Bwa-yo - Société Audubon Haiti

68 Sed
vivals, ranging from 60-95%, are not uncommon. The Labordette trial is typical of
mountain garden conditions, with adequate rainfall, hut shallow soil and damages
incurred by annual agricultural activities. Two-thirds of the trees survive with annual
height increments under a meter. Over a period of 25 years, the species can achieve
average heights of 32 m and mean annual increments of 12.6 m 3 ha· ' (Lamb, 1968).
It is too early to draw conclusions on the importance of this trend. Wood qualities
may differ with differences in the rate ofgrowth and variety. Susceptibility to wind damage
and pest attacks may take its toll with unpredictable events, particularly infestations
by larvae of the small moth, H. grandella, and a fungi, Armillaria mellea, that causes
damage to the roots of young trees. The species also succumbs to a die-back of uncertain
causes (Marshall, 1939) after early years of good growth.
Tree Improvement: There are two important trends in Haiti that are placing C. odorafa
at a disadvantage as a cultivated species. First, the exploitation of the species for its
high-quality lumber has resulted in a highly scattered population comprised of isolated
individuals of questionable genetic worth. Second, typical sites that favor natural regeneration,
survival and growth ofthe local variety are deteriorating as these soils are compacted
and eroded. For these reasons, the major focus since 1988 has been to conserve
and broaden the genetic base of the species by (I) collecting seed from superior phenotypes,
(2) introducing new provenances from other origins within the species' natural
range and (3) establishing provenance trials throughout Haiti to identify the varieties
that exhibit broad adaptability in Haiti.
Between 1988 and 1991, a total of 36 superior phenotypes of the sed wouj variety
and 7 sed blan variety were selected throughout the natural range of the species in Haiti:
The progeny of these trees were established in
arboreta and provenance trials along with over
a dozen provenances from Central and South
America (Fig. 8.8). Several commercial seed
lots from Central American sources were also
tested.
The provenances from Belize (OFI 23/77),
Honduras (OFI 52/79 & COHDEFOR 6888)
and Nicaragua (OFI 36/78) are performing significantly
better than the provenances from
Haiti, Guatemala (OFI 42/79), Costa Rica
(CATIE 2532) and Colombia (OFI 25/80) for
both survival and height growth. The Central
American provenances that appear to exhibit
the broadest adaptation are from the drier
regions of the species' natural range. Seedlings
from the drier regions have been observed to
Figure 8.8 Four-year-old C. odorata
provenance trial at the Laborde trial
near Cayes. The imported provenances
are faster growing and survive
better than local provenances.
exhibit different patterns of leaf retention than
those from the wetter provenances in Costa
Rica and Colombia (Fig. 8.9). This may be an
important criteria in the selection of C. odorata
provenance, indicating a potential for the selec-