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TR@ICAL FORESTRY IN MELANESIA AAD SOME PACIFIC ISLAhDS
K. D. Merten
J. G. Groome and Associates, P.O. Box 169
Taupo, New Zealand
ABSTRACT
Most of the material used in lhis paper is based m work in Lhe Solomon
Islands, but supplementary data are derived from Fiji, Western Samoa and Enga
Province, Pryua New Guinea. The reduction in vegetative complexity east of the
Wallace Line is illustrated partly by comparison of the principal timber species in
the various countries. Some indication is given of the structure of the forest
biomass, the implications of various forest phases, and species grouping using
Solomon Istand data, VariaLions in forest structure wiLh increasing distance from
the coast and increasing altitude on Pacific Islands are discussed, as well as the
ef f ect of wind, logging and agricultural developnent which are the main
instrurnents of forest disturbance.
Both naLural and artificial aspects of forest regeneration are covered, with
particu lar ref erence to close and line planting techniques. Monocultures and
veget.ational mixtures are considered as they relate to pests, diseases and soil
ferti Iit y.
Introduction
Finally some ma.ior factors affecting qtimal land use m small Pacific Islands
in the 21st Century are outlined.
Sandal wood was exported from the Western Pacific islsnds in the nineteenth c€ntury,
but large scale and scientific forestry did nol really start until after the Second World War.
In the first few years poor communications and scarce funds generally rneant that little
impact was made. Most knowledge and data have been gained during [he past two decades.
The author spent much of that time in the Solomon lslands with strort term msignncnts
to Fiji, Western Samoa, Enga Province in Papua New Guinea, and Tmga. In the Solomon
Islands t}re author was closely involved in rnoet branches of the Foregt Service work.
At the present time research into various aspects of foreetry is most advanced in
Papua New Guinea, while in other countries the Forest Services have devoted rnoet of their
effortr to replanting: predorninantly Pinus caribaea in Fiji, and tropical hendwoodg in the
Solomon lslende. Venuatu has been developing foreetry extension servicee. TIE
Frcnch-speaking territories have had the benefite of research conducted by e branch of the
Centre Technique Forestier Tropical in New Caledonia. Tlc United Statee Forest Service
operates in Hewaii and in recent years arnall scale forestry haa been started in Micronesia,
with staff ustrally from the Peace Corps.
In 1978, a Pacific Regional Meeting m Forest Management and Developnrcnt wae held
in Suva, Fiji, which indicated both the divereity end the common gound in forestry
development m the islends of the Pacific and streesad the reed for a greater interchange of
data between countries, for co-ordinetion of trainingr and for a full time foreetry advieer to
the Pacific. The New Zealand Governrrent has recently rypointed a Forestry Adviser to the
Pacific region under ita aid cheme.