SOIL SURVEYS OF MAJOR ISLANDS OF F.S.M. COMPLETED BY USDA-NRCS

Press Release #0710-05
Palikir, Pohnpei – FSM Information Services
July 2, 2010

Kolonia, Pohnpei (US Embassy): July 2, 2010.  The United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) completed separate soil surveys for the major islands in all four states of the Federated States of Micronesia. Donated to the people and national and state governments of the FSM by the United States of America, the work to complete the soil surveys cost in excess of $400,000.
 
The FSM’s soil surveys were originally completed in 1980. Hardcopies and digital information on the surveys are available via USDA-NRCS’s Pacific Islands Area website, www.pia.nrcs.usda.gov/soils.html. A recent revision to the website gives easier access to the information for professionals and interested citizens. The updated layout (suitable for use in GIS) and information provides a direct link for the public to important resource planning information for the Federated States of Micronesia.

The USDA-NCRS is the agency responsible for completing soil surveys for the mainland, U.S. territories, and freely associated states. A soil survey is a complete inventory of the soil resources for an area.  The information contained in soil survey manuscripts is valuable for environmental planning and community development work. Informed decisions can be made about the ability of the land to accommodate human activities and ecological restoration. This includes the soils’ ability to grow crops, support engineering activities like building construction, and the soils’ vulnerability to erosion.

For further information contact the U.S. Embassy at (691) 320-2187 or usembassy@mail.fm