Tonga national report of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

Abstract

The Kingdom of Tonga is a nation of 171 islands located in the South Pacific. It has a relatively stable population of 101,000 distributed in three island groups, but most are principally located in and around the capital city of Nukualofa on the main island of Tongatapu. As Tonga is the last Kingdom in the South Pacific, land tenure regulation is principally owned by the King and his Nobles. According to law, the Lands Act designates every Tongan male upon the age of 16 to be given town and agricultural allotments in their village. However, Tonga has not had sufficient land to keep pace with the nuances of its modern dilemmas including heavy domestic migration to urban areas, unsound agricultural methods, and unsustainable development with no impact assessment. Mangrove forests have been severely depleted disturbing precious biodiversity and removing barrier effects of sea level rise and flooding. Tonga is also an agricultural nation. Its flat, rich soil is host to many fruits and vegetables not found in other South Pacific countries. Heavy fertilizer and pesticide use coupled with excessive clearance of wind-sheltering trees has significantly affected the country's natural resources. Although the government has been active creating policy and recommendations for various agricultural and land use issues, there is no enforcement to maintain safety standards.