VANUATU
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The
forests and forest industries
in Vanuatu are important
Forestry
is making an increasingly important contribution to
the development and economy of Vanuatu, providing job
opportunities, income, and badly needed rural infrastructure.
Forest
officer-collecting seed from whitewood trees.
In
1998, the value of forest product exports was Vt 540
million, about 13% of total exports. Landowners received
about Vt 28 million in log royalties and Vt 31 million
in sandalwood royalties, while forestry workers were
paid an estimated Vt 120 million in wages.
However,
the importance of Vanuatu's forests cannot be judged
only from an economic perspective. The forests are a
vital part of the country's cultural heritage and contribute
to the welfare and economic development of the people.
Forests provide the basic needs of water, food, shelter,
fuel, and medicine.
Careful
planning and management of the forests is important
to ensure that these values are not jeopardised by the
equally important need for development. Environmental
protection and development can be achieved through sustainable
forest management.
What
is Vanuatu's National Forest Policy?
It
is a clear statement of forest policies to guide the
work of the Department of Forests and inform others
of the objectives, policies and strategies for action
for sustainable forestry management in Vanuatu.
The
Policy was prepared over a two-year period using funding
from the United Nations Development Programme with support
from the Pacific Islands Forests and Trees Support Programme.
Representatives of government at the national and provincial
level, chiefs together with community leaders representing
women, youth, churches and the forest industry provided
valuable contributions. The final document was prepared
following a series of public forest policy workshops
held around Vanuatu in April 1997 and formally endorsed
by the Council of Ministers in November 1998.
The
principal national goal for the forest sector is to
ensure the sustainable management of Vanuatu's forests
to achieve greater social and economic benefits for
current and future generations.
What
does the policy contain?
The
National Forest Policy Statement addresses the many
different issues involved in sustainable forestry management.
Objectives, policies and strategies are outlined in
the following topics:
·
Forest management
· Environment and conservation
· Landowners and communities
· Forest industries
· Afforestation and extension
· Forest research
· Forestry training and education
· Forest administration
· Forest revenue
The
Policy also proposes specific regional policies for
the main islands of Vanuatu.
Department
of Forests
Since
the development of the Policy and endorsement by the
Council of Ministers, many of the recommendations have
been implemented by the Department of Forests. The Department
of Forests will continue to require stakeholders support
and cooperation, to improve the sustainable management
of Vanuatu's forests for the benefit of current and
future generations.
Further
information on the policy should be directed to:
Director
of Forests
Department of Forests
PMB 064, Port Vila
Vanuatu
forestry@vanuatu.gov.vu
Ph: (678) 23865
Fax: (678) 25051
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