The Republic of Niue is located in the South Pacific Ocean about 460 km east of Tonga. It is a self-governing country in free association with New Zealand. The island has an area of about 260 km2.
Niue is a plateau of raised coral about 61 m above sea level. A lower level with an average elevation of about 27 m surrounds the plateau. The soil is shallow. Around the perimeter cliffs drop abruptly into the sea. A fringing reef surrounds most of the island.
The climate is tropical oceanic and quite humid. The average annual temperature is 27° C and annual rainfall is about 7 700 mm.
An elevated coral atoll composed entirely of two terraces of coral limestone, Niue lies in the south-east tradewind belt and was once covered by closed forest. This vegetation has been highly modified by shifting agricultural practices that have created a mosaic of cultivated plots and fallow lands in various stages of succession to scrub and secondary forest. Relatively intact natural forests remain in areas of extremely rough coral terrain both along the coast and on the upper terrace. The following description of vegetation types is derived from Mueller-Dombois and Fosberg (1998) and Sykes (1970).
The rather low, tangled vegetation in this formation is restricted to the lower terrace (15 to 25 m elevation), where it is subjected to salt spray and strong winds. Soil accumulates mostly in pockets in the limestone. The overstory is dominated by tree species widespread in the Pacific, such as Barringtonia asiatica, Calophyllum inophyllum, Cordia subcordata, Guettarda speciosa, Hernandia nymphaeifolia, Neisosperma oppositifolia, Terminalia catappa, Thespesia populnea and Tournefortia argentea. On cliff faces and among large rocks grow scrub plants of Bikkia tetrandra, Capparis cordifolia, Clerodendrum inerme, Hedyotis foetida and Pemphis acidula. Common understory elements include the scandent Colubrina asiatica, the low shrub Timonius polygamus, various herbs and tree saplings.
This taller forest occurs on the upper terrace (61 m elevation), where there is less exposure to wind and salt. As in the littoral forest, the soil is discontinuous, interspersed with limestone outcrops. Overstory elements include Adenanthera pavonina, Aglaia samoensis, Alphitonia zyzyphoides, Baccaurea seemannii, Canarium harveyi, Diospyros samoensis, Dysoxylum mollissimum ssp. molle, Elaeocarpus tonganus, Fagraea berteroana, Ficus spp., Inocarpus fagifer, Macaranga harveyana, Pittosporum brackenridgei, Pisonia grandis, Pometia pinnata, Rhus taitensis and Syzygium spp. The vines Flagellaria gigantea and Merremia peltata are common in the canopy, and there are many epiphytic and ground ferns.
This scrubby vegetation is dominated by the ferns Nephrolepis hirsutula and Phymatosorus scolopendria, within which occur scattered shrubs and thickets of Hibiscus tiliaceus and Tarenna sambucina. This community, locally known as the “Niuean desert”, may be the result of extensive overcropping and soil impoverishment in the past.
These are depauperate forest stands in various stages of development following past clearing of the land. These forests generally have a greater species diversity than do the natural forests.
Mueller-Dombois, D. and F. R. Fosberg 1998. Vegetation of the tropical Pacific islands. Springer-Verlag, New York. 733 pp.
Sykes, W. R. 1970. Contributions to the flora of Niue. New Zealand Dept. Scientific and Industrial Research Bull. 200. Christchurch. 321 pp.
Gross estimated area 360 ha Annual planting 35 ha
Species group |
Gross estimated area |
Purpose (%) |
Ownership (%) |
||||
ha |
% |
Public |
Private |
Others | |||
Mahoganies |
Industrial |
100 |
100 |
||||
270 |
75.0 |
Non-Industrial |
|||||
Other Broadleaved spp. |
Industrial |
100 |
100 |
||||
90 |
25.0 |
Non-Industrial |
|||||
Mahoganies Swietenia macrophylla
Other Broadleaved spp. Toona australis, etc.
Explanatory note on 2000 estimates Oliver (1999) presents established plantation areas by year and species. Total plantation area of the year 1998 is 288 ha. Taking an average of annual planting since 1990 as annual planting rate until the year 2000, and applying this to the total of the year 1998 as a base, the total plantation area of the year 2000 is estimated to be approximately 360 ha. Main species is mahogany, Swietenia macrophylla, about 75 percent of the whole plantation. Plantations are aimed to produce timber, thus industrial plantation is 100 percent. |
Oliver, W. 1999. An Update of Plantation Forestry in the South Pacific, RAS/97/330 Working Paper No.7, Pacific Islands Forests & Trees Support Programme.
For information on invasive plant species, see http://www.hear.org/pier/niuereport.htm.
A substantial portion of Niue is covered with scrub or bush type vegetation and several thousand hectares of dense indigenous forest. A 1981 forest survey showed roughly 70 percent of Niue to be forested, though only 32 km2 was considered merchantable, the remainder being scattered or coastal forest. However, in the fifteen years prior to 1981 20 percent of Niue's forest cover was lost. This trend has reportedly continued though without a detailed inventory this cannot be confirmed. The primary cause of deforestation is clearing for subsistence gardening. A 1990 survey of Niue's forests reported a total merchantable volume of 245 000 m3 compared with a volume of 535 700 m3 calculated in 1966. Nonetheless, the Niuean Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (1993) reported wood was used only for traditional purposes such as house and canoe building, and handicrafts. Niue's conservation estate is limited to 160 hectares of mature forest placed under a traditional "tapu" (a restricted or sacred area).
Brown, C. 1997. Regional study – the South Pacific. Asia-pacific Forestry Sector Outlook Study, Working Paper No. APFSOS/WP/01. FAO, Rome.
In the late-1980s the Niue Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries embarked on a project to establish a high quality hardwood plantation forest. The aim is to achieve a plantation estate of 4000 hectares over a 40 year period established at a rate of 100 hectares per annum. The majority of plantings are mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) or Toona australis, both of which demonstrate superior resistance to cyclone damage. Eventually, the plantation estate is expected to yield a sustainable supply of unprocessed logs for export. Project results in the formative years show this is an ambitious target. In June 1993 Niue's plantation estate was 120 hectares. Nonetheless, New Zealand Government aid funding has been agreed through to 1997 with the project's future presently due for review. A major obstacle may be continuing to access lease land for the project.
Brown, C. 1997. Regional study – the South Pacific. Asia-pacific Forestry Sector Outlook Study, Working Paper No. APFSOS/WP/01. FAO, Rome.
The future for Niue's forestry sector appears positive in that concerted effort to provide for the future is being made. The success of the plantation project will determine whether the forestry industry makes a future contribution to Niue's economy. However, the non-merchantable forests should ensure Niue will retain good forest cover into the future.
Brown, C. 1997. Regional study – the South Pacific. Asia-pacific Forestry Sector Outlook Study, Working Paper No. APFSOS/WP/01. FAO, Rome.
Area Name |
Subclass |
Type of area |
IUCN Cat. |
Size (ha) |
Huvalu Forest |
NATIONAL |
Conservation Area |
VI |
5400 |
No information.
Import |
Export |
Production |
Consumption | ||||
Units |
Quantity |
$US |
Quantity |
$US |
Quantity |
Quantity | |
Sawnwood |
Cum |
321 |
105 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
321 |
Sawnwood (C) |
Cum |
315 |
103 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
315 |
Sawnwood (NC) |
Cum |
6 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
Wood-Based Panels |
Cum |
33 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
33 |
Plywood |
Cum |
33 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
33 |
Particle Board |
Cum |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Fibreboard |
Cum |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Wood Pulp |
Mt |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Chemical Wood Pulp |
Mt |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Paper+Paperboard |
Mt |
12 |
21 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
Printing+Writing Paper |
Mt |
5 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
Other Paper+Paperboard |
Mt |
7 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
Roundwood |
Cum |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Industrial Roundwood |
Cum |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
