FAO Forestry country profiles - forest management

Management plans

Forestry projects are outlined in the three-year Forestry Plan, which is reviewed and adjusted each year. Priorities of the Forestry Plan include: promotion of tree planting by encouraging agroforestry, establishment of an agroforestry nursery and the development of sustainable management plans for both the coconut resources and hardwood forests. At present, Tonga¿s natural forest estate is estimated to cover around 4 000 hectares, mainly on the islands of ¿Eua and Tofua. On ¿Eua, 450 hectares has been allocated for a national park and is consequently under a formal park management plan. Plantation forests on ¿Eua are also subject to a formal management plan detailing operations needed for each compartment by season and year. An Environmental Management Plan was prepared in 1989 and revised in 1992 to become the National Environmental Management Strategy. Amongst other issues this focuses on wildlife conservation and management and the institutional and legal framework for ensuring environmental management.