The thinness of the soil layer causes a general paucity of vegetation although in islands of higher rainfall vegetation tends to be more lush. Cultivation of the land is difficult and requires special techniques, constant attention and water. Look here for details of progress. Coordinating Committee for Offshore Prospecting - South Pacific, based in Suva. I beieve that the remit of this organization has expanded somewhat over the years.
Funding seems to come from Australia.
When I can work out correctly what it all means I'll put an account of how this data is interpreted here. The ocean shore is dominated by conglomerate platforms, acting as groynes, with sand and gravel beaches fronted by a narrow reef flat. Erosion is attributed to limited sand supply and to cessation of ENSO-driven episodic renourishment following construction of the Bonriki causeway. Erosion of beaches along the lagoon shore has been linked to El Nino events in which sediment is redistributed alongshore. Westward wind-driven circulation and tidal transport in the lagoon move sand across the western reef flat and harbour channel.