Workshops May–June 2006

Trees for improving profitability, sustainability, and resource conservation on farms and ranches: A professional development workshop in agroforestry

• diversify income on farms and ranches
• increase overall productivity
• experience successful agroforestry systems first-hand
• conserve soil and water using trees
• choose which species will do best on a site
• select tree products to reach specialty markets
• add value and market directly to consumers
• improve soil quality with trees
• optimize interactions between trees and crops
• gain new perspective in windbreak design
• conserve traditional varieties and native species

Kona, Hawai'i: Tuesday, May 16 - Friday, May 19, 2006
Download Hawaii brochure, registration form, and agenda (pdf file)

Guam & Palau: Monday, June 26 - Friday, June 30, 2006
Download Guam/Palau brochure, registration form, hotel information, and agenda (pdf file)

Space is limited to the first 50 registrants for each workshop, so please register early.

New: Download the lecture presentations from these workshops here

Vegetative propagation of native Hawaiian and fruit trees for domestication and commercial purposes: An intensive workshop

Workshop 1, Kona, Hawai'i: Saturday, May 20, 2006, 9am-3pm (full as of March 28)

NEW! Workshop 2, Kona, Hawai'i: Sunday, May 21, 2006, 9am-12
Download information about the propagation workshops (pdf file)

Contact information for registration and questions:

Craig Elevitch
Project Coordinator
Permanent Agriculture Resources
PO Box 428
Holualoa, HI 96725 USA
Tel: 808-324-4427; Fax: 808-324-4129
E-mail: craig@agroforestry.net

Agroforestry workshop description

Interest in Pacific island agroforestry has been increasing over the past several years as a means to provide environmental services such as shade, erosion control, weed management, etc., and to supplement income by adding to farm product diversity. Many people are familiar with the term “agroforestry” but rarely encounter working farms that successfully employ agroforestry techniques.

Mixed agroforest, 'Upolu, Samoa

This project will present two workshops, one in Kona, Hawai‘i (primarily for Hawai‘i participants) and one taking place in both Guam and Palau (primarily for Pacific Basin participants). Resource professionals will present topics such as:

• agroforestry—tree-based polycultures
• domestication and commercialization of agroforestry trees
• “agroforestry-friendly” NRCS standards
• soil quality considerations with agroforestry
• tree-crop competition
• new perspectives in windbreak design
• conserving traditional varieties and native species
• value-added and direct marketing strategies.

A wide range of field visits have been arranged with farmers, including:

• nontimber forest products grown within privately-owned native forest
• shade-grown organic coffee with geese and sheep for weed control
• processing and direct sales of produce from an agroforest
• traditional Polynesian and Micronesian agroforestry
• multistory agroforestry combined with wetland taro
• contour hedgerows for organic matter production and erosion control
• a silvopastoral system integrating Acacia koa
• and several others

Presenters and major participants

Project Coordinator
Craig Elevitch, Permanent Agriculture Resources

Principle Investigators
J. B. Friday, UH CTAHR Forestry Extension
Bart Lawrence, State Resource Conservationist, Pacific Basin
Diane Ragone, National Tropical Botanical Garden
Michael Robotham, NRCS Tropical Technology Specialist

Presenters
Kumu Keala Ching, Hawaiian Culture, Kona, Hawai‘i
Robin DeMeo, NRCS District Conservationist, Palau
Craig Elevitch, Agroforester, Permanent Agriculture Resources, Holualoa, Hawai‘i
J. B. Friday, Extension Forester, UH CTAHR, Hilo, Hawai‘i
Bob Gavenda, NRCS Resource Soil Scientist, Guam
Bob Joy, NRCS Plant Materials Specialist, Ho‘olehua, Moloka‘i
Bart Lawrence, State Resource Conservationist, Pacific Basin
Roger Leakey, Director, Agroforestry and Novel Crops Unit, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia
Harley Manner, Biogeographer, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam
Kauhane Morton, Cultural Specialist, Kona, Hawai‘i
Diane Ragone, Director, The Breadfruit Institute, National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawa‘i, Kaua‘i
Mike Robotham, NRCS Tropical Technology Specialist, Honolulu
Craig Smith, NRCS Agronomy, Guam
Joe Tiobech, Forest Resources, Palau

Field tour presenters
Craig Elevitch, North Kona, Hawai‘i
Kamilo Faleofa, North Kona, Hawai‘i
J. B. Friday, UH CTAHR Forestry Extension
Mark Kimball, North Kona, Hawai‘i
Trisha and Denver Leaman, South Kona, Hawai‘i
John Mood, Ninole, Hawai‘i
Vicki and John Swift, South Kona, Hawai‘i
Christian Twigg-Smith, North Kona, Hawai‘i
Desmond Twigg-Smith, North Kona, Hawai‘i

Robin DeMeo, NRCS District Conservationist, Palau
Ann Kitalong, Koror, Palau
Jack Masters, Koror, Palau
John Oiph, Koror, Palau
OISCA farm, Nekken, Palau
Jose C. Santos, Piti, Guam
Bernard Watson, Northern Guam

Sponsorship