1 15 1 https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/speccoll/files/original/5fdfbca8921d51cb08e5d2886227f347.pdf 03889e0b3d34095267d017472e4cc537 PDF Text Text ItemD Number °1961 Author Minarik. Charles E. Corporate Author RepOrt/ArtiGlB Title Herbicide Damage to Rubber and Fruil Trees in Cambodia Journal/Book Title Year 1969 Month/Day Ju| 12 v Color Number of Hugos ° Pages 9 and 10 were paperclipped. as noted on the Routing and transmittal slip. Handwritten note on File Summary Form: "We have no record of herbicide missions this date and place. D. 28 Dec. 83." Monday. July 30, 2001 Page 1961 of 1993 �DtPAi<7V.2.NT Or THE ARMY ' <f '"~>'- '" FOST 2I7S1CK O ..»>'': 21701 !N «c?LY acre* TO: SM'JFD-PSL SUBJECT: 11 December 1969 Report of Cambodian Rubber Damage SEE DISTRIBUTION inclosed is a copy of z.\z report of dai-age to Cambodian rubber plantations prepared by the four-man survey team following a survey in June 1969. This version of che report lias been released to the press by the State Department. 70R THE COMMANDER; 1 Incl as C. E. MINARIK Director, Plant Sciences DISTRIBUTION: Mr. A. E. Hayward, OSD, DDR&E Dr. K. C. Emerson, OASA (R&D) MAJ M. L. Sanches, OACSFOR LTC William J. Henderson, OCRD Mr. E. M. Hamory, USAMC Mr. Werner Beyth, USAMUCOM COL B. M. Whitesides, Cml Ops Div, MACV J-3 Mr. C. R. Heineman, JTCG/CB, Naval Air Sys Crad W. Vandeventer, SAOQT, SAAMA, Kelly AFB Mr. M. G. Solomon, ATCB, Eglin AFB ' CPT R. Richter, AFATL, Eglin AFB Mr. Mitchell Modrall, USA Cml Center & School CO, Ft Det Sci Dir, Ft Det Mr. K. Irish, PP&C Ofc, Ft Det Ch, Pit Physiol Div, Ft Det Laboratories �t •- I BE RETIRED A REPORT OH HERBICIDE DAMAGE TO RUBBER AND FRUIT TREES IN CAMBODIA DECOCTED BY BY .BY TAG CHARIZS E. HINARDC x./ 7 JACK B. SHlMATE NADIR G. VAKILI FRED H. TSCHIRLEI .• r-*. SAIGON 12 July 1969 �TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION , Purpose • Saigon Briefings . Cambodia: Itinerary and Contacts Made • 1 2 2 ANALYSIS OF DAMAGE AND CAUSES Area and Pattern of Damage Severity of Damage Causes of Damage Permanence of Damage Mitigation of Herbicide Effects . _ .. .. 4 4 8 11 13 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 14 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 15 APPENDIXES A. Programme de Sejour et d'e Visite des Experts Americains B. Map Showing Principal Cambodian Rubber Plantations* Maximum Extent of Herbicide Effect, and Boundary of Tay Ninh Spray Target C. Maps Showing Areas and Severity of Herbicide Effect at Chalang-Prekchlong and Mimot-Kantroy Plantations D. Rapport du Comite" Charge" du Constat et de 1* Evaluation des De"gats Dus aux Epandages des Produits Defoliants par les Avions Americano-Subvietnamiens E. Selected Photographs �INTRODUCTION On June 2, ,1969 the United States Government received notice of a charge by the Cambodian Government that major defoliation damage to Cambodian rubber plantations near the border of the Republic of Viet-Nam (RVN) had occurred as the result of U.S. defoliation activity. In replying to this charge, the U.S. State. Department offered to send-a team of experts to examine the area of al'leged damage and the Cambodian Government agreed. The team members were selected and met in Saigon on June 27, • 1969 for a formal briefing. Members of the four-man team included: Dr. Charles E. Minarik, Director.. Plant Sciences Laboratories .. Department of Defense Jack B. Shumate, Chief Forestry Branch Office of Commercial and Capital Assistance Agency for International Development Saigon, Viet-Nam Dr. Fred H. Tschirley, Assistant Chief Crop Protection Research Branch Agricultural Research Service Beltsville, Maryland Dr. Nader G. Vakili, Agronomy Adviser Office of Development and Domestic Production • Agency for International Development Saigon, Viet-Nam Purpose The purpose of the trip was to determine the cause, severity, "origin, ancT"ex'tent~of reported~damage to rubber and fruit trees. �Saigon Briefings Team members received a briefing from military and State Department personnel on June 27. They were provided with pertinent information on military operations—especially defoliation activity—near the Cambodian border. Three of the team members went via helicopter to Xuan Loc on June 28 to visit with Mr. Poliniere of the Rubber Institute. On June 29, the group travelled via helicopter to the defoliation target area in Tay Ninh Province to observe the defoliated areas from which-', drift of the herbicide may have- caused damage to rubber and fruit trees in Cambodia. On June 30, the four-man team left by commercial aircraft for Phnom Penh. Cambodia: Itinerary and Contacts Made Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, shortly.after noon on June 30, the team was met by a representative of the Cambodian Foreign Ministry, by Mr. Mack Williams, Australian Deputy Chief of Mission, and by Mr. Neil Manton, Third Secretary and Vice Consul. Mr. Manton handled all local arrangements and served as liaison officer for the team during the entire stay in Cambodia. After checking in at the Monorom Hotel, the team went to the Australian Embassy for a briefing.' Members of the embassy staff contacted included Mr. Graham Feakes, Ambassador; Mr. Mack Williams; and Mr. Neil Manton. On Tuesday July 1, a meeting was held with Cambodian • representatives who outlined conditions as they saw them and presented a proposed schedule for field travel (Appendix A). ; We agreed with the schedule, and a general discussion followed. Individuals attending the meeting in addition to team members and . Mr. Manton included:Mr. Min Sarim, Ministry of Agriculture, Chairman of the committee appointed by the Cambodian Government to study and report on damage to rubber trees, fruit trees and farm crops. " ' _.- . .[ '• j \ | j ! j j 'j �fir". King Un, Director of Agriculture ee member i Mr . Suon Kaset, Director ot Water and Forestry - Committee member Mr. Ho Toug Lip, • inarch Agronomist, Ministry of Agriculture - Committee member Field travel began on July 2, with a visit; to the Chup rubber plantation and an overflight in small fixed -wing aircraft, of the entire area of alleged damage. Purpose of the visit was to see an undamaged plantation (Chup) in operation and get a general picture' of the Jatr.aged area. People contacted at Chup were: Mr. Keas Keth Caimira, Director General of SOKAR; Mr. Francis Ninane, .igrcuonist, Mr. Chai Kim Chun, chemist, and Mr.. Gilbert Do Coninck, pathologist, of the Rubber Research Institute (IRCC); cxuc! it E'i^Oy , • iia^er of the Chup Plantation. Travel from and _o Pnno..i f-fciih Wc*^ by Dakota aircraft and over the Chup, Mtiiiot and acner moldings by small, Jingle-cni^ae aircraft, both furnished by the Royal Cambodian Air Force. Ground transportation was f-.r.'iished by plantation otJficials and the Cambodian Governr.wnr. furnished security forces ac all tiiiies. Team and committee members returned -.0 .'hnoi: Penh e<". .h .light. v.- . uiy 3, ' a. .d 5, A i .ravelleu to M-.rr.ot vi*. Dakota aircraft J.I.Q Lneii by car ^h^oughoui. the are^ of reported oaniage. Major _ -ioui:r pla cationf visited included: Chipeang, Chipes, Dar, Chalang, Mimot Kantroy, .<rek and Prek Chlong. The group also visited a number of other areas to insi-ecc fruit trees, farm cropsr orr.amental plantings, a teak plantation, a;id natural forest area. Key personnel -ontact<d at the Mimot headquari --s included: Mr. H. Say, Director vjonera^. - Mimot; Mr. Audurcau, I ^rccLor of farm operations Mireot; Mr. Girandel, Administraeive Officer - Mimot. July 6-7. No formal schedule. and forest areas. Team visited undamaged farra A helicopter flight over the entire damaged area was scheduled for July 8, but was postponed ona day. The team took advantage of �this tine to meee with the French Ambassador, the Canadian members of the International Control Commission, the Australian Embassy staff and the Cambodian Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Chuon Saodi. An Alouet^te II helicopter was made available on July 9 and the investigating team made an overflight of the entire area under study. We returned to Phnom Penh in the afternoon and left for Viet-Nam, arriving in Saigon shortly after 1700 hours. ANALYSIS OF DAMAGE AND CAUSES Area and Pattern of Damage Representatives of the Cambodian Government had prepared a map showing the extent of the damaged area. The boundary representing the perimeter of the damaged area.is .shown on the enclosed map (Appendix B). In audition, we were also supplied with maps of the Mirnot and Prek Chlong plantations that showed rubber trees severely damaged (more than 50 percent defoliation) and slightly damaged (less than 50 percent defoliation). These maps (Appendix C) were prepared at the time of maximum defoliation-before refoliation had begun. Our own observations confirmed the -findings of the Cambodian investigating committee. The total area on which damage occurred was approximately 700 square kilometers or 70,000 hectares. The Cambodian Government claimed damage on about 15,000 hectares, which represents the area in rubber and fruit. The principal damage reported by the Cambodian investigating committee, and confirmed by us, was through the Dar and Prek Chlong plantations. Lesser damage was noted to the west on the'Krek plantation and to the east on the Mimot plantation. Severity of Damage The degree of plant response to the herbicide varied from a very slight reaction showing discoloration of older leaves, and "atrbph~y~~of"" "th"e~~yourig~ leaves, ~tb"~IOO "per cent~"def6riat"ioh~and ~~cTie-EaclT of one to four years of branch growth. We were told by the �ns that: normal flower development was prevented in teak (Tjf^cjiCKKi Kr;.ridis), resulting in the failure to product seed. The defoliant caused malformation of fruits of jackfruit, durian and guava, and in severe cases resulted in rot and fall of the fruits. The vegetable crops mentioned below were either destroyed and replanted by the time of this repor* or were left in the field and backyards unattended. The degree of plant reaction to the herbicide differed among jpcoies. Within a species, the degree of response was conditioned by variation in varietal tolerance, age of the plant, stage of growth (active or quiescent) of. the plant, and dosage received. Exceptions may be found for any general statement about the nature of damage to crops. However, the following statements are based on two years of surveys and experience with tropical crops in Viet-Nam. Each crop is discussed separately with the .craps least, tolerant to herbicides mentioned first, followed by the nore tolerant ones. ' Casurina Pine 01 Australian Pine (Casurina equisetifolia). This plant is used cs a shade tree. It is the species most sensitive to defoliants used in v/iet-Nam. After treatment it's foliage turns Drown and Jails, branches die back, and1 bark peels away from the trunk. Ont treatment v/itn a heavy dosage is sufficient to cause dit-back jf most branches and ofcen th^- ^vee is killed. Jackfruit (Arcocarj as Integra.). This fruit tree is easily /,rcn-:r. and popular in this region. It is highly sensitive to dcfoliancs, responding with'very rapid defoliation and die-back of branches. Young fruit may be malformed and fall. However, trees refoliate rapidly a-.id within 6 to 3 month-s '^?.gin to look normal. Because • fiiiii. badt, originate from the trv.nk and limbs of the tree, die-back of the small branches does not result in fruit loss during the next season, but may cause a reduction in yield. Rubber (Kevca ty.'aj1.1 iGr.r.is) . The v.ober tree is highly sensitive i-G defoliants, buc the degree of rv sponse varies among varieties. A heavy rate of defoliant, ;uch as io used normally in Viet-Nam, causes coaaplisCe defoliation and d^^-back of several years' growth. Refoliation usually begins within u aioach, bui_ the speed of refolie-tion is dependent �upon the sensitivity of the variety. The less sensitive a variety, the faster it refoliatei:. New loaves often show leaf malformation for a period of two to four months, demanding on the dosage received. After six months, growth begins to appear normal and the plantation canopy is essentially uniform within 3 to 12 months. Wood-rotting fungi may enter limbs and trunks by way of dead branches. Young (3 to 5-year old) trees on the Dar plantation were severely defoliated and showed extensive die-back. This was due at least in part to the openness of the canopy in the young plant.ation, which permitted coverage of the entire plant by the defoliant droplets. At Prek Chlong plantations, 5-year old trees of the variety SPRM-1 suffered 13 feet of branch die-back. Seedlings 5 to 7 months old were killed by the herbicides. The most common rubber varieties in Cambodia are PR-107, PB-36, and AVROS-50, each representing about 30.percent of the total acreage. The variety PB-S6 is most tolerant to defoliants, PR-107 is quite sensitive and AVROS-50 most sensitive. Other .; varieties are variably sensitive, but are of such minor importance that they are not discussed here. Cainito or Star-apple (Chrysophy 11 am c_aini t o ) . This is a colorful fruit tree with purplish-brown foliage and fruit. Affected plants defoliate and young branches die back. However, this tree begins to refoliate within a month. The die-back of the terminal • branches results in complete loss of the next season's fruit crop. Kapok (Ceiba sp.). The cotton-like fibers developed in the large pods borne by this tree are used as stuffing for pillows and mattresses. This tree is abundantly planted in back yards and in hedgerows. It is highly sensitive to defoliant. Leaf malformation, discoloration and defoliation follows even after a small dose of herbicide. Kapok production during the next season is severely affected by death of the terminal brandies. Pineapple (Ananas comosus). The high dosage of the herbicide in some areas visited had resulted in leaf.folding and discoloration with malformation and loss of fruits. Bananas (Edible Musa varieties). The high defoliant dosage received in some areas visited had resulted in.reduction in size �.ir.d r.i. .'.formation of leaves, splaying of the leaf sheaths, elongation ol: tne fruits and brittJ enesy of the: plants. Plants treated while in fruit develop abnormal fruits and that condition may persist for approximately six months to a year and a half. Plains treated before they are in fruit do not: produce fruit. Teak. (Tectona ^randis; . This spec .us is intermediate in its re.spouse to defoliants. The young leaves are malformed, turn brown and fall, and flower development 15; impeded. The teak plantation.. in the Kimot area was imputed heavily by leaf -eating insects . 'The • damage caused oy the defoliants was relatively small in comparison to the damage caused by the leaf -eating insects. Coconut; (Cocos nuci.f era) . Coconut is one of the least sensitive crops. However, once the growing tip of this plant is affected, recovery is slow and sometimes trees die. ?c.ui • .. '..Caricc. p. .paya) . This is a sensitive plane that easily lob^s its f Lowers and fruits. Even though a plant may survive a moderate dosage of the herbicide, fruiting usually does not occur. x j (Paiaium y.iaiava). Guava is moderately sensitive. - \fi— *j- * Tne c eath of youi v. branches results in yield reduction during t^ next season's growth Refoliation occurs ratht rapidly. Li i-.pple (AiiiiOna re_t.__ici_!_?_: _ta ) . This fruit tree is .noderately colerant and recovers quickly. Sapodilla or Chicle (Achras ?.apotaj . Slightly sensitive. It can v/ithstand heavy herbicide dosages without suffering defoliation. Cit;r\.:s sp.. All citrus species e • only slightly sensitive to defolic.-.tb and the loss if- any, -.s negligible. The main loss in citrus is due co diseases and insect damage. Mango (Mane if era J-jn^.ca) . Very toJjrant. Flo'-'2r developr;ient :T.ay bt affected if d^i\,li..:-.t;s are c ^...lied betv;een the time of flov:er bud initiation and fruit set. Soursop (Annona inuricate). Very t.:lerc:nt. �Coffee (Coff^.a robusta), Very tolerant. Tomato family (Solanum sp.). sensitivity. , Bean family (Phascoins spp.). loss. Complete loss due to extreme Extremely sensitive. Cabbage family (Brassica sp.). to complete loss. . Moderately sensitive. Cucumber faintly (Cucuniis sp.)Partial to complete loss. Complete Partial Moderately sensitive. Cassava or Manioc (Maniho_t utilisima) . Highly sensitive. The above-ground portion of the plant may recover from defoliant: applications, but root formation is retarded. The extent of the damage to the crop is dependent upon the stage of growth at which plants are sprayed with herbicide. Peanuts (Arachis hypogaaa). This is a moderately, sensitive crop. Defoliants cause curling of the leaves and'reduction in pod formation. The extent of damage to the crop is dependent upon the. stage of growth at which plants are affected. Causes of Damage For the purpose of analyzing the causes of damage, a number of hypotheses were established and the available evidence brought to bear on eachJ The hypotheses considered were: (1) Drift occurred from defoliation operations in RVN, (2) direct overflight of the Dar and Prek Chlong plantations for the purpose of defoliation, (3) damage1 caused by drift from ground, spraying operations in Cambodia, (4) damage caused by disease, and (5) damage caused by poor' environmental conditions for growth of trees. Each of the hypotheses will be discussed separately. To obtain information on the possibility of the damage in Cambodia being caused by drift from defoliation operations in Tay Ninh Province, the team made a helicopter survey of defoliation �car sets i" that province: on Juno 29, 1969. It was__qu i t g_ a p pa rent th2JL_£i££0l.i_a_n_^_Jla4. <\ £iLt_l:<L across the border Ynto~cHjnbgclia~ ~ particularly on the ceiiLral aiKM^oi>j:_crn portions of__tnc_ Tay Niuh ta~rge~"ir. A similar _su_rvoy_ on JuJoLJL_19_0-2 on the Cambodian side" border 1 con_firrrie_d_ the e a r l e r o b s r v a t i o n . The defoliation reported immediately north of the border u n d o u b t e d l y resulted from the Tay Ninh defoliation operations of April-May, 1969. . '> • i Defoliation missions in Tay Ninh Province were flown on ; ! March 29 (7 aircraft), March 30 (5 & 7), Ajiri!__(?), April 16 ( ) , 3'' j April_19 (7), April 21 (5 & 5), Awril 24 ( ) April 25""(6), April 29 ( ) 5, ?! April To"(6), May 2 ( ) May 4 ( ) May i ( ) May 9 ( ) May 13 (7), 3, 6, 4, 4, May 14 ( ) May 16 ( ) May 18 ( ) May 21 ( ) May 22 ( ) May 23 ( 6, 9, 9, 4, 7, 6 May 27 ( ) June 1 ( ) and June 9 ( ) Discussions with the 9, 5, 6. . \ Cambodian committee elicited the information that the hcrbicidal [ effect was first noted in the period from April 20 to 25, 1969. .' ! Although the Cambodian conrnittee believed that 'drift may have • : : come from several missions in RVN, we disagree because ; r manioc and bougainvillea both indicated herbicidal damage at only one time or within a period of a few days. Thus, drift from missions :in RVN could...only include the first five missions. listecTirpova^'.J " ; " J Examination of the meteorological data provided' by the 12th . ' j Special Operations Squadron for April 19, 1969 discloses that • j at 1119 hours, when the spray run was made, the temperature was _ ! 90° F and the winds were "light and variable." Meteorological data from Chup, furnished by the Rubber Research Institute of Cambodia for the same day (at 1000 hours Cambodian time) shows temperature as 89° F and wind speed of 10 mph from the southsoutheast. The data from Chup are given in Table 1. g_ucjj_meteprological conditions are unfavorable for spray operations and unaouTTtedly were responsible for the spray drift that crossed the border onJ^IiajL.cki^c: and resulted in defoliation qf__£lie area inur.ediatcl.y__north of the border. We do not feel, howeve~r~^ th"at drift from the Tay Ninh missions caused damage to a distance of 18 to 20 kin above the Cambodian border. If spray drift were responsible for all of the damage observed, one would expect to see a reduction in severity of plant response with increasing distance from the point of application. This is not the case because rubber varieties 15 km north of the border were as severely affected as similar varieties closer to the border. Tapering off �10 • of effects was noted east: and west of the severely affected area. Our second hypothesis was that a direct overflight was made of the Dur-Prek Chlong plantations for the purpose of defoliation. The pattern of extent and degree of hcrbicidal effect fits this hypothesis more closely than any other. The response of a rather resistant species, such as banana at coordinates XU225045, XU095045, and XU190135, were indicative of heavier doses than one would expect from spray drift from south of the border. Some drift from the Tay Ninh operations up to and slightly beyond the border was evident. However, there was Lhen a /cone of somewhat lesser damage and still farther north'there war, once again severe damage. In addition, considerable hcrbicidal" effect was noted on native forest trees in an area centering approximately at coordinates XU110140.. That this'_ was caused by drift from RVN is highly unlikely. Only minor damage was noted on the Krck plantation. If the damage in Cambodia were the result of drift from RVN, Krek and Chipeang would be directly on course for prevailing SSi^ winds. Thus, the RVN missions on the west portion of the spray target would be ideally located for drift damage to Chipeang and Krek. - . However, the light damage at Krek is further circumstantial evidence that drift from RVN did not cause the major portion of the damage in Cambodia. The area of heavy rubber damage is about 60 sq km or 15,000 acres, principally in the Dar and Prek Chlong plantations. Assuming that a does of' approximately 0.5 - 1.0 Ibs. per acre was^required to produce the severity of plant responses noted, this would mean a deposit of 750 to 1500 gallons of defoliant, or 1 to 2 UC-123 -plane loads. It is highly unlikely that this quantity could have drifted over the border from the Tay Ninh defoliation operations. -This strengthens the view that damage was due to herbicide spray during a direct flight over the affected plantations. Thus, the evidence we have seen, though circumstantial, suggests strongly that damage was cuased by direct overflight. We do not deny, t'nac the damage could have been caused by drift. But the meteorologic conditions necessary to cause the damage pattern observed forces us to accept this as only a remote possibility.' �11 Y.t _..Lra ypo.:h jiK, d-i!'. frc i. grcui.c. cpray applications •_:; Cc.r.ibodiit, cannot DC joi.sideted ^-.•lonsly as a cause of the ... -iir-agi As far as cou" ' ^- determined, . "round .sprays with 1 :.ruir iiJi.-s similar Co ". inge or Whine h.\./<.: .jeen USJG in the i ublic. ^lun j.icions . ^imited spra^. :.ng with dalapon, a herbicice usec MC control grass, is practic on one1 of the plantations. .-•o.-/(iv:r . dalapci' doe:; not produce h<_ piant responses noted, nor d'les *t affect t ^..'.dlcaf plr.nts c. the usual dosage rates. Weccs i.i u.. young p ; i.ntii.^u ..re uorr.ia] ^ controlled mechanically ''e uy cutting. i-.Teeds are. .iot a problcr.i in the older plantings since jhe fei:i«_ shade of the rubber trees does not permit them to thrive. The uniformity of plant responses throughout this "large area would .--.eclude ground spray operations as the cause. Moreover, ci did p.ct see drums or Orange or White during our visit. i'r .. s _ ihasio ^ : disc ise as a cauai'i of the damage can be .'• '••'.-•'? ouv ted . K • disease organism attacks such a broad . <. . .L ^l_ir: species as xvas observed in the area of interest. . ;. .er L.ie p.: ant rei poases preval:..it throughout the area were yoical of those induced by Orange and White. Undamaged rubber .i:- a<i_, ioei.i .. damaged oricS shov.'ed minor disease symptoms ..-. i.Owl'iii.^ .pr -c.ch.ing the epidemic proportions that would have ...c i.. i =cesi._ry c -ausc. the v;idcsprcad defoliation. ...... i.o ;^»s ;vas "chi .; the damage in Cambodia may j. '. j^.en jtiuSeo Ly environ:r.ental conditions unfavorable for i, -/..:. Envirc. :ntal joiuliticns that prevailed in Cambodia dur .^ '.969 _re -^cli^vco to be unimportant with respect to the defoliation ,./f rubber and oth^r trees in Cambodia. Neither rubber nor fruit trees in areas adjacent, to the damaged area give an r.nc'.cc. !•'•.. chat 2daphi_- or clin:.- - -. factros were responsib le. -In i-.dditioii. the r-.;fol: ation ,.:hat ^s now occurring suggests that enviro; .. ^nta! factors are favorable foi satisfactory growth and production. T '--£_r __ •• .nc. of Damage ..«. .J no ind .,-.-.L ... uliat u..o c;. ,.:a^e to rubber or fruit crees is :3ri-anent. «u:-r^n_ . ' servat Lo, s in Cambodia lead only to the • _ • r, lu.'.cn that ':•./: x : ccc. -.ng The rate <.nd degree of ;7 ,. a.-.^ng i vcii'ious rubb ,: pieties complicates the . .. • Lovi .. cht cxcent r.har a _ .ic-r-ilizacion is not possible. A highly �12 susceptible variety such as AVROS-50 was co::iplet:oly defoliated, and refoliation ct this time, varies fro:n 5 Co 20 percent. A variety of moderate susceptibility may or may not have been completely defoliated and foliage on the trees at time of observation ranged from 20 to 70 percent. In the intermediately affected areas of the plantations resistant' varieties now have 70 percent or more of their normal foliage. In the final analysis, the degree and permanence of damage can only be equated in terms of latex production. Personne'l at the Rubber Research Institute maintain records on production by varieties for the large plantations. There are no good production data for the small holdings, but extrapolation of data fro™, the large plantations should provide a'reasonable estimate. These figures indicate chat recovery is occurring and normal yields may ultimately be obtained; however, appreciable production losses will be suffered in the interim. An example of damage and recovery experienced in Viet-Nam is the Gallia Plantation in Phuoc Tuy Province where one plane sprayed herbicide ORANGE directly over rubber trees in 1967. One year later the French manager of the plantation stated that the "trees' had refoliated 100 percent and production had returned to 90 percent. In the Herbicide Policy Review issued by the American Embassy, Saigon, 28 August 1968, a report by the CORDS Agricultural Adviser in Binh Long Province is quoted as £ollows: "The effects of defoliation have not been as disastrous as anti- cipated; refoliatioa has begun and blocks of trees marked off as lost will be able to be tapped again. The Policy Review continues, "Other preliminary evidence tends to substantiatefurther the view that herbicides may be less toxic to rubber trees than was previously thought." Rubber trees on the island of Phu Quoc have reportedly been sprayed intentionally three times with herbicide ORAKGE and have not been killed. �13 The inspection team feels tlu't an assessment of damage in terms of decreased late:-: production and decreased fruit production can best be made in July or August, 1970. The timing of the final assessment is important -- it should occur several months after the beginning of the 1970 rainy season. Ideally, the final assessment should be made by some of the same -- but not necessarily all -members of this inspection team plus an agricultural economist. One item of great concern to French plantation managers and to the Cambodians was the cost of support for the unemployed rubber tappers. There is no question but that the herbicide damage has disrupted the normal plantation operations and there must be a cost associated with that. Mitigation of Herbicide Effects Several practices to mitigate the long-term effects of defoliation had already been instituted. One severely damaged area, tapping was stopped because the net return exceeded production costs. Cessation of tapping would, in essence, husband the food reserves necessary for refoliation. Trees on less severely damaged areas were being tapped, but at 6-day rather than 3-day intervals. Tapping is proceeding as usual on trees that were only lightly damaged. Fertilization with a complete fertilizer was being practiced at one location. We encouraged this practice because we •believe it will increase the rate of refoliation. At one location on the .Bar plantation, the tops of 3-year old trees of Variety PR-107 were being removed in the hope that this would prevent further trans location of the herbicide. Topping done soon alter treatment (up to three days) would probably be effective, but downward translocation of the herbicide would certainly be completed during a period of six weeks. Thus, topping at this time would not affect herbicide translocation. A possible advantage �14 from Che topping wo aid be a clean v.-ound (the subject; wat; coated with petroleum) that would be less subject to attack by fungi than would be a wound caused by rotting of a dead branch. The condition of the rubber trees before chemical defoliation is believed to have been good. There is no reason to suspect that prior condition was a contributing factor to the degree or duration of damage from herbicides. The loss of production due co defoliation will vary with varieties and cannot be satisfactorily assessed now. - A reliable estimate of loss should be possible in July or August, 1970. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS " ' ' 1 . Herbicide dar.agc in the southeastern -part of Konipong Cha-.n Province, Cambodia, was extensive due to a combination of two factors: (a) Defoliation _pf fruit jireeson the Cambodian^ side near th_e .border _was a result pf drift frojii spray operations in Tay Kinh Province, and (b) Defoliation of rubber, fruit, and forest -trees farther north was ., probably caused by a direct spray application by an unknown ^ ^ party on a north-south line running through the plantations of Dar and Trek Chlong. 2. Defoliation of rubber trees on the Dar and Prek Chlong plantations- was complete, but refoliation is in progress. 3. Few, if any, rubber trees have been killed. The degree and rate of refoliation will depend on the age of the tree, variety, and dosage received. 4. The differential susceptibility of rubber varieties to the herbicide applied is striking. All varieties are defoliated from a heavy dosage such as is used in RVN, but low dosages as would be expected frora drift result in a marked differential response. . ' • �15 5. Specie;; of fruit trees al.so vary in their rcspon.se to the herbicide. A docreasin;', rank of susceptibility is: jackfruit, cainito, duria:i, pineapple, papaya, guava, and 'mango. 6. A final assessment of damage should be mcde in July or August, 1970. Damage to rubber must be assessed on the basis of decreased .latex production. Data on latex production can be obtained fro:r. the Rubber Research Institute of Cambodia. 7. Damage to fruit trees in temporary. Loss of production from the trees should not continue for more than one year. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many individuals ware helpful to the investigation team in carrying out its mission. Australian Ambassador Feakes ana his staff, particularly Deputy Chief of Mission Mack Williams, and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Neil Manton, v:ere most helpful in making arrangements for us in Cambodia end providing wise and appropriate counsel. • Among the Cambodians, Mr. Thach Phiern of the Foreign Ministry provided many services and accompanied us on all tcurs. The members of the Cambodian Committee appointed by the Minister of Agriculture to assess damages were factual and objective in their assessment of damages. They generated a feeling of trust in•• terms of both accuracy of observation and honesty in reporting, which made our job much easier. Members" of the Coircr.it tee who accompanied us were: Mr. Min Sarim, Director General of the Office of Land Development in charge of State Plantations Mr. King Un, Director of Agriculture Mr. Suon Kaset, Director of Water and Forests �16 Mr. lio Tons Lip, Research Agronomist; These men were with us on all tours and provided iv.uch necessary background information. Also helpful were Mr. Francis Kinane and Mr. Gilbert De Coninck of the Rubber Research Institute. Lunches were provided on three days by SOKJIAR, the Cambodian Government Tourist Information Agency. Lastly, personnel of the American Embassy and MACV provided us with accommodations, assisted in travel arrangements, and provided necessary background briefings, We are grateful and owe our thanks to all. �-- - • l*^ \~< -r ;..^-' J ,? I I I rn\t ii.;''/. •.•-'•-•. •i j. ' •! ; r ' I © 1 i 1 1 ' ' I 'I! ' . • ' ! . ' i! ,i 11, ! ! ! !•„ !i;! ;:i nil!; li i: !i::!:!;!: l'> ['•_"-, "* ' ' : " - ' / • • - / l i " i : Xp'V"V [•*'•'•*-{ L''^''"^ 1 ''' ,._ . *. -;—-•--• T - ; * r|—•"-•• • •_JT~r~i~*"» ~~****/r'~~~~~'/ "TT -"*~~ t *"* I-'1 '< h •!•: i ' i i'! ! ' ! : i . 'ijijj j - . : ; . ! ! , , : : : ' , '*". ". ."i" --' '.7*^ x"^: \ " • --' "' •'\ ". '-'-5^ ',, "^ !*.'" .-• ^v_ _^*3^^ 'S.:^.^JSS^Slvi^§^.-^:;Hi>": I"i:ix% i^Vx-' '_.jj*" ] : ' ]• ?';'; "^t"" 'X^'..'_'; : JLL'^_:. '^iK.-!1..'JlL.HL!_^i.^ <^' •:.!-::- :^ ' i - ' (7 ": '-0- ^•L.v'^-'-V : ••:,'^^H^^ALLL "!:L.l ' ' '• '"• " ui.JllS5k Id i! ili �DM* ROUTING AND TRANSMTTTAL SUP office symbol, room number. ^- r/po»« Initials Date DO NOT use this form as a RECORD of approvals, concurrences, disposals, clearances, and similar actions FROM: (Name, org. symbol, Agency/Post) Room No.—Bldg. Phone No. 5041-102 OPTIONAL FORM 41 (Rev. 7-76) Prescribed by GSA FPMR (41 CFR} 101-11.206 �xLE SUMMARY Lo c a t i on o f. F lie; Box^ Number: -^fppf File Originator; f ^ j-f File Numbar; fJJf\ File Titles ,'ly Synopsis Document Title/ Flag/ Folio Nc Reference JAssociatec Papers ! K COS MJOLA r- IWWCJ/ Ow^O* K �<s^! ky-r w t FJL.JE_ SUMMARY x,. 1 LOGation of Fi1e: / Box Number; jST&T ^p> IS" File Originator; \ft~f File Number; A^//T File Title: i *TP ^ Af5Ol Document Title/ Flag/ Folio Nd Reference I. Synopsis JAssociatec . J_Paper^ ^ "1! O bi| ' HORSESHOE. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange Description An account of the resource <p style="margin-top: -1em; line-height: 1.2em;">The Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange comprises 120 linear feet and spans the late 1800s to 2005; however, the bulk of the coverage is from the 1960s to the 1980s and there are many undated items. The collection was donated to Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library in 1985 by Dr. Alvin L. Young (1942- ). Dr. Young developed the collection as he conducted extensive research on the military defoliant Agent Orange. The collection is in good condition and includes letters, memoranda, books, reports, press releases, journal and newspaper clippings, field logs and notebooks, newsletters, maps, booklets and pamphlets, photographs, memorabilia, and audiotapes of an interview with Dr. Young.</p> <p>For more about this collection, <a href="/exhibits/speccoll/exhibits/show/alvin-l--young-collection-on-a">view the Agent Orange Exhibit.</a></p> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Box The box containing the original item. 076 Folder The folder containing the original item. 1961 Series The series number of the original item. Series III Subseries IV Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Minarik, Charles E. Jack B. Shumate Nadir G. Vakili Fred H. Tschirley Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource July 12 1969 Title A name given to the resource Herbicide Damage to Rubber and Fruit Trees in Cambodia Subject The topic of the resource herbicide application ecological impact ecological recovery ao_seriesIII