Land Resources
Sao Tomé & Principe has developed and is implementing its National Environment Plan for Sustainable Development (PNADD), which includes eight priority programmes on the environment and development; however, this plan is already ten years old. The National Poverty Reduction Strategy (NPRS) provides the necessary framework to address poverty reduction issues and contribute to sustainable development. An Agricultural Policy and Rural Development Charter has been prepared (although not yet enforced), as well as an Administration and Management of Parks plan, drawn up with the help of the European Union. One of the main constraints to good land management in Sao Tomé et Principe is the lack of a Land Development Plan.
Sao Tomé et Principe is composed of two islands and several smaller islets and is situated about 300km off the African coast. The topography of the islands is very rugged, and land is comprised of basaltic rocks created by volcanic activity, making for fertile soil. A high degree of vegetation throughout the islands - about 90% of the country - has helped to prevent soil erosion. The introduction of new techniques for construction of canoes with wood alternatives has helped protect national forests, reducing the number of trees cut down to build canoes for fishermen.
Although the most abundant natural resource is fish, Sao Tomé et Principe has the potential to develop newly found oil reserves. UNDP and FAO reports suggest that only half of São Tomé and Príncipe’s territorial expanse is inhabitable, with this area being occupied by industrial crops, including cocoa, coffee, palm trees, and coconut palms, of which 50% is devoted to subsistence crops. Despite the small size of the country and its high population density, the occupation of land for urban development has not been carried out responsibly and thus endangers future generations’ ability to gain full use of the country's natural resources. The process of distributing land to farmers, carried out with the support of the World Bank, contributed significantly to land degradation, having increased illegal logging and thus causing increased deforestation and deterioration of biodiversity as well as increased erosion. In order to protect fragile ecosystems, 30% of the nation's territory was declared a National Parks area by the government. This area covers the entire primary forest of the country.
