by
Karanja Murira
Director General
Tanzania Forest Research Institute
(TAFORI)
Morogoro, Tanzania
The
Honourable Minister of Tourism, Natural Resources and Environment,
Representatives of the Donor Community,
International Agencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Honourable Minister, on behalf of the Workshop Organizing Committee and TAFORI and on own my behalf, I would like, foremost, to express my heartfelt gratitude and honour for your willingness to come here to officially open our sub-regional workshop: "Leucaena Psyllid: A threat to Agroforestry in Africa." To us this is a gesture of good will and the commitment which your Ministry and the Government has to agroforestry.
Secondly, I would like to express our heart felt thanks to the distinguished representatives from various institutions for accepting our invitations and for attending the workshop. Let me also thank the participants from the sub-region and beyond who have responded excellently to our invitation. The focus of the workshop is to exchange experiences of the spread of the insect damage and to find strategies for its management.
In my capacity as the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, I hope we shall achieve the objectives of the workshop for which we have set out.
We in East Africa are conversant with the greater values of regional cooperation through East African Agriculture and Forestry Organization of the defunct East African Community. Regional cooperation is vital for the development of poor countries with scarce resources like ours. If developed countries are uniting for greater economic power how greater is the need for the smaller and for poor nations to unite.
The leucaena psyllid problem should be a spring-board for our further cooperation in tackling all forest pest problems. Indeed if we are to succeed in our research and development programme this would entail that we cooperate fully in all our forest research programmes. United we shall win, disunited we shall fall.
Thank you.
by
S. Najam
Deputy FAO Representative
FAO, Dar-Es-Salaam
Tanzania
Mr. Chairman,
Honourable
Minister for Tourism, Natural Resources and Environment, Government of
Tanzania,
Distinguished
Participants,
Ladies and
Gentlemen:
It is a great pleasure to be with you this morning and participate in the Opening Session of the Sub-regional Workshop, "Leucaena Psyllid - A Threat to Agroforestry in Africa" organized by the Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI) in technical collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service and other collaborating institutions. On behalf of FAO, I wish to extend to you our greetings and welcome, particularly our guests from abroad which, in our view, is extremely important given the proportions which the leucaena psyllid has reportedly assumed and the magnitude of the threat it poses to the agroforestry and forest resources in the sub-region.
Destructive pests and diseases know no geographical boundaries or barriers. Therefore, it is imperative to go beyond national efforts and forge regional or sub-regional based strategies to effectively manage these pests in order reduce their impacts on the resources which they are capable of damaging.
This workshop is funded in part by a grant from USDA Forest Service and in part under the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme, TCP/RAF/4451 "Assistance to Management of Leucaena Psyllid." It an excellent opportunity for experts from the sub-region to interact and exchange experiences, knowledge and information about this tiny, yet destructive pest, particularly with reference to the nature and extent of the actual and potential problem and to develop effective pest management measures from the a regional perspective.
I will not dwell on technical issues concerning leucaena psyllid, its habitat, biology, ecology, host species, management and control alternatives for I am not an expert in this field and I know that during the course of this workshop you will put all these dimensions to the highest professional scrutiny and resolute analyses. I would however like to succinctly highlight some of the important aspects which you may find useful in your deliberations.
As we all know, leucaena psyllid has its origin in Mexico, Central America, parts of South America and the Caribbean. Within its natural range, the insect never caused a problem of economic significance and little was known about it until 1983 when an outbreak was detected in southern Florida, USA. The following year, infestations appeared in Hawaii and by 1988, leucaena psyllid had spread to the Pacific islands, Australia, Southern Asia and the Indian subcontinent where it caused extensive damage to leucaena plantings. In 1991, the insect expanded its callous domain to Mauritius and Reunion. Tanzania and Kenya became victims of this exotic pest in 1992.
This rapid spread and swift cross border mobility of the insect from country to country and continent to continent is indicative of its tenacity to survive on the one hand and susceptibility of the forest and agroforestry resources on the other. The principal host plant, leucaena, is a particular target of this insect. Repeated feeding by leucaena psyllid causes growth loss, defoliation, wilting, branch dieback and even tree mortality.
Leucaena has been widely cultivated by humans for centuries in view of its economic, environmental and nutritional significance. The vast plantations of this fast growing tree throughout the tropical regions in the world are eloquent testimony to the multiplicity of benefits derived from this tree. Of particular mention are:
The contemporary world is beset with a burgeoning problem of environmental degradation and fragility of our survival support system. Increasing emphasis is being placed on rational and prudent utilization and management of our natural resources based on sustainable development. In the wake of these developments, leucaena has enormous potential to serve as a tree crop in developing sustainable agro-forestry production systems particularly for meeting energy needs, conservation and fertilization of land and its nutritional value for livestock and humans. Unfortunately however, in Tanzania, and I am sure elsewhere also, leucaena was just beginning to catch on as an important agroforestry species when the appearance of leucaena psyllid put all of our efforts in jeopardy.
I am sure that this Workshop will take advantage of the experts present and cover all major areas of concern including policy issues, research and development, integrated pest management techniques, etc., to help our countries counter the spread of this pest. Hopefully, the need to set up a mechanism, within the TCDC framework, to facilitate a regular flow of information, interaction and consultation on pest management techniques and in harmonizing action and management practices, in terms of networking among neighbouring countries, will also be looked into. This could be of tremendous significance in pooling scarce resources and constituting a common platform of action against the leucaena psyllid. We are eagerly looking forward to the outcome of this Workshop.
Before concluding, Mr Chairman, I want to place on record our appreciation and compliments to the Tanzania Forestry Research Institute and all the collaborating institutions which lent support in organizing this Workshop. We from FAO assure you of our continued support at the national as well as regional level to counter the devastation caused by leucaena psyllid. May I also express our profound thanks to your Excellency the Minister for gracing this occasion. I wish you all a successful Workshop.
Thank you.
by
G.D. Hertel
USDA Forest Service
Northeastern Area, Forest Health
Management
Radnor, Pennsylvania, USA.
Honoured guests and distinguished delegates, I welcome you to this conference on behalf of Mr Jack Ward Thomas, the Chief of the Forest Service, USDA, in the United States. As part of our mission, "Caring of the Land and Serving People", we include an aspect of providing international technical assistance and scientific exchange to help sustain quality forest management.
In addition to our International Forestry Program, the Forest Service manages the National Forest System; 191 000 000 acres (77 016 129 ha) of forest and range lands, provides technical and financial assistance to state forestry organisations in 50 states and we have the world's largest forestry research program.
We have been asked in recent years by President Clinton and Vice-President Gore to be more effective in providing service to the American taxpayers at less cost. This has affected all programs including our International Forestry Program. We will have to be more selective in the future but still have a strong commitment to protect the health of the forest resources of eastern and southern Africa.
On behalf of USDA Forest Service, I wish you a successful and productive workshop.
by
The Honourable Juma Hamad Omar (MP)
Minister for Tourism, Natural Resources
and Environment
Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Mr.
Chairman:
Distinguished
Scientists and Participants:
Invited
Guests:
Ladies and
Gentlemen:
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to Tanzania and indeed to Dar es Salaam, the City of Peace. As you will have noted, the Organizers have chosen this beautiful beach hotel, the White Sands, as the venue of the Workshop to bring the beach environment into your deliberations. I am sure you will all agree with me that this venue is, indeed, the best place to hold this important Workshop on the threat posed to agroforestry in Africa by the destructive leucaena psyllid.
I thank you all for having accepted our invitation to attend this Workshop. I note with great satisfaction that the high attendance to this Workshop is an indication of the seriousness your Governments and institutions are placing in the efforts to combat this devastating pest.
Mr. Chairman, as you are aware, scientists, scholars and environmentalists have been raising concern on the rapid depletion of forests and degradation of the environment. The Rio Summit in 1992 was a culmination of the efforts to arrest the situation. One of the areas which contributes to forest depletion and degradation of the environment is plant diseases and pests. We in Tanzania have had four experiences in this area.
During the 1960s we were forced to prematurely clearfell all areas planted with Pinus radiata due to heavy infection by needle blight, Dothistroma pini. P. radiata was one of three major species which also include P. patula and Cupressus lusitanica being planted in our forest plantations at that time. We therefore prohibited the planting of Pinus radiata in the country and introduced Pinus elliottii as an alternative species. This tree soon showed infestation by pine woolly aphid, Pineus sp., though not seriously. Natural enemies of pine woolly aphid seem to have held it under control but we are constantly monitoring it.
From the late 1980s to date, a third major plantation tree species, Cupressus lusitanica, has been seriously attacked by the cypress aphid, Cinara cupressii. The situation in the northern regions of Tanzania is very pathetic. Mr. Chairman, allow me at this juncture to extend my profound gratitude to the International Institute of Biological Control and all other institutions which are collaborating with TAFORI to look for means and ways to control this devastating insect which is threatening not only the viability of Forest Industries but also the environment which has enjoyed not only the greenery of the plantations but also the nicely trimmed hedges of cypress.
Mr. Chairman, the fourth experience is this of the leucaena psyllid. In the past few years Tanzania, like many other African countries, has encouraged and assisted its people to plant Leucaena leucocephala as a multipurpose tree in agroforestry systems. Just as this tree was being well accepted by our people, this tiny insect, which is a native of Mexico, South and Central America and the Caribbean started attacking the already planted trees. We are aware that this insect has spread very fast in Southeast Asia and now in Africa. It is now threatening the tree which most of us have been banked on as a very important resource for farmers.
Mr. Chairman, we are meeting here today to share experiences and lay down strategies of how to control this insect. We have a very arduous job ahead of us. The "Miracle Tree" which we encouraged and assisted our people to plant so that they can reap its many benefit ranging from soil fertility improvement to fodder, fuel wood, furniture, environmental amelioration and so on, is now threatened. This insect is not only threatening the miracle tree but is also introducing another very serious problem and that is, undermining the very confidence we have instilled in our people, that this tree is important for sustainable rural agriculture and hence in alleviating rural poverty.
Mr. Chairman, we must come up with a solution to this insect as soon as possible. Otherwise we shall lose the tree and the confidence of the people. I am told that our colleagues in the Asia-Pacific region have had positive experiences in combating this insect and that we stand to learn a lot from them. I am sure, Mr. Chairman, that their experiences will expedite our action in drawing up strategies and an information network to combat the insect.
Mr. Chairman, let me state very explicitly that this Workshop, on the threat posed by leucaena psyllid to agroforestry, is a historic workshop at a time when we are all striving to achieve sustainable development for our people. It will open up areas of cooperation not only in controlling this insect but also in other areas of pest and disease control. I am sure that the regional approach you have taken in this issue is going to be the cornerstone of our success. It is my sincere hope that during your deliberation you will come up with ways and means of sustaining regional collaboration and cooperation in forest insect and disease management.
Mr. Chairman, allow me now to take this opportunity to thank, on behalf of the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and on behalf of the Republic of Kenya, the various organizations which have assisted in one way or the other in making this workshop a reality.
First, to the Tropical Forestry Programme of the United States Forest Service, for their financial support.
Second, to FAO for their technical, logistic and financial support.
Third, to the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), Institute of Biological Control (IIBC), the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and the Tanzania Forest Research Institute (TAFORI) for their technical collaboration.
Fourth, to the Organizing Committee for their good work in organizing this Workshop.
Fifth the management team of the FAO/UNDO "Integrated Pest Management of the Cypress Aphid field project for accepting to supervise the recently approved FAO Technical Cooperation Project "Assistance to Management of Leucaena Psyllid" without extra costs.
Sixth, to Mr. William Ciesla of FAO Headquarters, Rome, for his personal effort in making this Workshop possible.
Mr. Chairman, having said these few words, let me say that we are looking forward to a productive and fruitful workshop. This is very pertinent given the economic, social and environmental havoc which is likely to occur if the leucaena psyllid and other pests are not quickly detected and controlled. Short term as well as long term strategies have to be developed but emergency programmes to combat pest epidemics should be in the limelight.
I have noted that the participants of this Workshop will visit one of our famous National Parks - The Mikumi National Park. This is encouraging and is highly commendable. Most of you may not be aware of the fact that in the area of global biodiversity, Tanzania ranks second in number of plants, third in birds, and fourth in mammals and smaller organisms. I wish you the best in your trip to sample this biodiversity and I sincerely hope that some of you will stay a little longer or come back at a later date to continue enjoying the world of biodiversity which Tanzania manages on behalf of all mankind.
Mr. Chairman, I would like now to declare this workshop on leucaena psyllid officially opened.
Thank you very much.
