Federated States of Micronesia’s forest resources: forest inventory and analysis, 2016
| Authors: | Julian Dendy, Olaf Kuegler, Ashley Lehman, Wendolin Roseo Marquez, Marlyter Silbanuz |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Type: | General Technical Report |
| Station: | Pacific Northwest Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.2737/pnw-gtr-1035 |
| Source: | Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-1035. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 64 p. |
Abstract
In 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis program collected forest and tree measurements from 149 plots in Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Of these, 78 were remeasured plots first established in 2005, and 71 were new plots that were established to meet the Micronesia Challenge, a regional conservation initiative. We recorded 131 tree species and 280 dominant vascular plant species, including 18 invasive plant species. Invasive plant species were present in half of FSM forest area, and the vine Merremia peltata was the most common nontree plant species, comprising by far the largest weedy component. Two of the twenty most common and dominant tree species were invasive. Damage from wild pigs was observed in all states except for Yap and was the largest source of disturbance on Kosrae. No damage was observed in the FSM from coconut rhinoceros beetles.
Pohnpei clearly had the least disturbed forest condition among states, with about three-fourths of its forest area undisturbed, while 50 percent of forest area in Yap and 90 percent of forest area in Chuuk were disturbed. Human disturbance was the most prevalent disturbance category in 2016, having increased by more than six times from the first inventory. In contrast, weather was the largest recorded source of disturbance in 2005. Disturbances caused by insects, disease, and animals were unrecorded in 2005, but cumulatively disturbed about 10 percent of total forest area in 2016.
Forests in the FSM were moderately dense with about 600 stems per acre and were characterized by a preponderance of small trees. The mean diameter at breast height, tree height, stem density, and basal area for the FSM overall did not change significantly between 2005 and 2016, but there were significant differences at the state level.