Forestry

The regional meeting, a joint effort of the Pacific Community (SPC), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and hosted by the Government of Samoa, saw participation from Ministers from Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Island, Tokelau, Tonga and Vanuatu, and Heads of Delegation from American Samoa, Australia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Palau, Tuvalu, and Wallis and Futuna.

The seed policy will help the Agriculture sector in Vanuatu to ensure that farmers have access to affordable quality seeds and planting materials of the most suitable crop varieties is essential for improving food security and nutrition as well as the livelihoods of farming communities.

 In many countries, there is a lack of adequate seed policies – i.e. principles that guide government action and define the roles of stakeholders.

The government says the revocation came because it understands exemption orders allowing companies to fell timber for uses other than the export of round logs were being abused.

The government says agencies have been mobilised to ensure the revocation of the permits is adhered to.

One of the areas where the issue has impacted negatively is on Mono in Shortland Islands.

Ongoing tensions between landowners and logging companies have resulted in armed conflict that the government says has divided communities and become a national security issue.