The Vanuatu National Forest Inventory commenced in 1989. Field survey activities were primarily undertaken through the Vanuatu dry season and were completed in 1991. The primary objective of the forest survey was to provide information on type, distribution and volume of forest resources to enable national planning for development and conservation. The first step in developing the sampling strategy was the typing of vegetation from aerial photographs (API). Geographic information was collated and then overlain to compile discrete polygons knows as resource mapping units (RMU). Forested RMU were then stratified within each of the 12 principal island groups. A variable probability approach was used with a least one representative RMU sampled from each stratum in most cases. The selection of RMU for sampling was essentially random and within selected RMU at least two randomly selected plots were located. At each plot, tree data were collected at 20 points along a transect. All trees over 10 cm diameter at breast height (1.3 m) over bark (dbhob) and within the range of a wedge prism with a basal area factor of 10 were measured at each point and other individual tree data were recorded. Additional information on the occurrence of non-timber forest products such as bamboo and rattan was recorded. A number of problems were encountered in the course of the field survey. In the custom land ownership system which operates in Vanuatu, the need for intensive public awareness campaigns to facilitate field operations was apparent early and appropriate extension systems were developed. The frequency of cyclones and historical garden areas combined to increase the variability of the forest. Volumes were adjusted at a rate derived from the level of disturbance indicated from the API to account for these factors. Although results are not yet available for publication, the level of precision obtained and the efficiency of collection indicate that the methodologies used in this survey were appropriate and probably have wider application to countries with similar environments to Vanuatu
