Study on the characteristics of Terminalia agroforestry in Kosrae Island, Federated States of Micronesia

Type Thesis or Dissertation - Masters Thesis
Title Study on the characteristics of Terminalia agroforestry in Kosrae Island, Federated States of Micronesia
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2006
URL http://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/handle/10125/20761/M.S.Q111.H3_4052_r.pdf?sequence=2
Abstract
Terminalia carolinensis Kaneh. is a wetland species endemic to Kosrae and Pohnpei Island, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The tree develops dominant and mixed forests in lowland freshwater wetlands, particularly in Kosrae, where people' practice traditional agroforestry on this Terminalia land. In one year (1998), Terminalia land provided approximately $3.1 million worth of goods and services to the local society (Drew et al., 2005). The objectives of this thesis project were I) to quantify and compare the size of Terminalia parcels among different municipalities and also among different vegetation/land cover types, 2) to determine trends in important parameters such as average size of parcels and percentage of households who own Terminalia parcels, 3) to capture the size and distribution of Terminalia forests among different municipalities, and 4) to gain a general understanding of local people on the changes in .Terminalia population over the entire island. Interviews were conducted with 56 randomly selected households and 6 key informants for obtaining information about the location, role, and management practice on Terminalia. The locations, approximate number of Terminalia stands, average height and diameter at breast height (DBH) were recorded by observation at 16 parcels. The result showed that still close to 80% of the households on the island had parcels with Terminalia, with no statistical difference observed between the percentages in the current study and that reported by Drew et al. (2005) (89%). Most parcels, with an average size of 0.76 ha, were actively used for agriculture. Variation of parcel size was not statistically significant between different municipalities. However, vegetation/land cover statistically impacted parcel size, with an average size of 2 ha in agroforest, and less than 0.5 ha in swamp forest, upland broadleaf forest, and urban land, respectively. While half of the interviewees recognized this tree as part of their agroforestry system (providing shade) or serve as part of wetland function (controlling erosion); their traditional usage of Terminalia tree as a material for canoe hull seemed to be declining. A majority of the interviewees thought that Terminalia population was increasing over the entire island, as a consequence of less demand for a direct use and its successful regeneration. Still, 70% of the interviewees thought that some conservation measures were necessary for the tree. Further dissemination of information on both dense and small patch Terminalia forests were recommended. Further studies were encouraged on the Terminalia parcels, e.g., a field-based inventory with different aspects in focus.

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