Research into termite eradication is on the Department of Forestry’s agenda.
"We mostly do research on seeds and plants and advice people on proper planting and bio control measures,” said the department’s head of research Ms Sanjana Lal.
“Recently we conducted a pilot study on seven hectares of mahogany trees where we planted fungus on the affected areas. These fungus has an agent that when termites get in contact with would kill them without affecting the trees."
Ms Lal said the research work was supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). The Department of Forestry is based at Colo-i-Suva. They were one of several Government agencies exhibiting their services to members of the public at the Civil Service Exhibition at Ratu Sukuna Park.
Also on display at their booth were native plants and seedlings. The tree nurseries are in line with the Department of Forestry theme ‘Plant One Million Trees - Our gift to the future generation’ launched April 14.
To encourage communities to plant trees, the department offers free pots to villages. The pots are used to plant seedlings from their own forests, thus encouraging villagers to plant more.
"We give away 500 to 1000 pots to the villages and we buy the plants from the communities after they’ve grown,” Ms Lal adds.
“We also work with the University of the South Pacific and Conservation International, and supply them these plants."
Some villages visited by the forestry department include Nakavu, Namosi, Nadarivatu, Verata and Serua.
The exhibition ends today.