Progress in the first year of ACIAR Project FST/2004/050 was focused on establishing the foundations for the intensive research phase of the Project, beginning in June 2008. Principal activities comprised the Project Inception Workshop, held at ANU, Canberra, 22-23 May 2007; three visits to PNG collaborators by the Principal Project Scientist, Dr Hartmut Holzknecht, and one by Project Scientists Dr Michael Blyth and Mr Braden Jenkin; the conduct of pilot field research by Project John Allwright Fellow and PhD scholar Kulala Mulung, in conjunction with Ramu Agri-Industries; the establishment of linkages with associated ACIAR Projects (FST/2004/009 - Improved germplasm for forestry and agroforestry; FST/2004/055 Domestication of Canarium indicum; FST/2006/088 Promoting diverse fuelwood production systems); and the compilation of relevant background information and research outputs by Project Scientists and collaborators (in addition to those named above: Dr Michael Bourke, ANU; Dr Andrew McGregor, Koko Pacific; Dr Ruth Turia; PNG University of Technology; Dr Lastus Kuniata, Ramu Agri-Industries; Mr Don Yakuma, Ok Tedi Development Foundation).

The principal outcomes of the first year of the Project were:
confirmation of the most likely candidate species identified in the Scoping Study for the pilot study regions. These are the short-rotation Acacia mangium and Eucalyptus pellita, which are considered as baselines for comparison; the medium-rotation exoticTectona grandis; and the longer-rotation native species Canarium indicum and Instia bijuga. Existing investments in rubber (Havea brasiliensis) in Western Province led to its inclusion in financial analyses as a comparator species;
development and refinement of field survey methods to assess landowners' attitudes to commercial tree growing;
agreement of the Project workplan for the intensive research phase beginning in June 2008.

Project communication activities were focused on those between Project partners, and with other key PNG stakeholders. A paper describing the Project was accepted for presentation at the most relevant international forum, a meeting of IUFRO Working Party 3.08 Small-Scale Forestry, in June 2008.

Project activities in 2008-9 focused principally on fieldwork in the three project pilot study regions, to investigate landowner attitudes to tree growing as part of their farming systems. This research was undertaken principally by project PhD scholar Kulala Mulung, with the assistance of PNG project partners and support from other project team members, in Morobe, Madang and Western Provinces.
The land use systems, and landowner experience of commercial tree growing, vary significantly between the three case study regions: some landowners in the North Coast and Golgol Valley regions around Madang have participated in growing Acacia mangium for export; a smaller number in the Markham and Ramu Valleys are at an earlier stage of growing trees with commercial potential; in Western Province, no landowners have engaged in commercial tree growing, other than those participating in rubber cultivation in various forms of partnership facilitated by North Fly Rubber Ltd. In each case, the fieldwork involved village-level surveys with a range of landowners. Results of this fieldwork are currently being compiled for communication within and outside the project.
On the basis of preliminary results from the Western Province fieldwork, the project team developed a draft discussion paper assessing possible commercial tree growing activities and associated business models in Western Province. This discussion paper will be released for wider comment by August 2009.
Project and partner agency staff continued to work directly with landowners in the Markham and Ramu Valleys, to capitalise on those communities' prior engagement with staff of Ramu Agri-Industries. This work focused on the development of village-level nursery systems, and the delivery to landowners of seedlings of commercial species raised in other nurseries. The momentum for tree growing that is building among a number of communities in this region is very encouraging, and the project will continue to nurture and facilitate this interest and commitment of resources by landowners.
Project staff and other stakeholders participated in the project annual workshop, hosted by UniTech in Lae, in June 2008. This, and other joint meetings with related ACIAR projects, helped identify synergies between project objectives and activities. Two project staff, Mr Kulala Mulung and Dr Hartmut Holzknecht, presented a paper on the project to a conference of the relevant IUFRO Working Group, on Small-Scale Forestry, and established mutually-beneficial links with the wider international research community focused on landowner tree growing.
Project priorities for 2009-2010 are:
the analysis and publication of results describing landowner attitudes to tree growing;
the further development and publication of possible business models and strategies for adoption of commercial tree growing in the pilot study regions of PNG;
initiating with project partners the first stage of implementation of these models and strategies, and;
maximising synergies with the activities of related projects supported both by ACIAR and other donors. The latter includes the prospective ITTO project to encourage landowner tree growing on grasslands.

Project activities in 2009-10 focused principally on consolidating project work in the Markham-Ramu pilot region, building on the results of previous project fieldwork on landowner attitudes to tree growing in the three project pilot study regions. As noted in the previous Annual Report, the land use systems, and landowner experience of commercial tree growing, vary significantly between the three case study regions: so too do the short-term prospects for commercial tree growing.
Project and partner organisation staff intensified their work directly with landowners in the upper Markham and Ramu Valleys, to capitalise on those communities' prior engagement with Ramu Agri-Industries' tree growing initiatives, and on a high level of interest in and momentum for tree growing in some communities. This work focused on further surveys of communities' timber needs and interests in tree growing; the development of village-level nursery systems; the delivery to landowners of seedlings of commercial species raised in RAI's and UniTech's nurseries; and extension to foster tree planting and management knowledge amongst landowners. The Project appointed a staff member, Mr David Adzab, to work from a base and in collaboration with RAI with those communities and landowners
Around 20 project and partner organisation staff and other stakeholders participated in the Project's annual workshop in Madang in July 2009. Field visits associated with the meeting included those to research sites in the Madang and Markhan-Ramu districts, and to the balsa industry in East New Britain in conjunction with ACIAR Project FST/2009/012. Project consultant Mr Braden Jenkin presented a paper summarising Project work to the Institute of Foresters of Australia biennial conference in September 2009.
Project priorities for 2010-2011 are:
the publication of results describing landowner attitudes to tree growing;
the publication of potential business models and strategies for adoption of commercial tree growing in the pilot study regions of PNG;
continuing work with PNG Project partners on the implementation of these models and strategies, with a particular focus on the Markham-Ramu project area;
developing and beginning implementation of the Project's communication strategy, and;
maximising synergies with the activities of related projects supported both by ACIAR and other donors.