The production of high quality timber and other forest products from planted trees and forests represents an important development opportunity for Papua New Guinea. Community-based planted forests are capable of generating significantly greater local and national-level economic benefits than the current natural forest-based industry. This project addresses an important constraint to the development of such an industry - the lack of adequate supplies of timber tree germplasm (seeds or planting stock). The germplasm shortage results from a scarcity of accessible, good quality sources as well as difficulties in delivering any available seeds or planting stock from source to end-user. The project team will work in three project hubs to develop a model approach to germplasm production and delivery - one suitable for post-project scaling-up (within-hub) and scaling-out (to new hubs). Teak has been selected as the focal species, due principally to its established high commercial value and demand, heightened local interest in its cultivation, and proven suitability to lowland Papua New Guinea conditions. Other socioeconomic and technical constraints will be addressed by companion ACIAR projects FST/2004/050 (addressing socio-economic impediments and plantation management) and FST/2006/120 (enhancing timber processing capability).