Republic of Palau's forest resources : forest inventory and analysis, 2014

Author / Creator

Dendy, Julian, author

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Summary

"In 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis program collected forest and tree measurements from 56 forest plots among three forest communities (lowland...

"In 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis program collected forest and tree measurements from 56 forest plots among three forest communities (lowland forest, mangrove, and strand forest) in the Republic of Palau, across Babeldaob, Koror, Peleliu, Angaur, and the Rock Islands. A total of 125 tree species and 196 dominant vascular plants were recorded, most in lowland tropical rainforest. Strand forest had the lowest stem density and highest basal area and volume per acre among forest communities. The Rock Islands had the highest basal area, volume per acre, and percentage of trees >10 inches diameter at breast height, but also the highest stem density among island groups (Babeldaob, Peleliu/ Angaur, or the Rock Islands).Palau had a high percentage of forest canopy cover in 2014, with some missing canopy cover associated with wind or fire disturbance. Little evidence of damages from feral pigs or tree cutting were recorded, and no specific human disturbance was observed except for fire. About 40 percent of observed Cocos nucifera L. (lius) trees had Oryctes rhinoceros beetle damage. Less than 1 percent of total forest area was covered with nonnative invasive plants, and the mean percentage of cover of the native/ invasive vine Merremia peltata (L.) Merr. (kebeas) decreased by 17 percent compared to 2003.Between 2003 and 2014, the average height of all trees in Palau increased by 2 feet, and the forest grew about 100,000 tons of tree biomass per year (50,000 tons of carbon). The estimates for mean diameter and stem density per acre did not change significantly, but mean basal area per acre significantly increased between inventories. Disturbed forest area increased from 1 to 25 percent, and tree damage increased by 10 percent."

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