Forest Utilisation and Downstream processing training in China

A total of eleven forestry officers are currently undergoing two months intensive training on forest utilisation and downstream processing in China.

The Seminar on Forest Utilization and Downstream Processing for Solomon Islands is a piloted training prepared and geared towards the specific needs of Solomon Islands and its natural forest resources.

Specific focus for this training eyes value adding on timber products as the sector embarks on policies to transform the forestry sector to generate more reliable and sustainable benefits from the country’s natural resources.

The idea is to work towards reducing the negative environmental impacts of logging, increasing revenues from forest production, benefiting local communities, and developing regulatory framework that promotes a greater balance between utilising forests for both logging and non-logging purposes.

The Seminar programs are being supported and sponsored for by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MOFCOM); and is organized by the National Academy of Forestry and Grassland Administration (NAFGA).

An addition eight (8) other officers are also attending similar seminar on Technological Innovation of Bamboo as a substitute for plastic initiative for developing countries.

Forestry Permanent Secretary, Richard Raomae in commending the opportunity given by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) under its embassy in Honiara says this is a timely undertaking since the forestry sector is turning its focus on downstream processing and value adding as one of the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) Policy priorities.

The Ministry is keen to achieving the priority policies under the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) whilst at the same time touching the very lives of our resources owners under the initiative not to damage their environment but with full utilisation of adding value.

He adds in overall these training opportunities is in line with the Ministry’s National Forest Policy in addressing a number of issues including non-timber forest products.

We anticipate that these trainings will sure upskill our forest officers to a broader innovative idea on value adding that will help drive the Ministry’s implementation of this program, the Forestry Permanent Secretary further adds.

“As frontliners working with communities acquiring such innovative knowledge will assist in promoting utilisation of non-wood forest products such as bamboo and rattan to better use.”

“These officers are middle managers and with this rare opportunity, I am very optimistic that they will have acquired something valuable to contribute to the country in implementing mandatory government policies and in particular Ministry’s cooperate plan and the national Forest Policy going forward. “

Under similar training and seminar arrangements, three senior forestry officers have completed their two weeks training on wood processing and sustainable utilisation technology recently are now back in the country.

“This training covers a wide range of technical aspects of wood utilisation and to be able to acquire knowledge on the current status and development trends of the wood industry, especially learning from China’s logging management systems and other wood technology aspects is a bonus to the ministry and the forestry sector.

“This will sure be beneficial for timber production in the Solomon Islands, and the timber industry as well,” PS Raomae highlighted with optimism.

Officers attending the seminar trainings in China are being selected from the various technical departments within the Ministry of Forestry and Research.

With aim that these trainings will pave way forward to addressing numerous issues on downstream processing especially on adding value on timber products and also hiccups surrounding the plastic waste problem in the country by using bamboo as a substitute.

ENDS//

– MoFR Press