Bio-diversity

On smaller coralline islands in Vanuatu like Aniwa with the a population of 500 people living on the island had pressure on environmental resources. The increase harvesting of native forest vegetation for feul wood, ornamenta, settlement construction and clearance for subsistence farming and settlements has become a detriment to native forest to become shrubby low land vegetation. This had impacted the level of biodiversity of the small island terretrail fauna and flora that are not fully known. The sandal wood natural stock had been declined due to unsustainable harvest for market demand. Other local economic trees such as citrus were detoriated from cyclone breakage and the stock were dying. The local community realingin their need for forest resources had commenced tree planting but had little success due to lack of technical understanding of the requirment for reaforestation. The project will assist the Aniwa community reaforeation committee to established a well established nursery for rearing tree seedlings for food trees. Local land holders will be provided with tree seedlings for growing in the woodlot. They will be trained to manage their wodlots in the process of rehabilitation of forest in the areas. Other economic trees will also be planted to ensure sustainable harvest of the species on the island.

Vanuatu