Due to small size of the islands, forests have been a relatively minor activity. Nevertheless, they are valuable natural resources and play an important role in island community. Most importantly forests role in providing weed energy for domestic purpose was much appreciated. It is the traditional source of energy for daily cooking and preparing bi-products from fish, toddy etc. which provides income to islanders. Today, due to exceptionally high population, overcrowding and lack of space together with increase in fuel wood prices has resulted a shift to kerosene and gas. However, in the outer islands fuel wood is still used extensively. Local supplies has long been exhausted and unexploited uninhabited islands are under risk as overcutting will seriously affect the fragile ecosystem of the islands.
