Initial Site Studies for the Pacific-Asia Biodiversity Transect (PABITRA): Pohnpei Island, Federated States of Micronesia

B. Raynor

The Nature Conservancy - Pohnpei Field Office, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia

The island of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia has been proposed as a site for the Pacific-Asia Biodiversity Transect (PABITRA). Pohnpei, one of the few central Pacific high islands, is particularly well-suited for inclusion in PABITRA. One of only three high islands in the Pacific more than 5 million years old that still have substantial forest cover, Pohnpei is home to a rich diversity of plant species. In addition, for the last 12 years, the island has been the focus of a major international effort to create a model for sustainable forest management, thus abundant scientific data is already available, and government and landowner awareness and support for conservation are high. The island also offers potential vertical transects from the montane cloud forest, and upland palm and broadleaf forests located on mountain peaks down through secondary forest, agroforest, swamp forest, and finally extensive coastal mangroves. Information on geography, geology, weather, climate, soils, flora and fauna, vegetation are presented, and potential local government and NGO cooperators are identified.

Abstract from: XIX Pacific Science Congress, July 4-9, 1999, Sydney, Australia.