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This project intends to prolsgl biological diversity within a number of pacific by facilitating the establishment o1 a series oi 1""g", diveree ConservationIs laAnredae Projects or CAPs (terrestrial, marine and combin"if in whieh there are agreea criteria for development based on long-term ecological sustainability. Empha"i""i, oo -assisting local partnerships to develop sustainable management structures for biodiversity conservation. Aneiltary activities, Iinked to specifi-c CAps whei" por"tf", include information dissenination, training attachments, species protection an4 action-oriented conservation policy analysis.

The conservation values and biodiversity of Pohnpei's forests are perhaps as important as their hydrological buffering function. A combination of strong traditional respect for the upland forest, heavy human depopulation during the last century, and relatively difficult access to inland areas have spared the upland forests of Pohnpci Island from much of the disturbance and destruction that has occurred in the island's lowlands and on other Micronesian islands. These factors, along with the relative age and isolation of the island make the flora of Pohnpei's upland forests some of the most diverse in Micronesia, with a high level of endemicity.

This project preparation document is the second revision the draft PPD prepared in July 1994. The object of the project is to assist the landowners to protect the biodiversity values of the Big Bay Forests, on the island of Santo, and to generate income by forming enterprises which enable the forest to be protected. The concept is for the Environment Unit to form a partnership with the landowners and village residents to provide technical support, training and funding assistance to assist them to develop a land use plan to protect their forest as a C.A. and to establish various income generating enterprises. This executive summary summarises the natural and cultural features of the area, the rationale and design for the project, and the main features of the work plan and budget for the rem lining four years of project funding, it must be emphasised that the project design cannot be regarded as being fixed especially regarding the timing of activities. There will be a constant need for flexibility in budgeting and work programming to respond to issues and needs as they arise, and according to how the landowners and village management committee wish to proceed.

A CP was prepared by the Native Lands Conservation and Preservation Projects Steering Committee (NLCPPSC), chaired by the Native Lands Trust Board (NLTB), and submitted to SPBCP in November 1993 for the Koroyanitu National Park Project. The CP was reviewed by the SPBCP Technical and Management Advisory Group (TMAG) in February 1994 and approved for preparation suggesting further attention to some issues.

This report is the Project Preparation Document (PPD) for the proposed Huvalu Forest Conservation Area. The primary objective of the PPD is to lay out the design for a project that conserves the biodiversity of the Huvalu forest through the development of village managed activities founded upon sustainable resource exploitation practices. A long term aim is to develop participatory planning and management skills at the village level so that project sustainability can be assured after SPBCP involvement ends.

The proposed Conservation Area is centred on an area of mangrove forest (c75 hectares) in the customary ownership of Saanapu and Sataoa villages on the south coast of Upolu. This area is one of five Grade 1 sites identified by a 1991 survey of lowland ecosystems as the best remaining in Western Samoa (Park et al. , 1992) . It is given priority as the best mangrove ecosystem in the country, acknowledging that mangroves have a key role to play in sustaining lagoon fisheries on which many Samoans in coastal villages depend. The two villages involved have made a commitment to conservation of this area dating back to 1992 when the results of the survey were presented to them. The project also hopes to extend conservation and sustainable development principles to other lands owned by these villages, and in the long-term to the whole Safata District.