Nauru

Forestry legislation

Nauru has only a small area of vegetation around Buada Lagoon and a forest fringe, 50-100 metres wide, around the coast. Consequently, the country has felt little need for forestry legislation, and has no legislation specific to terrestrial environmental or conservation issues. Land-based activities on Nauru are largely regulated by legislation pertaining to phosphate mining, however there is no overarching environmental legislation. The most specific reference to forests in legislation is in the 1976 Lands Act, which stipulates that, the Republic, Council or a Statutory Corporation may remove trees and vegetation from land that is leased, and may use, destroy or otherwise dispose of them.

In 1997 the Nauru Rehabilitation Corporation Act was enacted to establish the Nauru Rehabilitation Corporation, a public entity with responsibility to implement rehabilitation activities. The Nauru Phosphate Royalties Trust administers the investment of funds derived from the sale of phosphate. Under the Constitution of Nauru, the Trust is required to pay a percentage of phosphate royalties into a special Nauru Rehabilitation Fund for the purpose of restoring or improving the parts of the Island of Nauru that have been affected by mining for phosphate. Insofar as future rehabilitation is likely to encompass reforestation of the upland plateau, forest management activities are likely to be regulated by legislation governing rehabilitation efforts.

last updated: Monday, October 1, 2007