Current text from the 1991 IUCN Directory of Protected Areas in Oceania

NIUE

Area 260 sq. km

Population 2,270 (1989) (G.S.T. Talagi, pers comm., 1990)

Natural increase: - 3.7% per annum

Economic Indicators

GNP: No information

Policy and Legislation Niue is a self-governing nation in free association with New Zealand. The 1980-1985 Niue National Development Plan (NNDP) had a number of objectives relating to the environment "as government is aware of the dangers from unwise practices" (Sloth, 1988). The 1985-1990 NNDP emphasises socio-economic development and social services and does not specify protection of the biological environment, although it is recognised in one chapter.

The role of traditional law in the management of island affairs is very strong. Traditional conservation measures are in effect for different times of the year and for different species (UNEP/IUCN, 1988). Customary restrictions, or "fono", are applied from time to time in certain temporary "reserves" which allow the recovery of exploited resources (Yaldwyn, 1973). There is no protected areas legislation and no formally protected areas, although there is a "tapu" forest area. Despite a lack of government legislation under which reserves may be created, the existing tapu forest is probably secure. Niueans and the Government own all the land; no alienation is permitted, although the government may lease areas for up to 60 years (Hay, 1986; SPREP, 1980; UNEP/IUCN, 1988).

International Activities Niue is not yet party to any of the three major international conventions concerned with with the conservation of nature, namely the Unesco Man and the Biosphere Programme, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention) and the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage Convention).

At a regional level, Niue has neither signed nor ratified the Convention on the Conservation of Nature in the South Pacific, 1976. Known as the Apia Convention, it entered into force during 1990. The Convention is coordinated by the South Pacific Commission and represents the first attempt within the region to cooperate on environmental matters. Among other measures, it encourages the creation of protected areas to preserve indigenous flora and fauna.

Niue is party to the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) but has neither signed nor ratified the Convention for the Protection of the Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region, 1986 (SPREP Convention). The Convention entered into force during August 1990. Article 14 calls upon the parties to take all appropriate measures to protect rare or fragile ecosystems and threatened or endangered flora and fauna through the establishment of protected areas and the regulation of activities likely to have an adverse effect on the species, ecosystems and biological processes being protected. However, as this provision only applies to the Convention area, which by definition is open ocean, it is most likely to assist with the establishment of marine reserves and theconservation of marine species.

Systems Reviews Niue is a single, isolated island located at 169°53'W, 19°03'S, 480km north-east of Tonga and 560km south-east of Western Samoa. The island is roughly circular and comprises a raised atoll of coralline limestone about 62m high with coastal terraces, the most prominent being 20-28m above sea level. A number of submerged terraces also occur. The island has a slightly depressed upper surface representing the "lagoon" of the original atoll (Yaldwyn, 1973).

The original tropical high rain forest which once covered the island has now been reduced to fragments, generally in the east, and totalling 3,200ha (12.3% of total land area) in 1981. There is also a narrow (200m-800m width) strip of coastal forest encircling the island's lower terrace. This forest is still largely intact and covered some 2,500ha (9.6%) in 1981. Second-growth or regenerating forest is more widespread, totalling 12,000ha (46.2%) in 1981.

Unproductive "fernland", principally comprising Nephrolepsis hirsutula, covering approximately 3,200ha (12.4%), is found largely in the south in the old lagoon basin. This is generally thought to have arisen as a result of prolonged burning, overcropping and subsequent soil impoverishment (Wodzicki, 1971; Yaldwyn, 1973), and early attempts at mechanised cultivation using bulldozers and discing equipment (G.S.T. Talagi, pers. comm., 1990).

There is no true reef or lagoon. The island is partly surrounded by a platform reef, varying from a few metres to several hundred metres in width and cut in the limestone of the island. Large parts of this are subtidal, the remainder being intertidal. Much of the south and east sides of the islands are entirely devoid of reef flats; some parts have 1m-8m wide pools about 1.5m-2.5m above sea level. The flat has a thin discontinuous veneer of living corals on its upper (intertidal) surface and rich coral growth over the edge in sub-tidal waters. At least 43 coral genera occur and there is a rich, though largely undocumented, invertebrate fauna (UNEP/IUCN, 1988; Yaldwyn, 1973).

Principal environmental issues include forest destruction by clearing and milling; soil loss due to inappropriate cultivation; and decline in bird and flying fox populations through habitat loss and over-hunting. Reef blasting has been strictly limited in extent (van Westendorp, 1961; Yaldwyn, 1973).

The existing protected areas network is restricted to Huvalu Tapu Forest, and temporary "fono" marine reserves. Dahl (1986) identifies five ecosystems, viz. limestone rain forest, coastal forest on terraces, secondary formations, scrub and fern, and fringing reefs. Only the first of these ecosystems is protected within Huvalu Tapu Forest. Nevertheless, Huvalu probably provides adequate protection for Niue's original terrestrial habitat (Hay, 1986). Dahl (1980) recommends a number of specific sites for designation as protected areas. These include: caves, reefs, historic sites, coastal features, chasms and freshwater springs. Huvalu is one of the few remaining traditional taboo protected areas in Oceania. Dahl (1986) recommends that it should be maintained, and reinforced with legislation if necessary. Other sites may also need protection if they are being degraded. Forest reserves additional to Huvalu would help conserve the Polynesian triller sub-species (Hay, 1986).

Other Relevant Information Huvalu Tapu Forest comprises approximately 150ha (0.6%of total land area) of Huvalu Forest, which covers 800-1,200ha (3.1%-4.6%), in eastern-central Niue (Wodzicki, 1973). The forest was set aside as a tapu area in pre-European times, and is believed to house the remains of pre-Christian gods. The tapu still exists, and the area represents a fragment of primeval Niuean forest which has survived since before the arrival of the Polynesians (Wodzicki, 1971). The site is maintained by the Village Council of Hakupu which lies some 3km to the south. Human entry and any use of the forest is forbidden, except very occasionally in the case of privileged individuals who have been permitted to enter. The forest is pristine and contains very large trees and an abundant fauna including pigeon and flying fox as well as diurnal, as opposed to the more usual nocturnal, land crabs (Yaldwyn, 1973).

Addresses

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, PO Box 74, Alofi

Secretary to Government, Administrative Department, Alofi

References

Dahl, A.L. (1980). Regional ecosystem surveys of the South Pacific Area. SPC/IUCN Technical Paper 179. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 99 pp.

Dahl, A.L. (1986). Review of the protected areas system in Oceania. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK/UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya. 328 pp.

Hay, R. (1986). Bird conservation in the Pacific Islands. Study Report No. 7. International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, UK. 102 pp.

Schofield, J.C. (1959). The geology and hydrology of Niue Island, South Pacific. New Zealand Geological Survey Bulletin 62.

Sloth, B. (1988). Nature legislation and nature conservation as part of tourism development in the island Pacific. Tourism Council of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji. 82 pp.

SPREP (1980). Niue. Country Report No. 4. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 7 pp.

UNEP/IUCN (1988). Coral reefs of the world. Volume 3. Central and Western Pacific. UNEP Regional Seas Directories and Bibliographies. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK/UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya. 378 pp.

van Westendorp, F.J. (1961). Agricultural development on Niue. South Pacific Bulletin 11: 67-69. (Unseen)

Yaldwyn, J.C. (1973). The environment, natural history and special conservation problems of Niue Island. In: SPC, Regional symposium on conservation of nature: reefs and lagoons. Part 2. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 49-55.

Wodzicki, K. (1971). The birds of Niue Island, South Pacific: an annotated checklist. Notornis 18(4): 291-304.

IUCN (1992). Protected Areas of the World: A review of national systems. Volume 1: Indomalaya, Oceania, Australia and Antarctic. Prepared by the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. xx+352pp.

IUCN (1992). Protected Areas of the World: A review of national systems. Volume 2: Palaearctic. Prepared by the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. xxviii+556pp.

IUCN (1992). Protected Areas of the World: A review of national systems. Volume 3: Afrotropical. Prepared by the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. xxii+360pp.

IUCN (1992). Protected Areas of the World: A review of national systems. Volume 4: Nearctic and Neotropical. Prepared by the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. xxiv+460pp.