Forest Action Plan
Pro-active forest resource conservation
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is the largest and most diverse part of the greater Micronesian sub-region of the vast Pacific region. It is a federation of four semi-autonomous island states, in geographic sequence from west to east—Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae—comprised of 607 islands. The conservation and preservation of endemic species is of particular importance to the FSM’s natural heritage and globally significant. The marine and terrestrial significance are the foundation of the country’s long term economic self-sufficiency as articulated in its National Biodiversity Strategic Plan and subsequently its Strategic Development Plan 2004-2026.
Maintaining the habitats and ecosystems that nurture this diversity is crucial to sustaining the country’s rich ethnobiological traditions while improving Micronesians’ quality of life since sixty percent of its population is dependent on subsistence livelihoods. Further inventory and monitoring of the FSM terrestrial and marine biodiversities are integral and priority to a thorough understanding and appreciation of the island’s biodiversity. The spread of invasive species is a continual threat due to increased movement of people and machinery between the islands, and needs to be carefully monitored and controlled.