Project Progress Report:" Sustainable and profitable development of acacia plantations for sawlog production in Vietnam - MS9 " ppt

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development

Project Progress Report

032/05VIE
Sustainable and profitable development of acacia
plantations for sawlog production in Vietnam

MS9: THIRD SIX-MONTHLY REPORT
(MARCH 2007-AUGUST 2007)

Friday, September 28, 2007

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Table of Contents
1.

Institute Information ....................................................................................................... 1

2.

Project Abstract ................................................................................................................ 2

3.

Executive Summary ......................................................................................................... 2

4.

Introduction & Background ............................................................................................ 3

5.

Progress to Date ............................................................................................................... 4
5.1

Implementation Highlights .................................................................................................4

5.2

Smallholder Benefits............................................................................................................4

5.3

Capacity Building ................................................................................................................5

5.4

Publicity................................................................................................................................5

5.5

Project Management ...........................................................................................................5

6.

Report on Cross-Cutting Issues....................................................................................... 5
6.1

Environment ........................................................................................................................5

6.2

Gender and Social Issues ....................................................................................................5

7.

Implementation & Sustainability Issues ......................................................................... 5
7.1

Issues and Constraints.........................................................................................................5

7.2

Options..................................................................................................................................5

7.3

Sustainability........................................................................................................................5

8.

Next Critical Steps............................................................................................................ 6

9.

Conclusion........................................................................................................................ 6

10.

Statutory Declaration......................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.

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1.

Institute Information

Project Name

Sustainable and profitable development of
acacia plantations for sawlog production in
Vietnam

Vietnamese Institution

Forest Science Institute of Vietnam

Vietnamese Project Team Leader

Dr Ha Huy Thinh

Australian Organisation

Ensis

Australian Personnel

Dr Chris Harwood, Dr Sadanandan
Nambiar, Dr Chris Beadle, Mr Khongsak
Pinyopusarerk

Date commenced

1/03/2006

Completion date (original)

31/12/2008

Completion date (revised)
Reporting period

1/3/2007– 31/08/2007

Contact Officer(s)
In Australia: Team Leader
Dr Chris Harwood
Name:
Principal Research Scientist
Position:
Organisation Ensis

Telephone:
Fax:
Email:

+61-3-62267964

+61-3-62267901


Telephone:
Fax:
Email:

+61-3-95452222
+61-3-95452446


In Australia: Administrative contact
Linda Berkhan
Name:
Contracts Officer
Position:
Organisation Ensis
In Vietnam
Dr Ha Huy Thinh
Director, Research Centre for Forest
Tree Improvement
Organisation FSIV
Name:
Position:

Telephone:
Fax:

+84-4-8389813
+84-4-8369722

Email:

rcfti

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2.

Project Abstract

This project supports the development of profitable smallholder tree plantations in Central
Vietnam, growing high-value acacia sawlogs for Vietnam’s solid-wood processing industries.
The project builds the scientific capacity of the Forest Science Institute of Vietnam (FSIV) to
breed acacia varieties most suited to sawlog production, and to conduct applied silvicultural
research to support sustainable and profitable plantations. It will strengthen the extension capacity
of provincial and local forest development authorities to demonstrate optimum growing
technologies for the improved acacia breeds, and will help tree-farmer groups to optimise
financial and labour inputs to suit their local circumstances. Project components include:
• Formulation of silvicultural guidelines for sustainable acacia sawlog production
• Selection of most appropriate breeds for sawlog plantations in central and northern Vietnam,
and planning for further genetic improvement to improve sawlog value
• Field trials to compare extensive and intensive silvicultural treatments and determine best
technologies to boost productivity, sawlog yields, profitability and sustainability for farmers
• Financial models to help growers judge profitability and select best silvicultural methods
• Training in Australia and Vietnam for managers, scientists, technicians and extension officers.
The project activities are described in the Executive Summary and Section 5.

3.

Executive Summary

The project continued satisfactorily with all the relevant project components completed
according to schedule. This report covers the period March 1, 2007 to August 31, 2007.
The three-week scientists training in Australia (Output 4.2) was conducted in March-April
2007. Six scientists from FSIV were nominated to attend. One scientist, Dr Pham The Dung,
had to default owing to unforeseen work commitments that arose in Vietnam. Five other
scientists attended and successfully completed the training in Western Australia and
Tasmania. These five scientists worked together to produce two separate written trip reports,
provided under separate cover as part of this milestone.
A project training course “Tree Improvement for Acacia Plantations and Silvicultural
Techniques for Sawlog Production” was held over the period 11-15 June 2007 at the
Southern Forest Science Sub-institute of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City. The course was
attended by 13 young Vietnamese scientists and forest technicians (11 men and two women),
from different branches of FSIV and provincial forestry agencies, all of whom were involved
in tree improvement and/or silviculture. The course included 2 days of lectures, exercises
and discussion and 3 days of field work, visiting genetic and silvicultural research trials,
participating in stand management demonstrations, and visiting a sawmill to discuss wood
utilization. As part of the course, simple pre- and post-course written assessments were
conducted, which indicated that the course was well-targeted to the audience and that
learning had been effective. Follow-up survey of the participants will be conducted after 12
months to determine the extent to which knowledge has been applied by the participants. A
separate report on the training course is attached.
One additional demonstration pruning trial was established in a stand of Acacia
auriculiformis at the Ba Vi forestry research station in northern Vietnam.
The report for Milestone 5, Baselines Established, was submitted to CARD in May, 2007.

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Completion of Milestone 7, Acacia Silviculture Demonstration Trial, will take place in
November 2007 when the trial is planted out. Substantial preparatory work at the field trial
site at the FSIV North-Central Station near Dong Ha, including fencing to protect the trial
from interference by livestock, has been undertaken by FSIV during this reporting period.

4.

Introduction & Background

The overall project purpose is to generate and improve incomes for forest growers,
particularly poor forest farmers in the rural areas of central and northern Vietnam, through
the development of sustainable and profitable acacia plantations for sawlog production.
The project has formulated “best-bet” silvicultural guidelines for sustainable acacia sawlog
production based on Vietnamese and overseas experience. It has reviewed progress in acacia
genetic improvement in Vietnam with the specific aim of selecting the most appropriate
acacia breeds for sawlog plantations in central and northern Vietnam, and will develop a
strategy for further genetic improvement to improve acacia sawlog value. Further genetic
improvement will depend on a better understanding of the quality requirements of Vietnam’s
wood-processing industries, which is being obtained through surveys of sawmills and wood
manufacturing plants.
Field trials will be established to compare extensive and intensive silvicultural treatments and
to determine and demonstrate best technologies to improve plantation productivity and
sustainability, sawlog yields and quality, and profitability for farmers. Simple spreadsheetbased financial models will be developed, incorporating existing knowledge and project
results, to help extension agents and growers to judge profitability of sawlog regimes for
acacia plantations and select the best silvicultural methods for their situations.
A two-week study tour was conducted in Australia in May-June 2006 for eight for
Vietnamese scientists and managers, to expose them to the management and research
environments underpinning established sawlog-growing industries. More detailed training in
silvicultural and genetic research was provided for six FSIV scientists who visited Australia

for three weeks in March-April 2007. A training course was conducted in Vietnam in June
2007 for junior scientists and technicians. Three further practical training courses are
scheduled forest extension officers and tree farmers. These courses will emphasise hands-on
training in the field and visits to the project’s demonstration field trials. Extension materials
including written guidelines, posters and audio-visual materials will be produced. These
materials will be used by extension agents to describe the technology package developed by
the project to a wider target audience of tree farmers. The scientific capacity of FSIV will be
strengthened through acquisition of additional equipment for wood quality analysis. Advice
has been provided on upgrading FSIV Hanoi laboratory facilities for chemical analysis of
soil and plant samples.
The project will achieve capacity building through a combination of formal and on-the-job
training, and at the same time is establishing field trials that will serve as demonstrations of
the recommended technologies, provide valuable results in the short term to underpin sawlog
growing. In November 2007 the project will establish a major experimental trial at Dong Ha,
central Vietnam, for long-term studies of plantation sustainability. The project incorporates
three training courses for forestry extension agents and lead farmers to enable them learn a
technology package for acacia sawlog production, and production of written and audio-visual
extension materials to support a wider dissemination to tree growers across Vietnam.

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5.

Progress to Date

5.1

Implementation Highlights for the Review Period

The three-week scientists training in Australia (Output 4.2) was completed during MarchApril 2007. Six scientists from FSIV were nominated to attend. One scientist, Dr Pham The
Dung, had to default owing to unforeseen work commitments that arose in Vietnam. Five
other scientists attended and successfully completed the training in Western Australia and
Tasmania. They were:
• Mr Vu Tan Phuong, Research Centre for Forest Ecology and Environment, FSIV Hanoi
• Mr Le Anh Tuan, Research Centre for Tree Breeding and Improvement, FSIV Hanoi
• Mr Pham Xuan Dinh, North-Central Research and Production Stattion, FSIV Dong Ha .
• Mr Dang Thinh Trieu, Silviculture Division, FSIV, Hanoi
• Mr Vu Dinh Huong, Forest Science Sub-Institute of Vietnam, Ho Ch I Minh City
These five scientists worked together to produce two separate written trip reports, one by Mr
Phuong Mr Dinh and Mr Tuan, and the other by Mr Trieu and Mr Huong. Their reports are
provided under separate cover. In addition to the nominated Ensis project scientists, several
other Ensis scientists contributed to the training, including Dr Daniel Mendham, Dr Don
White, Mr Maurice McDonald and Mr Luke Bukeley.
A project training course “Tree Improvement for Acacia Plantations and Silvicultural
Techniques for Sawlog Production” was held over the period 11-15 June 2007 at the
Southern Forest Science Sub-institute of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City. The course was
attended by 13 young Vietnamese scientists and forest technicians (11 men and two women),
from different branches of FSIV and provincial forestry agencies, all of whom were involved
in tree improvement and/or silviculture. Khongsak Pinyopusarerk of Ensis, Nguyen Duc
Kien and Vu Dinh Huong of FSIV were the trainers. The course included 2 days of lectures,
exercises and discussion and 3 days of field work, visiting genetic and silvicultural research
trials, participating in stand management demonstrations, and visiting a sawmill to discuss
wood utilization. As part of the course, simple pre- and post-course written assessments were
conducted, which indicated that the course was well-targeted to the audience and that
learning had been effective. Follow-up survey of the participants will be conducted after 12
months to determine the extent to which knowledge has been applied by the participants. A
separate detailed report on the training course is attached.
One additional demonstration pruning trial was established in a stand of Acacia
auriculiformis at the Ba Vi forestry research station in northern Vietnam.

The report for Milestone 5, Baselines Established, was submitted to CARD in May, 2007.
5.1

Smallholder Benefits

A few smallholders around the demonstration trials near Hue and Dong Hoi have now been
exposed to demonstrations of good silvicultural practice for sawlog production. Major
benefits will occur later during the project lifetime.

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5.2

Capacity Building

Five senior Vietnamese project scientists received training in Australia on research planning
and research methods. Thirteen young Vietnamese forestry scientists and technicians
received one week’s training in silviculture, genetic improvement and wood utilization
relating to acacia sawlog production.
5.3

Publicity

None during the review period.
5.4

Project Management

Project management continued to proceed well. Planning meetings for the next phases of the

project took place in April 2007, when Vietnamese project scientists visited Australia, and in
June 2007, when Mr Pinyopusarerk visited Vietnam to lead the training course there. .
Regular contact (several times per month) has been maintained between Ensis and FSIV by
e-mail and telephone, throughout the reporting period. Funds were transferred from Ensis to
FSIV for the training course in June 2007

6.

Report on Cross-Cutting Issues

6.1

Environment

No specific issues have arisen during the reporting period.
6.2

Gender and Social Issues

Gender balance in the scientific and technical staff receiving training in the course of the
project has been identified as an issue requiring close attention, but unfortunately suitable
women candidates for the training visit to Australia could not be identified. Two out of
thirteen of the junior scientists participating in the course in Vietnam in June 2007 were
women.

7.

Implementation & Sustainability Issues

7.1

Issues and Constraints

No major obstacles to the successful implementation of the project have emerged to date.
7.2

Options

Not applicable – project is proceeding as planned
7.3

Sustainability

No major issues.

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8.

Next Critical Steps

The establishment of the major silvicultural trial at Dong Ha will take place in November
2007, during the rainy season in central Vietnam. Dr Nambiar and Dr Harwood will visit the
site with FSIV project staff in October 2007 just prior to trial establishment to re-sample soil
and litter layers to confirm spatial patterns in soil fertility found in the previous sampling
conducted in September 2006. While in Vietnam, Dr Harwood will refine the spreadsheet
financial modelling with FSIV and provincial staff, and prepare for the first extension course.
In late 2007, the first of three extension training courses will be held in central Vietnam.
This will be attended by 15 forestry extension agents and lead farmers. This course will

utilize the resource of demonstration thinning and pruning trials established in the Hue region
in late 2006, which by that time will be sufficiently advanced to provide good practical
demonstrations of plantation response to thinning and pruning.
Dr Chris Beadle of Ensis will lead this first extension course in December 2007. He will also
lead a detailed measure and analysis of the thinning response trial at Dong Hoi.

9.

Conclusion

Not applicable

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7


Project Progress Against Proposed Objectives, Outputs, Activities And Inputs
Project Title

VIE 032/05 Sustainable and profitable development of acacia plantations for sawlog production in Vietnam

Vietnamese Implementing Institution: Forest Science Institute of Vietnam

Narrative
OBJECTIVES

Information Required

PROPOSAL
Performance
Measures

Assumptions

1. To review currently available genetic
material for acacia sawlog plantations in
Vietnam and recommend best available
germplasm for sawlog production

Written review and
recommendations
provided to CARD and
adopted by MARD

Vietnamese literature
can be accessed and
cogently summarized

2. To develop guidelines for sustainable
plantation silviculture for acacia sawlog
production in Vietnam

Written guidelines
provided to CARD and
adopted by MARD

Vietnamese literature
can be accessed and

cogently summarized

3. To demonstrate and verify the
recommended package of germplasm and
silvicultural techniques for sustainable acacia
sawlog production through a scientifically
designed and monitored establishment trial,
and thinning and pruning trials in alreadyestablished plantations, in Central Vietnam

Establishment field trial
and silvicultural field
trials set up and
monitored, results of trials
reported in scientific
publications

Suitable sites for
field trials located,
trials can be
established, protected
and assessed

4. To strengthen the skills and capacity of
staff of the Forest Science Institute of
Vietnam in advanced genetic improvement
strategies and technologies so they can
deliver future genetic improvement in acacia
varieties suitable for sawlog production

Study tour and training

course in Australia, and
training courses in
Vietnam, provided as per
project log frame

Suitable participants
for study tour and
training courses can
be identified

5. To strengthen the skills and capacity of
staff of the Forest Science Institute of
Vietnam in silvicultural research that will
underpin sustainable plantation management
for acacia sawlog production

Study tour and training
course in Australia, and
training course in
Vietnam, provided as per
log frame

PROGRESS REPORT
Information Required

Suitable participants
for training courses
can be identified

All the project objectives as per the original log frame are

considered to remain appropriate

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6. To strengthen the capacity of provincial
forestry technical and extension staff in
acacia sawlog plantation technology transfer
to tree farmers

OUTPUTS AND
ACTIVITIES

Objective 1, Output 1. Written review
detailing best available acacia breeds and
best mass-propagation techniques for each
breed

Three training courses for
provincial extension staff
provided as per project log
frame. Extension
materials produced and
adopted by provincial
extension services
Written review published
yr1/09

Suitable participants
for training courses

can be identified

Appropriate and
reliable information
available for review

(Progress in achieving each relevant Output is described below
under ‘Activities’, to the extent possible for each Output and
Activity at this early stage of the project)

Milestone completed November 2006, report provided to CARD

Activity 1. Following inception meeting, C.
Harwood and FSIV staff will work together
to review all available documentation on
acacia species/varieties suitable for sawlog
production in Vietnam, identify the best
available genetic material and appropriate
propagation techniques for each promising
candidate species

Joint review work carried
out and report written,
report to be completed by
y1/09

Objective 2, Output 2. Written review and
guidelines providing silvicultural guidelines
for acacia sawlog production in Vietnam

Written review and
guidelines published
yr1/09

Silvicultural methods
can be identified for
effective and
profitable acacia
sawlog production
for Vietnamese
smallholder farmers

Milestone completed February 2007, report provided to CARD

Thinning/pruning trials
established

Suitable locations for
field trials available
including agreement
from two landowners

Milestone completed January 2007, report provided to CARD

Activity 2. Following inception meeting, C.
Beadle and C. Harwood work with FSIV
staff to carry out comprehensive review of
local and overseas experience with acacia
sawlog production and produce silvicultural
guidelines for sustainable acacia swlog

production in Vietnam.
Objective 3, Output 3.1 Three 1-hectare
thinning/pruning trials established in young
plantations, written schedule for trial
management and measurement produced

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for on-farm trials
Activity 3.1 C. Beadle works with FSIV to
establish three thinning and pruning trials in
already-established fast-growing acacia
plantations (two on-farm in Central
Vietnam and one on-station in Northern
Vietnam) and guidelines for trial
management and assessment

Trials established by
y1/04 and trial report
completed

Objective 3, Output 3.2. 12-month
responses to initial thinning and pruning
treatments assessed, second series of
pruning and thinning treatments imposed

12-month assessment
completed and treatments
imposed

12-month assessment of main trial completed in June 2007
Demonstration trials will be visited in October 2007 and follow-up
treatments specified in conjunction with first extension course in
December 2007

Activity 3.2 C. Beadle visits Vietnam to
lead inspection and assessment of thinning
and pruning trials at age 12 months and
imposition of follow-up thinning and
pruning treatments
Objective 3, Output 3.3 30-month
responses to thinning and pruning
treatments assessed
Activity 3.3 C. Beadle visits Vietnam to
lead inspection and assessment of thinning
and pruning trials at age 30 months

Report on 30-month
thinning and pruning
response

Objective 3, Output 3.4 One 4-hectare
silvicultural field trial planted on-station in
Central Vietnam, written guidelines for trial
management and assessment produced

Silvicultural trial planted,
guidelines for
management produced

Activity 3.4. S. Nambiar and K.
Pinyopusarerk work with FSIV to establish
one research and demonstration planting
trial in central Vietnam, comparing
extensive and intensive silviculture, using
the best available improved germplasm of

Site has been cleared and fenced during review period. Final preestablishment inspection and soil sampling to take place in
October 2007

10


acacia varieties, and silvicultural
technologies that can be taken up by
smallholder growers. Written guidelines for
trial management and assessment produced

Objective 3, Output 3.5 Performance of
silvicultural trial assessed

One-year and two-year
reports on assessment of
silvicultural trial and
analyses of results
conducted

Activity 3.5. K. Pinyopusarerk and FSIV
conduct 12-month assessment of

silvicultural trial
S. Nambiar and FSIV conduct 24-month
assessment of silvicultural trial. S. Nambiar
provides guidelines for long-term
management of experiment
Objective 4, Output 4.1 FSV managers
made familiar with Australian research
programs and management relating to
sawlog improvement

Managers have
participated in Australian
Study Tour and have
prepared a report by
yr1/06

The study tour was successfully conducted, in collaboration with
CARD ProjectVIE 033/05. A total of 8 senior forest research
managers from MARD and FSIV visited Australia for a two-week
study tour in May-June 2006.

Activity 4.1 K. Pinyopusarerk and C.
Harwood conduct one two-week Study
Tour to Australia for four senior FSIV and
Provincial managers on forest tree
improvement and silvicultural techniques.

Objective 4, Output 4.2 Six senior FSIV
and Provincial scientists trained in
advanced tree improvement and

silvicultural research techniques relevant to
acacia sawlog production

Scientists have
participated in Australian
training course and have
prepared a report by
yr2/03

Training course was completed in March-April 2007, and five
course participants prepare reports which have been submitted to
CARD.

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Activity 4.2 C. Harwood, C. Beadle, K.
Pinyopusarerk and S. Nambiar conduct one
three-week Training Course in Australia for
six FSIV and Provincial scientists on tree
breeding and plantation silviculture
including wood quality assessment and
development of improvement objectives.
Objective 4, Output 4.3 Ten junior FSIV
and provincial scientists and technicians
trained in basic tree improvement and
silvicultural research techniques relevant to
acacia sawlog production

Scientists and technicians

have participated in
Vietnam training course
and have prepared a report
by y2/09

Course was conducted in June 2007 in southern Vietnam, led by
Mr Pinyopusarerk, Mr Kien and Mr Huong. Attended by 13
trainees

Surveys completed by
y1/09 and report produced

The Milestone report (Project Milestone 5) was completed and
approved by CARD in May 2007.

Written strategies
published by yr1/09

Substantial work undertaken during the review period. Dr
Harwood has co-authored tow journal papers on Acacia
auriculiformis breeding strategy with Mr Phi Hong Hai of FSIV.
This milestone will be completed by December 2007 after Dr
Harwood visits Vietnam.

Activity 4.3 C. Harwood and C. Beadle
conduct 1-week training courses in acacia
genetics and silviculture including
managing the silviculture technology
transfer package for 10 Vietnamese
scientific and technical staff

Objective 4, Output 4.4 Report detailing
acacia sawlog harvesting, transport and
pricing completed
Activity 4.4 C. Harwood and FSIV staff
carry out baseline surveys of acacia
plantations, wood harvesters and buyers and
sawmills in Central Vietnam to determine
prices paid for acacia logs, and effects of
log size and log defects on price paid

Objective 4, Output 4.5 Written strategies
developed for FSIV acacia sawlog breeding
Activity 4.5 C. Harwood and FSIV staff
prepare written strategies for acacia sawlog
improvement

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Objective 5, Output 5.1 As per 4.1

As per 4.1

Objective 5, Output 5.2 As per 4.2

As per 4.2

Objective 5, Output 5.3. As per 4.3

As per 4.3

Objective 5, Output 5.4 Advice provided
to FSIV recommending priorities for
silviculture laboratory upgrade

Written report produced
by y1/06

Activity 5.4 S. Nambiar and FSIV review
options for upgrade of silviculture lab and
associated skills for soil and plant nutrient
analysis
Objective 5, Output 5.5 Spreadsheet
financial models for acacia sawlog
production systems developed and tested

Spreadsheet financial
models produced,
calibrated and tested using
data from DSIV and
provincial acacia
plantations

Activity 5.5 C. Harwood, C. Beadle and
FSIV staff develop and test financial
models incorporating genetic quality of
planting stock, site quality, silvicultural
inputs, growth rates, log prices and rotation
ages that will assist farmers and forest
enterprises to choose the most profitable

species and silvicultural methods

Models and associated
report finalised by Y2/09

Objective 6, Output 6.1 Forestry extension
staff and lead farmers acquire knowledge and
skills relating to acacia sawlog growing
technology package
Includes establishment of small-scale on-

This activity was undertaken in September 2006 when Dr
Nambiar visits Vietnam. Dr Nambiar’s written report and
recommendations were provided to FSIV in October 2006. many
of his recommendations have been adopted. Dr Nambiar will
make follow-up visits to the Hanoi and HCM City laboratories in
October 2007 and provide further advice

A simple spreadsheet financial model for acacia pulpwood
growing has been produced as part of Project Milestone 5. It will
be checked by FSIV project scientists and provincial extension
agencies during forthcoming training courses and project work. It
will be expanded to model the financial returns from thinning and
pruning treatments as results from the project experiments become
available over the next year.

Three training courses
held for 15 extension staff
and lead farmers

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farm demonstration trials
Activity 6.1 K. Pinyopusarerk and FSIV
staff conduct three one-week Training
Courses in Vietnam for forestry extension
staff and farmers in silvicultural techniques
for sawlog production, including smallscale on-farm demonstration trials
Objective 6, Output 6.2 Extension training
materials produced
Activity 6.2 C. Harwood, C. Beadle and K.
Pinyopusarerk work with FSIV staff to
produce extension materials, includes
testing drafts during training courses

INPUTS

List inputs expected to be provided during
the course of the project

Three training courses
completed by y3/09

Training materials
produced
Training materials
produced by y3/11

Planning for the training courses, course content, materials and

identification of participants has commenced and will be
completed when Dr Harwood visits Vietnam in October. The first
course, led by Dr Beadle, will be held in December 2007 in the
Hue and Dong Ha regions

During the review period two additional pairs of hand pruning
shears and two pruning saws valued at $100 total were provided to
FSIV

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