Conservation Efforts
On uninhabited islands, captive breeding of the bird species Tongan Megapode, Red Shining Parrot, and the Blue-Crowned Lorikeet are underway.
National parks have the greatest potential as far as conservation in protection of uninhabited islands that are forested and predator-free
The only protected areas in Tonga are five marine areas and eleven forested areas.
Birdlife International recognized the area as a secondary Endemic Bird Area. In 2008, as part of a 4-year project, the organization conducted Important Bird Area inventories in Tonga and Niue, as well as 11 other nations as part of the “Important Bird Areas in Fiji Project.” The goal of the project was to research biodiversity hotspots in the Pacific using birds as biodiversity indicators. The project resulted in data on endangered species in the regions and the establishment of community-based conservation and sustainability programs.
In order to protect certain endangered or vulnerable marine species –examples are Yellow Fin Tuna, Bigeye Tuna, Green Turtles, Hawksbill Turtles, Etellis corusca, E. carbunculus, Flower fish, Golden Sandfish, Giant clam species, and some local mussel species—Tongan government were requested by international organization to put some regulations on amount of catching fish and clam species, or appoint protected areas for certain whale and turtles (NBSAP 35-46).
Bird Species
Mangrove description –Tonga., Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nation (FAO). 2006. Web from http://www.fao.org/forestry/mangrove/vegetation/en/ton/
Forestry
According to NBSAP Report, Tonga has been making progress for forest conservation through an agroforestry program. This established as a way of increasing exotic timber species by extending planting from the limited forest reserves to the boundaries of the vast areas of tax allotments. One way is to promote nurseries to produce and sell certain threatened species to publics in order to increase a wide range of ‘seedling’ with appropriate allotment. There was also the establishment of a National Park on the island of ‘Eua (see Forest Cover Page for satellite images of this large conservation area).
Marine Species
Unfortunately, there has been a lack of research on marine species, and recent studies conducted by the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture & Foods, Forests and Fisheries, were heavily concentrated on ‘edible marine species’ which are related to Tongan people’s livelihood. All marine species and ecosystems are threatened by pollution of waters with oil and tar released from boats and ships as well as heavy fishing activities. Due to Tongan people’s dependence on fishery, heavy fishing activities decline fish abundance and damage coral reefs resulting in changes in the marine ecosystem. Here is the chart by NBSAP displaying the status of marine species:
In order to protect certain endangered or vulnerable marine species –examples are Yellow Fin Tuna, Bigeye Tuna, Green Turtles, Hawksbill Turtles, Etellis corusca, E. carbunculus, Flower fish, Golden Sandfish, Giant clam species, and some local mussel species—Tongan government were requested by international organization to put some regulations on amount of catching fish and clam species, or appoint protected areas for certain whale and turtles (NBSAP 35-46).
Conserving Tongan bird species has been in particular considered crucial with accurate records of status and species of birds in Tonga as well as appropriate conservation plans. As 2007 Tongan publication regarding bird status states, there are 74 bird species recorded from Tonga: 28 breeding land and freshwater birds, 24 breeding seabirds, and 22 migrant birds. Among these breeding birds, three species are globally considered under ‘global conservation concern (IUCN 2007)’; importantly, two of which are endemic. The first, the Tongan megapode, (Megapodium pritchardii) is endangered, and the other, the Tongan whistler, (Pachycephala jacquinoti) is nearly threatened. The last bird, the Friendly ground-dove (Gallicolumba stairii) is considered vulnerable. In order to preserve these species, the Tongan government has made progress increasing the number of these birds by translocation birds’ eggs to islands like Late and Fonualei where are uninhabited and rarely visited by humans. As NBSAP review of 2007 states that by this effort, Tongan Megapode has been downgraded from “Critically Endangered Species” to “Endangered species,” a sizable success.
Sources
Birdlife International. 2011. Endemic Bird Areas. Retrieved May 2011 from http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/endemic_bird_areas/index.html.
Kingdom of Tonga. 2010. Fourth Report Review of Tonga National Biodviersity Strategy and Action Plan. Retrieved May 2011 from http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/to/to-nr-04-en.pdf
Kingdom of Tonga. 2010. Fourth Report Review of Tonga National Biodviersity Strategy and Action Plan. Retrieved May 2011 from http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/to/to-nr-04-en.pdf
Kingdom of Tonga. 2007. Important Bird Areas of the Kingdom of Tonga. Retrieved May 2011 from http://www.sprep.org/att/IRC/eCOPIES/Birdlife_Pacific/Country%20Files/Reports/Tonga.pdf
Mongabay. 2011. Tonga Forest Information and Data. Retrieved May 2011 from http://rainforests.mongabay.com/deforestation/2000/Tonga.htm
Rinke, D. 1986. Status of Wildlife in Tonga. Retrieved May 2011 fromhttp://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=4958652
