FAO Forestry country profiles - forest management

Issues and concerns

The Tokelau country report to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) noted several constraints to sustainable development relevant to forestry. Most significant is global warming, which threatens to inundate the low-lying atolls. Consequently, Tokelau has significant interest in the role of global forests in mitigating climate change. Freshwater salinization and coastal erosion are also challenges forests might assist in mitigating. The UNCED report noted constraints to sustainable development including: a complicated administrative system, insufficient information about natural resources, lack of understanding groundwater dynamics and salinization, insufficient budget allocation for environmental planning and projects, and lack of environmental knowledge among local authorities and community leaders. Tokelau¿s size and population density are placing pressure on resources and the environment, resulting in significant migration.