FAO Forestry country profiles - forest management
Practices
Agroforestry has been the traditional form of agriculture in Palau. The main crops include pineapples, cassava and papaya, which are grown beneath a canopy comprising coconut trees, betelnut, mango and leguminous trees. At present, there is no systematic exploitation of timber resources and undisturbed forest is predominant. Only minor silvicultural interventions are undertaken and these focus mainly on watershed development and erosion control. Small areas of forest plantations (around 250 hectares) have been established on both state and privately-owned lands. The principal species planted are Acacia spp., Swietenia macrophylla and Calophyllum inophyllum, which are grown with a view to timber production. Acacia auriculiformis is grown for timber production and for use in agroforestry. Acacia spp are the most widely planted, because they establish readily and outperform the growth of other species, however interest in native species is beginning to be developed and the nursery capacity has been expanded to cater for the increased demand for seedlings. Line planting is typically employed in plantation establishment with beating-up where survival falls below 70 percent. Standard nursery practices are used, and transplants are raised in a topsoil/sand mix in tubes. Tending is minimal with no intermediate stand treatments carried out.Forest conservation measures
In general, Palau's natural environment remains in good condition, partly due to a low population density. Abundant and diverse terrestrial ecosystems occur. In the past, environmental protection was enabled through US Trust Territory legislation including the Trust Territory Environment Enabling Act of 1972. More recently, the National Environmental Management Strategy aims to preserve protected areas and promote sustainable natural resource management.
A major area of Palau¿s Rock Islands, the Ngerukewid Islands Wildlife Reserve, was established in 1956. The Ngerukewid Islands are protected under the Palau National Code, Koror State Zoning Law and other legal instruments. The enabling legislation states that the reserve is to be retained in its present primitive condition where the natural plant and animal life should be permitted to develop undisturbed. Management is focused on protecting the flora and fauna, physical features and ecological processes as a representative example of Palau's rock islands, and on promoting scientific study of tropical pacific ecosystems and public awareness. In 1998, the Ngaremeduu Conservation Area was established in Palau, with assistance from the South Pacific Biodiversity Conservation Programme (SPBCP).