Trees outside forests as a foundation for sustainable development in the Small Island Developing States of the Pacific Ocean

This paper stresses that for many of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the Pacific Ocean, trees outside forests (TOF), perhaps, the single greatest foundation for the life and health of our islands, soils, rivers, beaches, coastlines, people and the constitute. other plants and animals on which we depend. It examines how the protection and planting of TOF and the protection and enrichment of traditional agroforestry systems and associated traditional knowledge can serve as a basis for addressing deforestation, forest degradation, agrodeforestation and the loss of biodiversity. It can further serve as a foundation for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the Small Island Developing States of the Pacific Ocean. The nature of traditional Pacific Island agroforestry practices and the diverse range of time-tested species that could form the focus of national and community-based programmes for the protection and planting of TOF are also discussed.