FAO Forestry country profiles - forest management

Trends

The key trends in forest management in Tuvalu reflect national objectives of maintaining, as much as possible, traditional Tuvaluan lifestyles and culture, while at the same time encompassing modernization and increasing population pressures. Thus, while the basic features of traditional Tuvaluan agroforestry has been maintained, a variety of techniques have been introduced or adapted to improve productivity and enable further system intensification. At the same time, population pressures have placed increasing demands on forest resources, particularly for fuel, but also as a general means of increasing wealth and prosperity.

Promotion of sustainable forest management

At present, there are no formal incentives offered for sustainable forest management. Tuvalu does, however, offer tax exemptions to certain industries that qualify for ¿pioneer status¿ at the discretion of the Minister of Finance. There are also no national programmes to specifically promote sustainable forest management, although this is encompassed in initiatives designed to support sustainable resource use. Tuvalu participates in the SPC Pacific Islands Forests and Trees Support Programme and the UNDP regional programme on forestry, particularly components aimed at sustainable management in agroforestry systems and development of tree or plant resources for the atoll island countries.