FAO Forestry country profiles - forest management

Issues and concerns

Like other atoll countries in the Pacific, the Marshalls would be severely affected by rises in sea level and thus global warming is the greatest potential environmental threat. Under worst case scenarios, many of the islands would become uninhabitable. Growth of vegetation is hampered by saltwater spray, which sweeps over the islands during the season of the northeast trades, killing or seriously inhibiting plant growth. Other environmental problems are associated with urbanization, population intensity and growth, as well as the residual impact of nuclear testing. Bikini and Enewetak were used as atomic weapon test sites by the USA from 1946 to the 1960s. Migration programmes associated with these have caused significant environmental damage and social disruption to many reef and island communities.