Managers

National forest management is the responsibility of the Forest and Conservation Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Its responsibilities include policy and planning, forestry research, plantation forestry, agroforestry and conservation. A separate committee exists within the MAF to coordinate all agroforestry activities. The Ministry of Land, Survey and Natural Resources administers the Environment Act, and an Environmental Unit within the Ministry is responsible for environment and conservation matters. Under the provisions of the 1976 Parks and Reserves Act, a Parks and Reserves Authority was established in 1989 within the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural Resources to protect, manage and develop natural areas in Tonga.

The Constitution of Tonga provides that: All the land is the property of the King and he may at pleasure grant to the nobles and titular chiefs or matabules one or more estates to become their hereditary estates. It is hereby declared by this Constitution that it shall not be lawful for anyone at any time hereafter whether he be the King or any one of the chiefs or the people of this country to sell any land whatever in the Kingdom of Tonga but they may lease it only in accordance with this Constitution and mortgage it in accordance with the Land Act. Until recently, all male taxpayers were entitled to an 8-acre allotment, which made landholding subject to fragmentation. More than 60 percent of the country¿s land area is held in allotment and this system appears to limit much forestry development to only small scattered woodlots.

Public participation in forest management

The unique land tenure system on Tonga and the evolution of land-use systems means that opportunities for public participation in forest management on Tonga are less direct than in many other Pacific Island countries. All Tongan land is ultimately owned by the Crown, but is divided into four categories: the Queen¿s hereditary estates, Royal family hereditary estates, hereditary estates for the nobles and matapule, and government. The latter two are subdivided by law to provide town and tax (garden) allotments that can only be held by Tongans. Tax and town allotments make up two-thirds of the land ownership, and the practice has had a major role in the conversion of forest to farmland. Thus, large areas of agroforestry are in public hands, but areas of high natural forests tend to be geographically inaccessible and consequently opportunities for direct public participation in forest management are limited.
last updated: Tuesday, November 24, 2009