MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falkland Islands Trust appeal
An appeal for donations has been made by the United Kingdom Falkland Islands Trust (UKFIT) to help it maintain its activities in the Islands, threatened by falling revenue from shares. In its latest annual report, it thanks the Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC) for its “generous grants” which provide its main funding. “However”, the report says, “income has continued to be affected by the global fall in equity values, jeopardising our future work. Donations to the Trust are therefore warmly welcomed”.
The report gives a comprehensive account of its activities in its twenty-second year of existence. The Trust is a charity, formed in 1981, to help the Falklands population with beneficial projects nor normally funded from Government sources. It concentrates on research and advice on agriculture, forestry and rural development and on providing contacts and special skills of consultants to assist economic growth. Its work is over-seen by a "distinguished consultant", Dr Jim McAdam of the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Queen's University, Belfast.
Chilean expert's tree shelter research The report pays tribute to a Chilean expert seconded from the Institute of Forestry, Rodrigo Olave, a postgraduate student at Queen's University, Belfast. He has been working in close co-operation with the charity's two Falkland Islands Trustees, Marlane Marsh at Shallow Harbour, and Tim Miller, who runs Stanley hydroponics nurseries.
Mr Olave has been involved in a three-year investigation into the most suitable form of tree containerisation for the Falklands and into seed germination and production. The report says this important work is designed to provide much-needed tree shelter belts against prevalent Falklands winds and will do much to encourage the re-generation of rural activities.
With knowledge of shelter-belt protection in Southern Chile and from a Swedish Symposium he attended with partial Trust sponsorship, Rodrigo Olave has been updating a booklet on Trees for Shelter in the Falkland Islands.
Under Dr McAdam's leadership, there is a Trust project to identify the most suitable type of trees by gathering native willow samples from all known Falkland sources to create a national collection in a dedicated nursery.
The report thanks Ron Reeves for his "sterling work at Port Howard's Alexandra Wood.
Tussac, seaweed fertiliser and science date base Another successful trial involves tussac grass at Penguin Point, Port Howard, as a valuable source of animal feed, unique to the Falklands, in which there is a revival of Government interest, stimulated by the development of a meat production industry, serviced by the new Stanley abattoir.
Tussac grass could also benefit from liquid seaweed fertiliser, whose commercial potential the Trust is investigating in co-operation with Queen's University Marine Laboratory and Seafish Limited of Stanley.
Development of a comprehensive Falklands science data base is also being carried forward with help of Mrs Maria Olave.
As tourist growth becomes a valuable contributor to Falklands prosperity, the Trust has acquired access to expert advice from a former Chief Executive and Development Director of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
Two new trustees are Mr Alan Frost, an insurance and financial expert, and Mr Henry Robinson, a businessman who is also chairman of an international rural development charity helping young people, mostly in East Africa.
Expertise on economy, environment and heritage The report says that "the Trust now has the ability to call on expertise covering the sustainable economy, a viable camp, quality of live and the environment". The Trust can also assist the FIDC in its concept of cultural and natural heritage.
The report gives an account of the first Falklands visit by the FIT Chairman, Air Commodore Peter Johnson, since his tour as Commander of the British Forces there in 1994/95. He thanks the many Government officials and the Falklands Trustees, Tim Miller and Marlane Marsh, for making his visit such a success.
Expenditure for the year covered by the report, £36,174, exceeded income, £32,538, of which £30,000 was provided by the FIDC. Spending was divided between projects (£17,014), consultancy fees (£3,626), travel (£10,449), IT equipment (£2,200), and minimal administration costs.
The core fund dropped from £84,666 to £83,230, and a high proportion of investment is now held in cash.
Harold Briley, (MP) London.
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