Distribution: Philippines to New Guinea and Aru Islands. In New Guinea reported
from Popondetta Northern province only.
Ecology: Same as Pometia pinnata form pinnata.
Notes: Previously known as Pometia acuminata.
Pometia pinnata form nov. (NGI relative)
This form resembles form pinnata and form tomentosa in many of the characters
accept that the bole length is shorter and the fruits are large and edible as that of form
glabra.
Distribution: New Britain, Manus, New Ireland.
3.0 General Ecology
Pometia pinnata, commonly known in PNG as taun, is a highly valued timber species.
It is a large tree generally growing to 50 m in height and 1.2 m in diameter (Havel,
1975). The tree is found in the lowlands of PNG, at altitudes ranging from 75 to 800
m above sea level (Damas, 1993) particularly in areas with mean annual rainfall
16
ranging from 1500 to 5000mm and mean annual temperature range of 22-28
o
C
(Thomson and Thaman, 2006).
Generally, Pometia or taun tolerates a wide edaphic range but attains its best
development on well drained fertile loams and clay. In PNG, the commercially
important form of f. pinnata is found on better drained sites, whereas the poorer forms
mainly occur on river flats and low-lying areas (Havel, 1975; Thomson and Thaman,
2006).
In lowland forests of Papua New Guinea stockings of commercial sized trees (50 cm
dbh and above) are quite high. In rather undisturbed, closed forests, seedlings
establish and persist with slow growth. The species regenerates by discontinuous
recruitment, favored by small-scale disturbance, but not large gaps. In forest situations
the species has a moderately good self-pruning ability, as frequently exhibited by the
long, clear bole in mature trees. In open situations young trees tend to develop a
coarse, low branching habit and often have poor self-pruning.
Pometia density varies within its distributional range. The lowest density was reported
in Western Province while the highest were recorded in parts of New Ireland and
Madang Provinces (Hammermaster and Saunders, 1995). Inventory data in lowland
rain forests of Managalas Plateaux, Oro Province indicate a range of 8 to 13 trees per
hectare (Table 1) (Piskaut, 2005) which on average is anticipated in most potential
production forests in PNG.
Table 1. Enumeration of Pometia pinnata within the Managalas Plateau, Northern Province (Piskaut,
2004, 2005).
Kuia
Kadejama
Putei
Pongani
No. Individuals
6
6
4
0
No. merchantable.
individivuals
3
2
3
0
Total Area (m
2
)
2250
2500
2500
2500
Area (ha)
0.23
0.25
0.25
0.25
Tree density/ha
26.67
24
16
0
Timber density/ha
13.33
8
12
0
17
In terms of population structure, there appeared to be adequate recruitment into the
merchantable form. Based on diameter structure, approximately 5 to 20 percent of
Pometia trees are potential timbers (Figure 3) in the next cutting cycle of 40 years.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
<20
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
>70
Diameter class (cm)
%
Fr
eq
ue
nc
y
Figure 3. Diameter distribution of Pometia pinnata at Managalas Plateau, Northern
Province.
4.0 Growth and Development
Early height growth is fast, about 2 m per annum on sites with good soil fertility and
moisture levels and intermediate to high light levels. After the first few years, growth
rates are typically 1–2 m in height per year. In field trials established at Kerevat,
Dami and Madang, the annual stem diameter increment range from 1.8-3.0 cm (Yelu,
2001). Similarly, in the Solomon Islands the annual stem diameter increment was in
the range of 1.6–2.5 cm, with growth declining with age. The fastest growing taun
trees attained a diameter at breast height (dbh) of 30 cm in 13–16 years but had poor
form and short boles to only 4–8 m.
The species copes well with competition from other trees and crops, but growth will
slow in more heavily shaded conditions.
18
5.0 Conservation status
According to the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Center (UNEP-WCMC)
taun is not listed as vulnerable species. However, given heavy exploitation it may be
wise to list the species under CITES.
6.0 Harvesting and Trade
6.1 Forest inventories and logging acquisition
Accessing information on forest resources and up to date forest inventories is difficult
in Papua New Guinea. Any datasets generated from sampling plots in logged or
unlogged forest areas are not readily shared between institutions. The lack of a central
repository for such information made information gathering for this desktop study
difficult. Information on commercial timber stands, density and volume is therefore
limited and the best available information are extracted from the compilation of
inventory data as presented by Hammermaster and Saunders (1995) and those
conducted by forest developers themselves as part of the requirement under the
Environmental Plan. Data on stand densities and volumes may not truly represent the
actual timber stand. For instance, the timber volume datasets as presented by
Hammermaster and Saunders (1995) contain extrapolations for areas or forest types
where data were not available.
Taun is common and commercially exploitable volumes are reported in all coastal and
island provinces. The commercially extractable volume of taun on average is
estimated at around 15 million cubic meters or approximately 13% of all potential
timber species put together.
These figures are based on selected timber concession
areas and do not represent the gross volume and density of taun in all forested areas in
Papua New Guinea.
The current accessible and productive forest types are low altitude forest types on
uplands. Table 2 below gives average merchantable taun volumes for low altitude
forests compare to other lowland forest types. Note, the mean volumes for all timber
species appear higher, reflecting assumed estimations for forest areas where data is
19
unavailable. Similarly the taun volumes also appear lower in most provinces. For
instance, in a study conducted at the foot of the Schrader Range, East Sepik Province,
an average taun volume of 1.6 m
3
was recorded in a 0.1 ha or 16 m
3
/ha.
Overall, the merchantable taun volume varies from less than then 1 m
3
/ha in Western
Province to 25 m
3
/ha in Madang. Other lowland forest types such as open woodland,
forest on plains and fans, and swamp forests, appear to have more taun timbers than
the more productive low altitude forest types.
Table 2. Comparison of merchantable taun volume per hectare (m
3
/ha) in productive low altitude
forests on uplands and other low altitude forest types for major timber resource provinces (data
extracted from Hammermaster and Saunders,1995, otherwise as indicated).
Province
Productive low
altitude forests on
uplands (vol./ha)
Other low altitude
forest types
(vol./ha)
Mean vol./ha for
all potential
timber species
North Solomons
7.86
5.40
38.33
New Ireland
5.57
8.98
30.29
East New Britain
5.95
6.03
32.33
West New Britain
5.68
8.34
33.93
Manus
2.97
-
56.50
Milne Bay
3.28
2.95
17.98*
Central
5.26
4.40
21.65*
Gulf
2.71
2.29
20.24*
Oro
2.88
4.70
81.69*
Western
1.48
0.71
15.33*
West Sepik
4.23
3.34
36.69
East Sepik
3.69
3.96
33.42
Madang
8.13
24.83
56.42
Morobe
9.17
12.33
55.00
All Highlands
3.29
0.35
42.50
* Volume from 2002 annual working ( unpublished annual working plan reports, Southern Region).
The acquisition of potential forest areas for forest development follows a very long
process from landowner consultation through to the final issuing of the timber permit.
The process referred to as the “Thirty Four Steps” (see Appendix I). According to the
Forest Act 1991, all commercial harvesting of forest products require a permit issued
20
by the PNGFA. A permit is required regardless of whether the forest products
involved are grown on state, freehold or customary land. Different permits are issued
by the PNGFA that are applicable to the type of forest project. Important to the final
approval and issuing of timber permits, the proponent or intending developer provides
a forest working plan (FWP) and an Environmental Plan (EP) that takes into account
the timber area’s topography, the resource density and biological environment of the
area. These plans serve as the benchmark for sustainable management.
The extraction of taun and other timber species in natural forests follows the coupe
logging method or volume based harvesting system. This is the recommended method
based on sustained yield management. Depending on the stand volume, coupes of
varying sizes (from as low as 1000 ha to 15000 ha) are established. Sizes of coupes
are determined by volume of timber on a per hectare basis. The volume of each coupe
represents a 5 year cutting cycle and is divided into subunits called set-ups. Each set-
up covers approximately 150 hectares of forests and represents a one year cutting
cycle.
There are no set policies specific to the exploitation of taun and other timber species
classified under the MEP group 1 timbers. However, the government has put in place
general guidelines controlling the exploitation and export of taun. Base on timber
volumes in logging concessions, the Forest Authority determines the maximum
allowable exploitation or endorsed volume to be extracted. The endorsed volume
differs for each timber species or species group and varies from area to area (SGS
Reports 2002-2005) depending on stand densities and volumes.
6.2 Log Export
The log export industry in PNG initially focused on the Islands region because of high
stocking densities and easy access. Although the area under concession quadrupled
between 1982 and 1991 there was no corresponding increase in reported log export
volumes.
The log export of all commercial trees peaked in the mid 1990’s when log export
levels reached about 3 million m
3
each year. However, since then there has been a
21
steady decline in export volumes to a low of 1.5 million m
3
in 2001. The years 2002
to 2005 experienced a slight increase in log export levels reaching 2 million m
3
(SGS
Log Monitoring Reports: 2003-2004). This trend was very pronounced in taun (Figure
4). This was probably attributed to resource rich concessions being logged out and the
companies being forced into less desirable forest areas with lower stockings.
It is difficult to ascertain the quantity of taun logs harvested in concession areas. The
only records available are logs in shipments that were declared to the authorities.
Since the engagement of SGS in the mid 1990s, there was a sharp reduction in
undeclared log shipments and deliberate misidentification of species which has cost
millions of kina in lost revenue to the government.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Year
Pe
rc
en
t V
ol
um
e
(m
3)
Figure 4. Percentage volume of taun exported from 1997 to 2005
(www.pngfia.org.pg, SGS Log Monitoring Report, 2002-2005).
Taun contributed between 5 to 12% of the total timber volume exported between 1997
and 2005. There was a slight decline in exported taun logs but increased again
towards 2005 (Figure 4). From March 2004 and to March 2005, a total of 145,000 m
3
of taun was exported with a value of US$9.7 million. In comparison to all timber
species, taun accounted for 12% of the total revenue of US$115 million collected
during 2004 (Figure 5).
22
Burkella, 3.4
Calophyllum, 15.8
Dillenia, 4.5
Erima, 6.6
Grey Canarium, 2.3
Hekakoro, 0.0
Kw ila, 2.6
Lophopetallum, 0.8
Malas, 12.9
PNG Mersaw a, 9.5
PNG w alnut, 2.2
Pencil cedar, 6.5
Red Canarium, 5.3
Red Planchonella, 0.3
Taun, 12.2
Teak, 5.4
Terminalia, 8.6
White Planchonella, 1.1
Figure 5. Percentage revenue contribution of major timber species exported in 2004
( Source: SGS Log Monitoring Report 2004).
6.3 Processed Taun Export
Table 3 gives a summary of processed taun timbers exported in 2001, 2002 and 2004
in Papua New Guinea alone. Total export volume varies from year to year as
determine by market forces. In 2001 a total of 635 m
3
of processed taun were
exported to Australia, New Zealand, United States and Vietnam. In 2004 only two
countries imported processed taun; Australia and Japan.
23
Table 3. Export of processed taun from 2001 to August 2004 .
Country
US$/m3
Volume (m3)
FOB $
2001
Australia
244
370
90,280
Japan
230
65
14,950
New Zealand
392
4
1,568
New Zealand
304
151
45,904
United States
613
4
2,452
Vietnam
345
41
14,145
Total
635
169,299
2002
Australia
295
308
90,729
Canada
525
7
3,468
New Zealand
272
178
48,333
Total
493
142,530
2004
Australia
359
18
6,432
Japan
69
1,200
82,800
Total
1,218
89,232
Source: www. fiapng.com.
6.4 Trade Flow
The major trade flow for taun based on SGS Log Export Monitoring statistics are
presented in Figure 6. China is by far the main importer of tropical logs followed by
Japan, and Korea. Up to 90% of PNG sawn logs were exported to China between
2004 and March 2005. Of this total up to 60% were taun timbers.
24
Figure 6. Trade flow in the international market of taun logs from PNG.
Of the processed logs, Australia and New Zealand are the two biggest importers of
taun (Table 3). The processed taun are mostly exported as rough timbers, beams,
flitches and as square logs.
6.5 Export Discrepancies
As taun is common throughout the island of New Guinea, and the satellite islands it is
anticipated that a stocking of at least 8-13 merchantable stems would occur in a
hectare. Current export records for January and March 2005 show that 7 to 11 logging
companies were actively exporting taun timbers (SGS Log Export Monitoring
Reports, 2005). The biggest exporters include Rimbunan Hijau (PNG) Ltd, Low
Impact Logging Ltd, Vanimo Jaya Ltd, Ambogo Sawmill Ltd, Cakara Alam (PNG)
Ltd and Kerawara Ltd.
25
However, within the same period these companies also recorded high discrepancies in
shipment records (Table 4).
Table 4. Taun export discrepancies in volume exported for January and March 2005.
SGS
Ref.
no.
Logging Company
Area
Permitted
Volume
(m
3
)
Shipped
Vol.
(m
3
)
Percentage
Discrepancy
8607 Low Impact Logging Ltd BUHEM
200
481.46
140.7
8537 Cakara Alam (PNG) Ltd ARAWE
100
181.86
81.9
8522 WTK Realty
VANIMO
500
797.77
59.6
8461 Rimbunan Hijau (PNG)
VAILALA
150
199.68
33.1
8536 Cakara Alam (PNG) Ltd
ARAWE
300
353.72
17.9
8546 Ambogo Sawmill Ltd
KUMUSI
3100
2546.47
-17.9
8538 Cakara Alam (PNG) Ltd
ARAWE
370
255.50
-30.9
8760 Cakara Alam (PNG) Ltd
ARAWE
40
179.34
348.3
8743 Low impact Logging Ltd BUHEM
100
405.01
305.0
8715 Cakara Alam (PNG) Ltd
ARAWE
165
256.21
55.3
8746 Cakara Alam (PNG) Ltd
ARAWE
260
344.61
32.5
8720 Tutuman Dev. Ltd
CEN. NIP
1333.67
1051.93
-21.1
8727 Rimbunan Hijau (PNG)
VAILALA
130
59.99
-53.9
8691 Cakara Alam (PNG) Ltd
ARAWE
15
4.71
-68.6
Source: SGS Log Export Monitoring, March and April 2005
These discrepancies raise some questions for instance:
the validity of the forest inventory survey – whether it was a case of over or
underestimation of timber volumes.
elements of illegal logging where companies are encroaching into areas
outside the demarcated boundaries.
volumes below approved permitted volumes may imply intentional lumping
with lower grade logs. An interview with a former forester with a logging
company confirms this usual but regular practice.
It is worth noting that, logging companies employ certified forestry officers who
conduct inventory survey, prepare, organize and supervise log exports. Often
26
prepared export documents comprising species lists and volumes may be knowingly
altered to favour the log exporters.
7.0 Management and Regulation
The fourth goal of the Papua New Guinea Constitution which states
“….for Papua New Guinea’s natural resources and environment to be
conserved and used for the collective benefit of us all, and to be replenished
for the benefit of future generations.”
This is the cornerstone for forest policy formulation that ensures forest resources of
the country are used and replenished for the collective benefit of all Papua New
Guineans now and for future generations.
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