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The conservation values and biodiversity of Pohnpei's forests are perhaps as important as their hydrological buffering function. A combination of strong traditional respect for the upland forest, heavy human depopulation during the last century, and relatively difficult access to inland areas have spared the upland forests of Pohnpci Island from much of the disturbance and destruction that has occurred in the island's lowlands and on other Micronesian islands. These factors, along with the relative age and isolation of the island make the flora of Pohnpei's upland forests some of the most diverse in Micronesia, with a high level of endemicity.

Consultancy for the South Pacific Biodiversity Conservation Programme (SPBCP)

This project preparation document is the second revision the draft PPD prepared in July 1994. The object of the project is to assist the landowners to protect the biodiversity values of the Big Bay Forests, on the island of Santo, and to generate income by forming enterprises which enable the forest to be protected. The concept is for the Environment Unit to form a partnership with the landowners and village residents to provide technical support, training and funding assistance to assist them to develop a land use plan to protect their forest as a C.A. and to establish various income generating enterprises. This executive summary summarises the natural and cultural features of the area, the rationale and design for the project, and the main features of the work plan and budget for the rem lining four years of project funding, it must be emphasised that the project design cannot be regarded as being fixed especially regarding the timing of activities. There will be a constant need for flexibility in budgeting and work programming to respond to issues and needs as they arise, and according to how the landowners and village management committee wish to proceed.

The South Pacific is a vast region occupying 30 million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean, an area more than three times larger than the United States of America or China. Of this, only 2% is land, scattered over a myriad of large and small islands with a total land area of only 500,000 square kilometers. The region is also home to an incredibly diverse range of peoples and their cultures, with three commonly recognised subregional constituents — Micronesia, Polynesia and Melanesia.