Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 3. Terrestrial Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
7) Leucaena leucocephalus
8) Morinda citrifolia
9) Pandanus tectorius
10) Tamarix aphylla
11) Polyscias guilfoylei
12) Terminalia muelleria
7) Portulaca oleracea
8) Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
Garnett (1983) estimated vegetative cover on Abariringa (Canton) based on major plant
species. These estimates were as follows:
Vegetation type Area (ha)
Cordia forest 3.4
Messerschmidia forest 12.1
Scaevola scrub 71.2
Suriana-Sesuvium 99.1
Portulaca community 230.5
Bare 269.9
Disturbed 468.9
Total 1,155.2
Endemic vegetation on Nikumaroro, Orona and Abariringa (Kanton) were the last remaining
large stands found in the Phoenix Islands (SPREP 1992).
Fosberg and Stoddart (1994) provided a detail discussion of each species recorded for the
Phoenix Islands. A summary of plant species reported and discussed in Fosberg and Stoddart
(1994) is provided in Table III-3.3 above.
In 1995, only a few coconut trees were observed on Abariringa (Tunaari) except at
Tebaronga and Umari (Government of Kiribati 1995). Terieta and Bikentabakea trees
looked unhealthy. This was attributed to the hard pan in the area.
In 1995, 75 percent of Abariringa (Tunaari) was coverd with the saltbush, Cordia subcordata,
and Tournefortia argentea (Government of Kiribati 1995). Only a few pandanus were found
at Tebaronga. There were also three breadfruit trees, two of which had fruit. At Umari, there
were healthy pine (Christmas) trees. At Tebaronga, there were hibiscus plants and te biku.
Mueller-Dombois and Fosberg (1998) reported that coconut plantations were attempted on
almost all islands in the central Pacific. They failed on the driest ones such as Abariringa
(Canton).
In the 2000 census, the Statistics Office (2002) reported that the 61 residents were raising
breadfruit, babai, banana, pawpaw, kumala, and other vegetables.
Neilson (2002) noted the number of plant species present on Abariringa (Kanton), Birnie,
Manra, Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki, and the plant habitats present for each island (see
Table III-3.4 above).
Pierce et al (2006) noted that most pest plants in the Phoenix Islands were on Abariringa
(Kanton). The invasive plant, lantana, Lantana camara, extended over a large portion of the
village and former military base.
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