Countries

Forestry policies, institutions and programmes

The Ministry of Public Works has some responsibility in promoting and protecting forest and tree resources. SPC Forestry has provided some assistance to Nauru in nursery development and management. This is basically to raise selected tree species for interested landowners and for the Nauru Phosphate Corporation rehabilitation work on the mined-out phosphate fields.

At present there is no separate policy or legislation on forestry, however, the Government through its representatives have expressed keen interest in working on key areas such as conservation of indigenous tree species and biodiversity.

Plan of action
A Plan of Action for ensuring sustainable management of land, water and forestry resources and environmental protection of Small Island Developing States has been formulated within the framework of the World Food Summit follow-up and was adopted by the FAO Council in June 1999. The Plan comprises the following five main areas of actions:

• Adjusting to changes in the global trading environment;
• Towards a more intensified, diversified and sustainable agriculture;
• Meeting fisheries needs;
• Ensuring sustainable management of land, water and forestry resources and environmental protection; and
• Capacity building and institutional strengthening.

The main forestry-related objectives and activities of the proposed plan of action are to:

• promote the conservation and sustainable use of land and water resources and manage sustainably the forest resources;
• enhance the environmental protection;
• improve disaster preparedness;
• develop and/or strengthen national capacities in the context of the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture; and
• strengthen the supporting services to agriculture;
• provide a coherent framework for sustainable natural resource management and environmental protection.
Last updated: June 2004