ACIAR CocoVeneer Objective 2: Guide to community development of estate coconut renewal plans in South Pacific island countries

Coconut plantations are a valuable economic and social resource from many communities and private estates in South Pacific Islands. There are established and growing markets for coconut oil health products and goods manufactured from the coconut husk. While future markets for coconut wood veneer are yet to develop, increasing demand for all coconut products is likely (PARDI, 2011) and the present area of coconut plantations will need to be maintained to supply domestic and international markets into the future.

However, many palms in South Pacific coconut plantations are old and have lost much of their vitality and productivity. Known as senile coconuts, these palms provide only low nut yields. For example, a 25-year-old coconut may produce up to 35 nuts a year while a 60-year-old senile coconut may only provide 4 nuts.

A community or estate owner who manages senile coconut plantations has options for their palms. They can: keep their senile coconuts; replace the senile coconuts with new productive palms; intercrop between the new or existing coconuts; or replace the coconuts completely and move to another crop.

However, before a community or estate manager can make informed decisions about the use of their coconut plantations, an estate coconut renewal plan needs to be developed, discussed and agreed. Once agreed, it can then be implemented.

This guide is designed to assist communities develop their estate coconut renewal plan.