superior quality of tree germplasm in this network serves as both an investment and an insurance policy for the Haitian farmer. Conserving improved locally-adapted tree varieties is fundamental to sound natural resource management and critical to the future of an extremely deforested landscape. 3. A cohesive, long-term strategy for safe-guarding the information and conserving forest genetic resources is lacking. Programs to maintain a forward thrust in genetic conservation and improvement are in a constant state of jeopardy and adversely affected by personnel turnover and project design changes characteristic of bi-lateral and international assistance in Haiti. Lack of long-term commitment severely restricts the opportunities to conduct quality research and achieve permanent results. Tree Improvement Research and Development 4. PLUS should continue as the vanguard of tree improvement in Haiti and share the benefits with other active projects concerned with environmental quality. The project is in a unique position to reap the rewards of over 5 years of USAID activities focused on a tree improvement program including the establishment of orchards, provenance and progeny trials, and a facility for seed research, storage and handling. 5. Genetic tests have shown significant differences in productivity and vigor among families and provenances for most of the tree species selected in the genetic tests. Thirty-eight of the progeny and provenance trials, approximately 70% of those established during 1988-1991, are recommended for continued measurements to enable PLUS to evaluate the genetic worth of economically important tree species. A top priority for PLUS should be to capitalize on the gains in order to increase on-farm productivity. 6. The challenge for PLUS in 1993/94 is to place priorities on tree improvement activities that have the greatest impact at the local level and integrate simple and smart indigenous tree management techniques. The greatest emphasis in long term breeding should be given to those species that provide the greatest economic return to local farmers. Innovative silvicultural techniques and land-use interventions should be introduced simultaneously with improved germplasm to increase the potential for sustained gains in productivity, both at the tree level and at the farm level. 7. The elimination of the Seed and Germplasm Specialist position forces a reduced level of SECID germplasm research. The reduction from a team of seven in 1991 to a recommended staff of three during PLUS should maintain the essential orchards and genetic tests, while enabling SECID to address the research problems associated with the production of on-farm seedlings. Monitoring and evaluation activities should target key orchards and progeny/provenance trials and innovative on-farm tree management. Significant information should be published. 8. Forty-six orchards, approximately 80% of those established during 198-1991, are recommended for continued supervision by SECID. These are located on 12 sites throughout Haiti and represent sixteen hardwood species. Gradually, this number may drop as various site and management factors take their toll. 9. SECID should hire an M.S.-leve forester in Haiti to be responsible for the management and research of the orchards and progeny/provenance trials, to synthesize relevant information for integration into the PADF and CARE extension programs and coordinate with PADF and CARE for the production, promotion and distribution of improved germplasm.

1. Rapò sa-a voye zye sou éta aktivité ki té fèt sou ameliorasyon pyebwa andedan pwojè AOP é AFII yo. Li fè rekòmandasyon sou ki jan yo ka itilize pi bon sous nan pwojè PLUS-la. Li bay infomasyon pou pèmèt pwojè PLUS-la pataje konesans li sou youn miyò kalite semans pyebwa ak agrikilte Aisyen-yo. 2. Plis ke sis san senkant pyebwa siperyè te chwazi nan tout peyi-a. Plis ke san jaden pyebwa, esè pwovnans/pwojeni, e pèpinye deja etabli. Kalite siperyè ak divesite jenetik pyebwa sa yo sèvi kom youn envestisman ak asirans pou agrikilte Aisyen-an. Konsevasyon espès ak varyété pyebwa ki siperyè epi ki adapte ak kondisyon peyi-a trè enpòtan pou asire youn bon ékilib resous natirel, epi pou sauvtaj youn peyizaj prèske kompletman debwaze. 3. Manké youn strateji solid ki ta pèmèt pwoteje enfomasyon-an ak pou konsève resous jenetik forè-yo pi lontan. Pwojè ki ap chèche avanse nan konsevasyon ak ameliorasyon jenetik ap toujou jwen difikilté a koz chanjman pesonel kap travay nan pwojè yo e chanjman nan bi pwojè yo mem; bagay ki te toujou make ed entenasyonal ak bi-lateral nan peyi dayiti. Mank sa yo rédwi posibilité pou fé bon réchèch kap bay bon rézilta kap diré. 4. Fok PLUS kontinye pran devan nan améliorasyon pyebwa nan péyi daiyti épi pataje benefis yo ak lòt pwojè ki aktif épi konsene tou nan kalite lanviwonman-an. Pwojè sa-a nan youn bel pozisyon dèske li ka rekòlte rekonpans senk ane aktivite USAID ki te konsantre sou youn pwogram améliorasyon pyebwa ki te tou genyen etablisman jaden pyebwa, esè pwovnans ak pwojeni, e youn kay kote yo te fe reshech ak tretman sou semans e ki te sevi kom depo semans-yo tou. 5. Esè jenetik yo montre kek diferans enpòtan nan fos ak pwodiksyon ant fanmi ak pwovnans plisye espes pyebwa seleksyoné-yo. Trant-uit nan esè pwojeni ak pwovnans-yo, prèske 70% nan sak te etabli nan lane 1988-1991, ta merite mezire toujou pou pemet PLUS examine valè jenetik ras pyebwa ki genyen plis empotans ekonomik-yo. Pi gwo angajman PLUS te dwe pou bouske youn fason pou pwofite sou benefis sa you ki te ka pemet yo ogmante pwodiktivite sou fem yo. 6. Defi PLUS pou ane 1993/94 se detemine ki jan you pwal fe pou bay aktivite améliorasyon espes pyebwa youn pi gwo empotans youn fason pou li sa fe youn bon efè sou nivo lokal-la ak poul adapté teknik semp ak entelijan pou amenajman pyebwa natif natal. Pi gwo empotans nan pwogram pyebwa-yo sou long dire te dwe pose sou espes ki ap bay plantè yo plis ranman ekonomik. Entwodiksyon de nouvo teknik silvikiltiral e itilizasyon tè, ta dwe mache men dan la men ak amelyorasyon semans pou ogmanté ak kenbé sou pwodiktivite plante-yo, ni sou nivo pyebwa, ni sou nivo fem-la. 7. Nivo reshesh SECID sou semans pyebwa bèse a koz yo elinine pozisyon spesialis semans-la. Mem si yo gen tan redui personel la kité 7 nan 1991 a 3 moun jodi'a, PLUS ta fe byen kontinye sivèyans sou kek jaden pyebwa ak eksperyans jenetik, SECID ta ka travay sou pwoblem pepinye sou fem. Aktivite suivi ak evaliasyon ta kontinye sou kek jadin pyebwa e esè pwojeni/pwovnans empotan, ansam ak entwodiksyon nouvo teknik amenajman pyebwa sou fem. Tout enfomasyon empotan ta pibliyè. 8. Nou konseye ke SECID kontinye sipèvize karant-sis jaden pyebwa, ki represanté prèske 80% sou sa ki te etabli nan ane 1988-1991 yo. Jaden pyebwa sa yo place sou 12 sit a trave peyi-a e yo representé 16 espes bwa di. Kantite sa-a genyen dwa diminye a koz malè ka rive pyebwa-yo pou tet kek bagay ki mache mal swa sou sit-la mem, ou swa neglijans nan amenajman jaden-an. 9. Fok SECID ta amplwoyé you agwonom ak tout metriz li, ki ta responsab gesyon ak rechech nan jaden pyebwa e esè pwojeni/pwovnans yo, e ki tap rézimé enfomasyon empotan bay PADF ak CARE pou yo ta kap ko-ordone pwodiksyon, pwomosyon, ak distribusyon semans.