Guideline No.12 - Gr.. - SPGS

With the major expansion into commercial forestrysince 2003 (by both the private sector under the SPGSand the National Forestry Authority), the demand forthe FPQ PCH seed has quickly outstripped supply.Following a visit by SPGS staff in mid-2006, however,more seed has been made available to Ugandabut the supply still falls way short of total demand.South Africa: in South Africa, PCH was planted inlowland sites near the coast but the species has nowgone out of favour due to its low-density wood, whichdoes not compare well with alternative species foreither pulp or solid wood products. South Africaalso started a breeding programme with PCH andalthough they hardly plant the species now, theyhave maintained their seed orchards: althoughvery limited in quantity, Uganda imports seed fromthese orchards when available.Brazil: With rapidly increased demand in 2005,FPQ could not supply Uganda’s needs and so effortswere made to find suppliers of other improved PCHseed sources. Following a recommendation fromCAMCORE , a reputable supplier from Brazil’s SãoPaolo state – Schuckar Seeds – was contacted. Schuckarhave seedproduction standsof PCH (and otherpines) and seedfrom these hasThe cone of Pinus oocarpa.been importedinto Uganda since2005. NB. Whilst theearly performanceof the BrazilianPCH seed isgenerally good,its germination is significantly less than the Australian seed(refer table) so more has to be sown to get the requirednumber of seedlings.The table shows the seed origins are currentlyrecommended for Pines in Uganda:Contact the National Tree Seed Centre’s Manageron 0772 561 227. The SPGS works closely with theNTSC regarding importing seed: see the regular SeedUpdate page in the SPGS’s bimonthly Newsletter.7. Nursery MattersAnyone starting planting pine (or other commercialspecies) on a significant scale now in Uganda, hasa choice: either start your own nursery or order theseedlings from a larger, external nursery. Standardsin many of the small nurseries around the countryare generally poor and many commercial treeplanters in Uganda are now seeing the benefits ofsourcing seedlings from one of the larger, improvednurseries rather than setting up their own nurseries. CAMCORE – the Central American & MexicanConiferous Resources Cooperative.The NFA’s nursery at Namanve, nr. Kampala: one of the SPGS recommendednurseries for supplying tree seedlings. Seed source must always be clearlyspecified when ordering seedlingsSPGS-Recommended Seed Sources for Commercial Planting in UgandaSpecies Seed Source Viable Seeds* Approx. PricePer kgUshs/kgPCHFPQ’s Clonal Seed Orchards inQueensland, Australia35,000 2,000,000- ditto - South African Seed Orchards 30,000 850,000- ditto - Seed production stands, Brazil 25,000 850,000P. oocarpa Seed production stands, Brazil 25,000 850,000P. patula † ‘Plus’ tree selections in Uganda 60,000 500,000others Trial basis only ‡ . - -* Always check with the supplier the germination ofeach batch of seed and adjust order/sowing accordingly.† Efforts will be made in 2007 to also import seed orchardP. patula seed from South Africa.‡ See the SPGS Newsletter for latest information on treeseed.