The following indigenous or naturalised or adapted trees should be propagated in the nurseries and planted out in the field wherever possible or used for natural regeneration wherever they occur. Most of these trees will not grow well on the very poor, heavy leached and bleached soils in the interior up lands but could be used in the now abandoned agricultural lowlands and on a trial stage in the interior uplands: Callophyllum inophyllum, Fam.: Guttiferae (Mangosteen Family) Local name: Tamanu high islands, and extending into the coastal forests of high islands. The wood of Tamanu is used for canoes, houses, and carved objects. Casuarina equisetifolia, Fam.: Casuarinaceae, Ironwood Local name: Toa Toa is a medium to large pine-like tree occasional to common on sandy and rocky shores of atolls and high islands. The ironwood tree has many reported uses in Polynesia. It was the favoured wood for making war clubs, and was also used for house posts, tools, and parts of canoes. Cordia subcordata, Fam.: Boraginaceae (Heliotrope Family) Local name: Tou Tou is a small to medium-sized tree up to 15 m high, occasional in the littoral forest of high islands and atolls. Cordia is one of the best timber trees. The soft but durable wood is used for making canoes, paddles, boxes and other carved objects. It is also commonly used as a shade tree. Thespesia populnea, Fam.: Malvaceae (Mallow Family) Local name: Miro Miro is a small to medium-sized tree up to 15 m high, occasional to common in the littoral forest of atolls and high islands. The wood of Thespesia is one of the best found in the littoral forest, and is highly esteemed to make bowls, paddles, and other carved objects. The tree is superficially similar to Hibiscus tiliaceus which belongs to the same family. Hibiscus tiliaceus, Fam.: Malvaceae (Mallow Family) Local name: ‘Au Engl. name: Beach hibiscus tree ‘Au is a small to medium-sized tree up to 15 m high, common to abundant in the littoral forest and high islands. It is also one of the commonest secondary forest trees and is frequent in disturbed forest and plantations up into the mountains of high islands. It is found on islands and coasts all across the tropics. ‘Au is one of the most useful trees. The soft wo od is used in construction, canoe parts, and for many other purposes. The bast fiber from the bark is used to make cordage and mats. Terminalia catappa, Fam.: Combretaceae (Terminalia Family) English name: Tropical almond Local name: Kauarika Terminalia is a large spreading tree up to 30 m high, common in the littoral forest of atolls and high islands, extending into coastal and lowland forests on high islands. Terminalia is a very good timber tree used for making canoes, houses and gongs. It is cultivated as an ornamental or shade tree, as well as for its edible seeds. Tectona grandis, Fam.: Verbenaceae Engl. name: Teak, Indian Oak Local name: Tiki A large 25 – 35 (45) m high decideous tree, lives up to 200 years and is valued for its strong durable wood that is used for furniture, ships, buildings a.s.o. There are a small number of Teak trees on Mangaia, most probably planted more than 60 years back along the upper village road near the school and further inland in private gardens. The growth is excellent, therefore encouraging more additional afforestations with this very promising species. Grevillea robusta, Fam.: Proteacae Engl. name: Australian Silver Oak or Silky Oak Local name: unknown Silky oak is a 30 – 35 m high tree and provides a valuable timber for interior construction, furniture, veneer and parquet. It is like teak growing in a small number at the Makatea of Mangaia. Trials should therefore be made. Delonix regia, Fam.: Leguminosae Engl. name: Flame Tree, Flamboyant Local name: Patai Patai is a tree 15- 18 m high, growing well on the Makatea and planted for beautification along the road-sites. Because of its shallow root system may damage sidewalks, walls and building foundations, it should not be planted too nearly to these structures. Patai gives also a very durable construction timber. Syzygium cumii, Fam.: Myrtaceae Engl. name: Java Plum Local name: Pistat Pistat is an up to 20 m high fruit tree, also used for shade and beautification, timber qualities not known. Swietenia macrophylla, Fam.: Ebenaceae Engl. name: Large-leafed Mahogony Local name: unknown Valuable timber tree, trial stage on the nursery-site Sandalum austrocaledonicum, Fam.: Sandalaceae Engl. name: Sandalwood Local name: unknown Sandalwood is a shrub or a small tree 5 – 12m in height with a short bole, found in a number of the South-Pacific-Islands. Sandalwood produces highly scented heartwood, much prized for carving and for its valuable aromatic oil. The oil is highly regarded because of its uniform composition and its sweet, warm/spicy and long lasting fragrance. It is used in soaps and perfumes, and it also has medicinal uses. It was the high prices available in East Asia at the beginning of the 19 th century that send adventurers into the Pacific in search of the wood and started the “Sandalwood Trade”. The species has been widely depleted and is threatened in much of its natural range. The major threat to Sandalwood comes from unsustainable and uncontrolled harvesting. Other threats include damage to regeneration by browsing cattle and clearing for agricultural development. The first SPRIG meeting in Nadi (1996) recommended development of a species conservation strategy and expanding planting of Sandalwood. On Mangaia there is an ongoing trial stage for the propagation of sandalwood in the forest nursery and some plantations started already along sport-field in the village of Oneroa and along the beach-road to air-field. A further list of native trees and shrubs known to be on Mangaia (Source: Cook Islands Natural Heritage Project) is attached as Annex I. These trees and shrubs should be also as the trees listed above propagated and planted and their natural regeneration
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 12:57:42 +0000