FAO Forestry country profiles - forest management

Managers

New Zealand appoints an administrator to oversee Tokelauan affairs. In practice, most of the powers of the administrator are delegated to the official secretary who heads the Office for Tokelau Affairs. Governmental responsibility for forestry in Tokelau is shared between the Office of Tokelau Affairs and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, which deals with all matters relating the country¿s environment.

In practice, however, responsibility for forest management is vested in the community and its representative councils. The foremost of these is the general Fono council, which has held legislative power since 1996. The Fono effectively constitutes the Tokelauan government and makes all national policy decisions, including those relating to forest management. Responsibility for day-to-day forest management decisions rests, however, with the taupulega (council of elders) on each island.

Public participation in forest management

Public participation in decision-making is an integral part of Faka-Tokelau, the Tokelauan way of life, which centres on family and community. The basis for Tokelauan society is values of community and sharing, which encompass all aspects of society and economy, including forestry. Daily life is ordered by a council of elders and family representatives (taupulega) in each village. This ensures a communal approach to land management, labour and decision-making.