Practices

New Caledonia commenced plantation establishment in 1965 and presently has a territorial inventory of more than 8 000 hectares of state-owned Pinus caribaea and Pinus elliottii plantations, as well as more than 2 000 hectares of private woodlots. Pine plantations are grown on 40- year rotations. Operational planting was virtually halted between 1984 and 1990 due to political strife, leaving a significant disparity in age-class distribution. The current government planting programme is around 120 hectares per annum, although a more extensive programme is envisaged. Extensive areas of natural forest are managed as part of the system of parks and reserves.

Forest conservation measures

New Caledonia¿s protected areas network comprises more than eighty reserves, including around thirty nature parks, the most significant of which is the 9 000 hectare Territorial Park of the Blue River. The park protects the most important remnant of the once extensive southern forest and includes 6 000 hectares of rainforest. The country has 10 specific forest reserves, many of which are of significant size. For example, the Koumac Forest Reserve covers more than 26 000 hectares and the Col d¿Amieu Forest Reserve extends across 12 000 hectares. The protected areas system encompasses many of New Caledonia¿s natural ecosystems, although it does not include examples of sclerophyllous forest and maquis vegetation. There remains, however, a lack of strong protection and no clearly articulated environmental policy, which constitutes an obstacle to effective long-term conservation.

Forest protection measures

Fire constitutes probably the most widespread threat to forests in New Caledonia. Extensive areas of forest have been burned in agricultural clearings, while areas of plantations have, in the past, been deliberately burned as part of land disputes. Large areas of rainforests have been supplanted by fire resistant niaouli savannah (Melaleuca quinquenervia). Before humans brought fire to New Caledonia, most of the western side of the country was covered by dense forest. There are still extensive rain forests at higher altitudes in the mountains and on the wetter east coast, but even these areas are susceptible to fire in the dry season. New Caledonia also lies in the cyclonic belt, with cyclones most frequent from November to March. Pinus caribaea is utilized in plantation establishment partly because of its wind firmness.

Forest harvesting practices

New Caledonia's natural forests cover around 3 700 km2, with 1 560 km2 considered to be production forest, though a large proportion of this is relatively inaccessible. The focus for industrial harvesting in New Caledonia is on the mid-altitude forests since, as well as being the most numerous and accessible, these are also the richest in high-value timber species. Annual harvesting totals around 5 000 m3 of industrial roundwood. Agathis spp. predominate in the harvesting mix. Plantations are expected to eventually yield construction timbers and transmission poles. At present, thinning is undertaken in some plantations producing posts and some joinery timber.
last updated: Tuesday, November 24, 2009