Niue is the world largest raised single coral atoll situated in the Southwest Pacific Ocean. This presentations gives you an overview about the Sandalwood production in Niue.

1. REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON SANDALWOOD
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND
EXTENSION IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS AND
ASIA
28TH NOVEMBER – 2ND DECEMBER 2005
NADI, SUVA

2. COUNTRY PROFILE
• Niue is the world largest
raised single coral atoll
situated in the Southwest
Pacific Ocean at latitude
19° south and 169° west
• Land area is
compromised of 259 km²
• Population ~1,700 people
• Niue is a multicultural
society where bilingual is
used frequently

3. COUNTRY PROFILE CONTINUES
• There are 2 distinctive season, the hot wet season
from November to March (coincide with the tropical
cyclone season. The cool dry season from April to
November.
• Average rainfall approx 2,180mm but vary from 810 to
3,330mm/annum. 68% of the total annual rainfall is
concentrated in the wet season
• Wet season daily maximum temperature is 30°C
(January/February) with daily minimum of 23°C.
Dry Season daily maximum is 26°C and daily
minimum of 19°C

4. COUNTRY PROFILE CONTINUES
•The soils are of marginal fertility for
intensive agriculture. Land is covered
with fern growth indicating the poor
structure and nutrient contents of the
soil
•The soil is limited due to minimal depth
to base-rock, makatea (limestone –
occurs over approximately 50% of the
island) outcropping and surface
boulders
•There are 4 main soil types (and other
minor soil types):
- Hikutavake Soils
- Hakupu Soils
- Fonuakula Soils
- Palai Soils

5. COUNTRY PROFILE CONTINUES
Niue is still largely covered by tropical forest, 19,351ha or
74% of the island. It has one of the highest forest areas
per inhabitant amongst island countries of the Pacific
Region (logging is almost non-existent).
Forest Resources according to Land Cover Classes
(Landcare 2001)
Figures not the latest (1994) and were amended after
ground truthing (2001 – 2004)
Matured Forest - 6,805ha - 26%
Secondary Forest - 11,233ha - 43%
Littoral Forest - 1,313ha - 5%
TOTAL FOREST - 19,351ha - 74%
Managed Land,
Bare Land,
Littoral Scrubland - 6,792ha - 26%
TOTAL LAND - 26,143ha - 100%

6. SANDALWOOD AREA
Ahi Stand
Niue is not part of the SPRIG Phase 1
& 2 but they have offered some
assistance in terms of securing seeds
for a seed orchard.
Very little is known about the small
sandalwood natural stand at Hakupu
which is:
•Less than 1 sq km
•Less than 100 small trees
•There are some sighting of
sandalwood on other areas but not
conclusive
•Needs to have a complete inventory
of the stand, measuring and mapping

7. NURSERY DEVELOPMENT
Nursery has planted sandalwood seeds
in total that was given by Australia and
Fiji:
YASI – 37 + 14 + 10 + 20 = 81
ALBUM – 18+17+32+80 = 147
A seed orchard where these seedlings
will be planted have been planted with
citrus (mandarin) as a host plant

8. MAJOR CONSTRAINTS
• LACK OF
• - Financial assistance
- Professional technical expertise
- The know how to apply
- Manpower
- Viable seeds from the naturalized sites
• FARMERS CAPABILITIES:
- Mind set are hard to change
NATURAL DISASTERS:
- Drought
- Cyclones

9. PROSPECTS FOR
IMPROVEMENT
• RESEARCH & EXTENSION:
- Ongoing research development
& extension in developing a
Sandalwood seed orchard
• AWARENESS:
- Ongoing awareness for the
landowners to grasp the
importance of this valuable tree species
•

10. STRATEGIES ADOPTED
• The Government should continue to be
supportive in all Agricultural Policies to
promote conservation and sustainable
development concepts
• The National Forest Policy recognized
that agroforestry development and
intercropping will be encourage and
promoted
• Research will focus on data collection
of promising species and provenance
in support of indigenous forest
management with emphasis on
Agroforestry Development

11. RECOMMENDATIONS
• Niue Forestry Division:
- promote the planting of Sandalwood using the local
provenance
- Develop joint management with landowners to
ensure sustainable management
- Seek Regional assistance for more
Sandalwood seeds for the local seed orchard
- Capacity building of staff towards these
sandalwood species

12. CONCLUSION
•Fakaue lahi, Oue Tulou with gratitude to the
sponsors of this Sandalwood Workshop
•Dr Lex Thomson (SPRIG)and Mr Sairusi
Bulai (SPC)for the “Management Plan for
Ahi on Niue
•The Niue Government for allowing me to
attend this very important Regional
Workshop
•