Tonga - Overview

Status and trends of biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem services

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

The Kingdom of Tonga comprises 171 islands (some coral and some volcanic) located in the South Pacific Ocean, of which about 37 are inhabited. Although the total land area of the country is only about 700 km2, its territorial waters cover about 700,000 km2... More »

Main pressures on and drivers of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

Pressures on biodiversity include, among others, the lack of and/or absence of management plans for the conservation and protection of endemic species; uncontrolled and illegal harvesting of resources; encroachment; invasive species; the use of pesticide and fertilizer in agriculture; pollution and eutrophication... More »

Implementation of the NBSAP

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

Tonga adopted its first NBSAP in 2006. To date, of the NBSAP’s 37 objectives, progress in relation to 5 (14%) objectives pertaining to ABS and financial resources is considered unsatisfactory; 24 (65%) objectives related to the forest ecosystem, marine ecosystem, agro ecosystem, species conservation, mainstreaming and financial resources are in progress; while progress in regard to 8 (21%) objectives pertaining to local communities and civil society, mainstreaming, the marine ecosystem and financial resources is deemed satisfactory... More »

Actions taken to achieve the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

To date, most progress has been made regarding the achievement of Aichi Targets 10 (Pressures on vulnerable ecosystems reduced), 11 (Protected Areas) and 17 (NBSAPs adopted as a policy instrument), while no progress has been made in regard to Aichi Target 16 (Nagoya Protocol)... More »

Support mechanisms for national implementation (legislation, funding, capacity-building, coordination, mainstreaming, etc.)

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

The following legislation, policies and plans exist to support CBD implementation in Tonga however enforcement is weak due to lack of staffing and financing for operations... More »

Mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing implementation

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

The monitoring programme for protected areas and biodiversity conservation activities in Tonga is very weak due to lack of financial support from the Government... More »