Even though the enterprise has not, to date, produced
profits to finance conservation activities, there has been considerable
impact on the conservation of Carpoxylon through the nature of business
development alone:
Local sales promotions, such as participation
in National Environment Week, articles in the local paper and
talks with local organisations such as women’s clubs, Kiwanis,
etc. have increased the awareness of the rarity of the palm and
the importance of saving it in Vanuatu. Plantings by individuals
in both rural and urban areas has been encouraging. The Port Vila
Town Council purchased over 200 juveniles and planted them along
roadsides and in front of the nation’s parliament house.
Other local entrepreneurs have started nurseries to market the
palm locally as a houseplant and garden plant. There is a definite
notice of national pride in conserving and promoting a rare palm
unique to Vanuatu.
IPP has donated to the Vanuatu Environment
Unit extra Carpoxylon macrospermum seeds that cannot be sold so
that the seeds can be planted in a conservation area.
Overseas collectors have become aware of
the existence of Carpoxylon macrospermum and have requested seeds
for their collections. Carpoxylon palms are now being grown in
the USA, Thailand, New Caledonia, Australia, UK, Germany, Venezuela,
South Africa and Fiji. With the quantity of seeds and seedlings
sold and planted to date, the world population of this palm has
already increased significantly to expand the chances for species
survival.
The government of Vanuatu has included
information about the palm in the education materials produced
by the Environment Unit and the Education Department, and has
become actively involved in its cultivation through germination
trials at the Agriculture Department’s experimental station.
They are active members of the Conservation Committee established
by FSP/Vanuatu and will be partners in the design and implementation
of the conservation strategy.
Interest and skills in seed collection
and preservation and nursery development has developed in Vanuatu
among resource owners and other entrepreneurs, not only for palms,
but for other plants that may have an economic horticulture value
as well.
Funding has recently been obtained from
the New Zealand High Commission to undertake community education
and seed collection on the islands of Tanna and Aneityum.
For more information about Carpoxylon palms, conservation
efforts, or Island Palm Products, contact Cathy Clarkin, General
Manager, Island Conservation Initiatives, PO Box 951, Port Vila,
Vanuatu, South West Pacific, tel. +678-22915, fax +678-24510, e-mail
fspvan@vanuatu.com.vu
homepage www.ecotrading.org.
Saving an Endangered Palm: The Case of Carpoxylon
