Protected areas by country

Forest and Bird, Volume 17, Issue 2, 1 May 1986, Page 13

Protected areas by country

There are a number of protected areas but only a few contain forest. In the Cook Islands, two reef areas totalling 250 ha were established as national parks in 1972. In French Polynesia there are no National Parks, but two areas on Tahiti Island (Mount Marau and Pari Coast) are at present under consideration. French Polynesia has a number of small reserves. In Fiji Islands, eight nature reserves and an animal sanctuary have been estalished: RESERVE FEATURE Tomaniivi (Mt Victoria) sub-montane cloud forest 1,350 ha Nadarivatu, 93 ha tropical rainforest Nagaranibuluti (Mt rainforest Lomalagi) 280 ha) Draunibota Island, 2 ha small island Labiki Island, 0.3 ha small island Vuo Island, 1.2 ha small island Vunimoli, 20 ha tropical rainforest Ravilevu, 4,000 ha tropical rainforest Yadua Taba Island, 60 ha crested iguana sanctuary In Kiribati (formerly the Gilbert Islands) there are no national parks but there exist bird sanctuaries on Christmas, McKean, Birnie and some of the Phoenix Islands. In New Caledonia, conservation action was started in the 1950s and has resulted in several types of protected areas. Some of these are open to mining activity. The major achievement is the Parc Territorial de la Riviére Bleue, a substantial forested area east of Noumea. Papua New Guinea is a leader in protected area systems among the developing countries of the Pacific: Varirata National Park: situated about 40 km from Port Moresby, the park covers an area of about 1000 ha. It comprises both rainforest areas and open savannas typical of the Port Moresby area. McAdam National Park: situated neat Bulolo, the park covers an area of approximately 200 ha. It contains one of the last virgin stands of Araucaria.

In addition to these areas, negotiations are at an advanced stage for the establishment of a national park at Mt Wilhelm, Mt Kemeagi and other areas. There are also several Wildlife Management Areas where the wildlife resource is harvested in accordance with conservation practices agreed to by local people. The Solomon Islands has one national park, the Queen Elizabeth Park (6,080 ha) which is subjected to traditional rights by inhabitants within the park boundaries. There are seven bird sanctuaries on small islands. Tonga will soon have a major terrestrial park on the island of ‘'Eua, which lies 19 km south south-east of Nuku'alofa. Being the geologically oldest island in Tonga, having considerable altitudinal variation and being lightly settled and developed, 'Eua possesses the most extensive undisturbed habitats in the Kingdom. The proposed national park on the east side of the island encompasses 1,400 ha and four major habitats: the ringing reef; the coastal region; the eastern ridge; and the ridge summit. In 1974 Western Samoa passed legislation to provide for a National Parks and Reserves system. A year later a comprehensive approach was undertaken through a study by IUCN and UNDAT, which recommended the reservation of 6 percent of Western Samoa’s land area (38,220 ha in national parks). The following is the present situation in Western Samoa: Tusitala Historic and Nature Reserve: |28 ha on the outskirts of Apia. O Le Pupu — Pu’e National Park: This area of 3,000 ha was set aside by the Government as the country’s first National Park in March 1978. The land was previously government land and stretches from the southern coast to the dividing ridge at Mt Fito on Upolu Island, thus providing a range of ecotypes found on the island. It is hoped that O Le Pupu — Pu’e will serve as a demonstration area and thereby foster wider public and political support for the concept of National Parks and Reserves. Togitogiga Recreation Reserve: this reserve was set aside by Government in 1978. It is a small riverside area containing 2 waterfalls and a very popular swimming hole. There are a number of other areas currently under consideration for reservation in Western Samoa.