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Pacific Environment Information Network [PEIN] Digest
PEIN Digest: A digest of Pacific environment news
and developments
The PEIN Digest is a monthly digest of pacific environment news and
developments gathered from global news sources and
a regional network of Pacific environment officers.
[*The PEIN project is coordinated by the SPREP Information Resource Centre with funding assistance from the European Union.]
May 2008
April 2008
Articles
of note - a selection of recent academic literature
see also PEIN Digest
archive
[ * The PEIN Digest will next be updated on May 22 after the PEIN Coordinator returns from duty travel ]
Global
warming on next APIL agenda
Guampadn - 9 May 2008
Pacific island lawmakers ended their three-day general assembly on Guam
yesterday with a plan to further discuss global warming when they meet
again as a smaller group in November. The just-concluded Association
of Pacific Island Legislatures' 27th general assembly addressed a wide
range of issues that affect islands in the region, said Speaker Judith
Won Pat of the Guam Legislature. Because of time constraints, the association's
members were unable to extensively discuss the effect of rising sea levels
on the tiny
island nations in the Micronesia region. But global warming will be discussed
at the association's board meeting in the Marshall Islands in November,
Won Pat said. General assembly delegate Alik J. Alik, vice speaker of
the Marshall Islands' Nitijela, or Parliament, said concerns about rising
sea levels
have prompted some people in the island republic to relocate or consider
relocating...more
NZ
tourism may survive climate change, but travel costs a risk
NZ Herald - 6 May 2008
Climate change due to global warming will help determine a new crop of
winners and losers - in tourism...."The island states in the South
Pacific ... are particularly reliant on tourism," Mr Heymann said. "If
tourists stay away from them, the economic setbacks are extremely serious." Reduced
tourism income for economic development in many emerging markets, including
the island states in the South Pacific would be not only
due to worsening climatic conditions. "If prices for air trips increase,
for example, because of their inclusion in emissions trading and if (as
a result of that) fewer people
travel to faraway destinations, the negative economic impact would
be perceptible," Mr Heymann said... more
Fitial
tells Bush of concerns over Pew's proposal [Northern Mariana Islands]
Saipan Tribune - 6 May 2008
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has asked President Bush to reject a proposal
to create a marine national monument in the northern islands. Fitial
in a letter to Bush said the designation “would, in my
view, greatly reduce or eliminate the ability of the CNMI government
to carefully balance cultural, environmental, and economic considerations
in the region in an open and inclusive manner.” The governor noted
that his position is shared by most lawmakers, who recently adopted a
resolution opposing the proposed marine sanctuary. But Angelo Villagomez,
a local coordinator of Pew Charitable Trusts, which has made the proposal,
said much of the opposition to the marine
monument is based on misinformation. He said that Pew will continue
its efforts to educate the public on the proposal...more
News from MNRE [Samoa]
NMRE Newsletter - May 2008
MYNA BIRD CONTROL PROGRAMS - As seen with intolerance fear to the alarming
increase of
the voracious myna bird, the Ministry (MNRE) is currently coordinating
a control program to gradually anticipate problems arising with
myna. The purpose of the program is to manage and control bird
breeding in numbers and its spread to other parts of the islands posing
more and more problems towards our environment, not to mention
the struggle behind our daily livelihoods that's affected bit
by bit as we continue to ignore them.
Programme of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA) - Vaiusu Bay Mangrove
Area has been selected as a pilot sight for the PoWPA Project.
Located on the western side of the Apia town area, at 90 ha
it is the largest mangrove area in Samoa and considered to be the largest in Eastern
Polynesia. Mangroves are unique ecosystems of high scientific
and environmental values. They form a very productive ecosystem
and are a source of renewable resources in terms of the wide
range of vital roles they provide on a continuous basis...Over
the next two years the PoWPA Project will be working towards restoring
balance back into the Vaiusu Bay Mangrove Area by: mangrove reforestation, restoration
of Vaitoloa dumpsite, marine resources rehabilitation, improving
waste management in Vaiusu Bay, reduce flooding and developing ecotourism.
Environment:
INVASIVE SPECIES THREATENS BIODIVERSITY
islands Business - May 2008
Pacific biodiversity is more than just trees and flowers in our garden
and the birds we hear, it is the foundation for our way of life in the
islands. Our culture, traditions, economy, diet, health and living standards
revolve around Pacific biodiversity, which helps contribute to the individuality
of the Pacific Islands. Our Pacific is biologically unique. We have high
numbers of species that are endemic, which means they are found nowhere
else in the world
but the Pacific, and often restricted to only one or a few Pacific
islands. In all, we are home to more than 400 endemic bird species;
a full 30% of our native plant species are endemic....One of the major
threats to our biodiversity is “invasive species”, which
are often called pests and weeds. These are plants, animals and other
organisms taken beyond their natural range by people, deliberately or
unintentionally, and which become destructive to the environment or human
interests. Besides the damage they cause to the environment, many have
enormous impacts on national economies, on human livelihoods and health....more
Environment/PNG:
OPPOSITION MOUNTS AGAINST WASTE PLAN
islands Business - May 2008
Opposition to the tailings disposal plans of the multi-million kina Ramu
Nickel project is mounting in PNG. The PNG Catholic Church, the largest
Christian denomination in the country, has joined growing chorus of protest
calling for a review
of Ramu’s environmental plans...more
New report of interest: Weathercocks
and signposts: the environment movement at a crossroads
WWF - 5 May 2008
"Weathercocks and Signposts critically reassesses current approaches
to motivating environmentally-friendly behaviour change. Current
behaviour-change strategies are increasingly built upon analogy with product
marketing campaigns. They often take as given the 'sovereignty'
of consumer choice, and the perceived need to preserve current
lifestyles intact. This report constructs a case for a radically
different approach. It presents evidence that any adequate
strategy for tackling environmental challenges will demand engagement
with the values that underlie the decisions we make – and, indeed,
with our sense of who we are." ...www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/weathercocks_report.pdf
People control
conservation [Fiji]
Fiji Times - 4 May 2008
Communities around Fiji are showing great leadership in protecting their
natural resources. A long-running partnership between the Macuata community,
government and non-government organisations has resulted in protection
of vital
natural resources in the area. The success of communities in Macuata
has been an inspiration to other parts of Fiji and the Pacific through
the Locally Marine Area Network
(LMMA). Recently, representatives from Macuata, WWF-global conservation
organisation, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Wetlands International
Oceania
(WIO), the Fijian Locally Managed Marine Areas Network (FLMMA), the
University of the South Pacific (USP) and the Fiji Government met to
discuss the proposed reconfiguration of the network of protected areas
(tabu sites) in Macuata...more
Pacific
Energy News Iss. no. 1 - May 2008
SOPAC - 4 May 2008
The first issue of Pacific Energy News for 2008 is available to be downloaded
from the SOPAC website. Includes updates on national and regional news
and energy project related developments....download
- http://www.sopac.org/tiki/tiki-download_file.php?fileId=1526
Four licences in draft mining bill [Cook Islands]
Contributed by Ana Tiraa - 3 May 2008
The proposed mining bill being processed by crown law allows for the
issuing of four different licences. It's under these licences
that any prospecting for or mining of manganese nodules on the Cook
Islands seabed will be carried out. The licences are a reconnaissance
licence, an exploration licence, a retention licence and an exploitation
licence. However, the bill will not allow the granting of
any licence to a person or company whose financial standing and technical
competence does not
satisfy the minister. The mining bill initially drafted in
1997 has been forwarded to crown law again for rechecking and formatting. According
to the draft bill, the holder of the reconnaissance licence will have
the right to carry out a search for a specified mineral or
group of minerals within a specific area it applied for. The minister
will put in writing how the search should be carried out. An
exploration licence is given for the exploration of minerals specified
in the licence and to do 'all such other acts and things as are necessary
for or reasonably incidental to the carrying out of such exploration'. The retention licence gives the holder the exclusive right to apply
for an exploitation licence within the area for which the retention
licence has been granted. The bill will not allow a holder of an exploration
licence to apply for a retention licence.
An exploitation licence is given to one that is not the holder of an
exploration licence or a retention licence. An exploitation licence
can be for 25 years to give the applicant adequate time to exercise
the rights granted by the licence. Meanwhile, the minister
will have to take into consideration the protection of the marine environment
when assessing the issuance of licences. According to the bill, the minister must take into account the need
to conserve and protect areas relating to the sea, seabed and subsoil
of the territorial sea and exclusive economic zone, including all sea
life.
"
The minister may cause such environmental impact studies and other
studies to be carried out and consider any representation made to him
as he thinks necessary to enable him, before reaching his decision,
to give proper consideration to such matters." However,
the minister's decision to refuse a licence can be appealed to the
high court. The bill does not provide for the granting of sovereign rights.
Pacific
ban hazardous waste with Waigani Convention
SPREP - 2 May 2008
Seven years ago the Waigani Convention came into force, providing a comprehensive
mechanism to address hazardous waste issues in the Pacific region. It
gives the Pacific an effective means of preventing waste traders from
turning the region into an international waste dump. It also stops ships
from using the Pacific as a highway for hazardous waste and helps the
region carry out the clean up of hazardous and radioactive waste in the
region. This week is the second meeting of the Scientific and Technical
Advisory Committee of the Waigani Convention (STAC 2) held at Headquarters
of
the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
in Apia Samoa. SPREP and its member countries have met to map out ways
in which they can strengthen the Convention further...more
Two
Samoas hold environment summit
RNZI - 2 May 2008
Protection of marine and land resources has been the focus of an environment
summit between the two Samoas. A six member delegation from the South
Pacific Environment Program, Samoa’s Ministry of Natural Resources
and Environment, and Ministry of Agriculture, and Fisheries attended
the 2 day summit. Local agencies represented were Marine and Wildlife,
Department of Commerce, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National
Park
Service... more
Solomons
forests could disappear by 2014
ABC - 30 April 2008
The enviromental group Greenpeace says Solomon Islands may lose its largest
export industry if the government does not take immediate action. A recent
report by the International Moneary Fund predicted all natural commercial
forests in the Solomons will be gone by 2014, leading to
a drastic loss of income unless things change now. Logging accounts for
almost 70 per cent of Solomon Islands export income and Greenpeace predicts
so much timber is being cut down that
there'll be nothing to sell to other countries in the future. A Greenpeace
report on the issue details ways the nation can avoid a logging-induced
economic collapse ...more
SOLOMONS
TIGHTEN RULES ON LOGGING, MINING: Companies must produce environmental
impact reports
PI Report - 29 April 2008
Government is putting in place a number of measures in efforts to save
the country's forests from over exploitation and total destruction. The
measures were announced last Friday by the acting minister for Finance
and Treasury Gordon Darcy Lilo and his counterpart Sir Allan
Kemakeza, the minister for Forestry. Mr Lilo, who is the minister for
Environment and Conservation said under the environment act, all logging
companies are required to review
their public environment reports. He said this means companies which
failed to produce environment reports to a standard acceptable under
the environment act will have their
licence recommended for cancellation by the minister for Forestry. Mr
Lilo said all companies in the logging, mining and agriculture sectors
have been notified that before they commence any operation,
they must obtain a public environment report...more
MICRONESIA
TO SEEK SUPPORT FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY
PI Report - 29 April 2008
Micronesian leaders concluded the 9th Micronesian Chief Executives Summit
in Palau over the weekend, reaching an agreement to lobby the U.S. Congress
and other organisations to assist the region in its plan to explore sustainable
renewable energy production. Chief executives of the region signed a
joint communique that calls for the development of the Micronesian Center
for a Sustainable Future
and the start of a regional feasibility study and assessment on different
renewable energy sources including wind mapping, ocean energy and solid
waste energy. The communique also endorsed the formulation and implementation
of a regional sustainable energy policy that will address the rising
cost
of electricity and progressively reduce the region's reliance on fossil
fuels....more
MARINE BIODIVERSITY
WORKING GROUP HIGHLIGHTS
Earth Negotiations Bulletin - 28 April 2008
The second meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group of
the General Assembly to study issues relating to the conservation and
sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction
(the Working Group) opened on Monday, 28 April, at the United Nations
(UN) headquarters in New York. ..Tonga, for the PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM
(PIF), stated that the Working Group is the appropriate forum to discuss
needs, including enhanced regime implementation, consideration of new
approaches and regimes, and the use of caution with regard to ocean sequestration
technologies. AUSTRALIA supported PIF and stressed the need to address
the causes and impacts of overfishing and destructive fishing practices
and to focus on threats to, and protection of, vulnerable marine ecosystems....MARSHALL
ISLANDS urged global recognition of EIAs, especially with regard to oceans-based
climate mitigation activities. He called for the establishment of best
practices and EIA guidance to quantify and identify risks, with a focus
on methods for evaluating cumulative impacts....more
SOLOMONS
GET GREEN LIGHT ON DOLPHIN EXPORTS
PI Report - 28 April 2008
The Solomon Islands government can continue to export live dolphins after
it successfully defended its position on the issue during a meeting in
Geneva, Switzerland. The Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
took the action following a submission by Israel for CITES to review
the Solomon Islands
export of live dolphins. The Solomon Islands Minister of Fisheries and
Marine Resources, Nollen Leni, and a local expert in Dolphins, Dr Baddley
Anita, represented
the country. Mr Leni said from Geneva that the Committee found Israel’s
request lacked scientific backing, especially when Solomon Islands proved
it
had fulfilled all CITES requirements. He said the approval by CITES means
it can continue its dolphin export as long as the local populations remain
in abundance.
Pacific
Prepares For World's Biggest Biodiversity Gathering
Pacific Magazine - 26 April 2008
The Pacific has come together to develop a united strategy in preparation
for the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) 9th Conference
of the parties to be held in May this year. A three-day retreat saw nine
Pacific islands countries meet to outline their priorities and how they
will work together at the CBD’s Conference of the parties. “Basically
we just want to make sure the Pacific is not disadvantaged. We need to
make sure as much as possible that our priorities and concerns
are reflected in the discussions that take place at the CBD Conference
of the Parties. If we don’t, we could miss out on benefits like
technical support and possible financial assistance to advance biodiversity
conservation in our region.” Said Ana Tiraa, SPREP’s Islands
Biodiversity Officer. Member countries at the last SPREP inter-governmental
meeting requested the preparatory meeting. SPREP’s role at the
CBD’s
9th Conference of the Parties will be to advise and support the Pacific
islands countries present. The preparatory meeting also identified
priority agenda items for the Pacific region....more
Dump
Receivers To Raise Funds Through Revenue Bond [Guam]
Pacific Magazine - 26 April 2008
A revenue bond likely will be floated in order to close the Ordot dump
and open a new landfill, reports the Pacific Daily News. Last month Federal
Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood ordered government solid waste operations
into receivership because of the Guam government's
inability to complete the solid-waste tasks spelled out in a 2003 court
order, including the opening of a new landfill. The court-appointed receiver,
Gershman, Brickner and Bratton, aims to divert 50 percent of the waste
stream from the landfill, noting
that only about 2 percent of Guam's waste currently is currently recycled.
The receivers say they are " reasonably confident we can work
through the process of establishing a mechanism for a revenue bond…It's
a matter of ensuring the bond market that it will be paid.” ...more
CNMI
SEEKS APPROVAL TO OPEN NEW TOUR ATTRACTIONS: Environmental assessment
next step for Saipan cave and lake [Northern Mariana Islands]
PI Report - 25 April 2008
An environmental assessment will be conducted on two eco-tourism development
projects that the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
Department of Public Works (DPW) will implement in due time, according
to DPW Secretary Diego B. Songsong yesterday. Songsong said DPW is now
in the process of selecting a firm that will perform the environmental
assessment for Kalabera Cave and the Lake
Susupe Boardwalk projects...more
CNMI
LAWMAKERS DON'T WANT MARINE SANCTUARY [Northern Mariana Islands]
PI Report - 25 April 2008
The Senate has adopted a joint resolution against the creation of a Northern
Islands National Monument. According to S.J.R. 16-4, the Senate "does
not support the establishment, creation, or designation of a marine monument,
marine sanctuary, or
national park in the vicinity of any of the Northern Islands of the
CNMI." It said the proposal needs careful study and deliberation
prior to its implementation. The non-profit Pew Environment Group proposes
the establishment of a marine national monument comprising the northern
islands of Uracas,
Maug, and Asuncion, similar to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine
National Monument created by President Bush on June 15, 2006...more
New web resource:The Great
Pacific Garbage Patch [streaming video]
On Earth Day 2008, SustainLane launched
the pilot episode of “Gorilla
in the Greenhouse,” an action-packed, web-based, animated
show that inspires kids to take real-world steps towards a healthier
planet. The pilot
episode,
entitled The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which launched on Earth
Day 2008, follows the kids as they face a demented plot by Dr. Morton
Huffelbot to create an island of plastic bags in the middle of the
Pacific Ocean. In the show, the kids travel to the island to observe
the situation, go undercover into the plastic bag factory and then
foil the plot though multiple actions: they spread their green message
through their social networks, rally cities to ban plastic bags,
design a new eco-friendly bag and create awareness through their
original song “Bag the Bag (The Gyre Song).”
Runtime 7:42 ..view
video - http://www.greengorilla.com/?p=3
It's
Now Or Never For Solomons Fisheries: Greenpeace
Pacific Magazine - 24 April 2008
Greenpeace has launched two reports in the Solomon Islands that highlight
the fragility of the nation’s two key natural resources, fisheries
and forestry, and provide practical and ecologically responsible solutions
to ensure their viability for generations to come. This was part of the
Greenpeace activities as the environmental organizations’ ship,
the MY Esperenza, docked in Honiara yesterday after being at sea for
three weeks. The crew of the Esperanza have defended the international
waters of the Pacific as no-take marine reserves against overfishing
of yellowfin
and bigeye tuna. “The Solomon Islands will be in a dire social,
environmental and economic situation if the grave mistakes made with
industrial logging,
are repeated with tuna fisheries,” said Greenpeace Australia
Pacific CEO, Steve Shallhorn...The Greenpeace report “Securing
the Future: An alternative plan for Solomon Island forests and economy”,
calls for an immediate moratorium on all new logging licences and the
cancellation of any license that breaches the law. It also recommends
the forestry sector move away from industrial logging for round log exports
and towards community based eco-forestry, exporting sawn timber and investigating
the potential for the Solomon Island forests to benefit from carbon trading.
...more
DUMPING OF
TOXIC WASTE ON INDIGENOUS LANDS, DAMAGE FROM MINING, DEFORESTATION
AMONG ISSUES, AS INDIGENOUS FORUM DISCUSSION FOCUSES ON PACIFIC REGION
Media Newswire - 24 April 2008
Continuing its seventh annual session with a half-day discussion on the
Pacific, delegates to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues called
for the Forum to take a more robust role in inducing other parts of the
United Nations system to carry out mandates for securing the rights of
the indigenous peoples in the region. Four expert panellists began the
discussion with an overview of issues facing indigenous peoples in the
Pacific, including the use of indigenous
lands as toxic waste sites, or as production sites for industries causing
major environmental damage, such as mining and forestry. Michael Dodson,
Member of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues holding the human
rights portfolio, said indigenous land and waters
were being targeted by industrialized nations for dumping of toxic
or radioactive wastes from industrial or military operations, often
without informing residents of dangers. Ecosystems were also being
destroyed in the search for natural resources, for example by the phosphate
mines of Nauru, Banaba and Makatea Islands, and the copper and gold
mines of Ok Tedi, Panguna, Freeport and Vatukoula. Mr. Dodson noted that
indigenous peoples lived in zones sensitive to climate change, with the
Pacific island countries being particularly
susceptible to a rise in sea level. The worst-case scenario -- a one
metre rise in sea level -- would affect tourism, fresh water availability,
aquaculture, agriculture, human settlements and human health. ..more
Energy projects shared with Pacific
Contributed by Ana Tiraa - 23 April 2008
The Cook Islands is currently sharing with other regional countries
its experiences with the two renewable energy projects it has - the
Mangaia wind project and the Pukapuka photovoltaic (PV) system. Te
Aponga Uira's generation manager Nooroa Tupa is attending a meeting
of regional small island states in Vanuatu where representatives are
sharing their experiences in the area of renewable energy. Photovoltaics,
or PV for short, is a technology that converts light directly into
electricity. Due to the growing need for solar energy,
the manufacture of solar cells and solar photovoltaic arrays has expanded
dramatically in recent years and this is being trialled in Pukapuka.
This has also been referred to locally as the 'solar project'. It
is best known as a method for generating solar power by using solar
cells packaged in photovoltaic modules, often electrically connected
in multiples as solar photovoltaic arrays to convert energy from the
sun into electricity. To explain the photovoltaic solar panel's science,
photons from sunlight knock electrons into a higher state of energy,
creating electricity. Vanutau's natural resources minister Maxime Carlot Korman told delegates
that lack of awareness is a chief barrier to the widespread use of
renewable energy in the Pacific region.
SHORELINE
POLLUTION THREATENS FIJI'S PRISTINE WATERS [commentary]
PI Report - 22 April 2008
There was once a time when the Suva Harbour was a sparkling azure sea
with numerous and abundant varieties of fish flitting around vibrant
coral reefs. At that time, the only lights would have been from wood
fires stoked continuously through the night to lend warmth to the home.
Inevitably, development reached our shores and along with its wonders,
came some negative baggage. An expected outcome of most, if not all development
activities is the pollution it creates in the wake of making our surroundings
more
aesthetic or life a little bit more convenient. Development has taken
us into the age of canned coconut cream where before there was no easy
way out of coconut scraping duties early on
a Sunday morning. Plastic bags have replaced the once common basket or
cloth bag simply because it is a more convenient option. Thus, one can
determine that most of our actions have accompanying polluting consequences.
In a small island nation like ours, where we are largely maritime in
nature, dealing with pollution is a growing concern...more
Teach
ecology with 'Reef in a Box' [Guam]
Pacific Daily News - 20 April 2008
With the future at stake, the University of Guam and the island's marine
environment have found the perfect ally: children.
The university's Marine Lab is introducing the "Reef in a Box," a
teaching tool intended to help ensure Guam's sea life doesn't become a faint
memory. "2008 is the International Year of the Reef, and this project
helps to instill in schoolchildren a lifelong appreciation of Guam's
coral reefs," said the Marine Lab's Peter Schupp. Fourteen boxes are
available to middle school teachers and are valued at $500 each, according
to a UOG press release circulated on Thursday. The press release said the
box is based on an environmental study, "Coral
Reefs: an English/Spanish Compilation of Activities for Middle School
Students," but has been modified to engross even younger kids. "It's
tailored to Guam," Schupp said. "Our
box is all about the threats encountered on Guam, what can be done about
it and
how to educate kids on what not to do, to minimize the damage to the
reef in the future." ...more
New report: The illegal trade in timber and timber products in the
Asia-Pacific region
AIC - April 2008
The illegal trade in timber and timber products leads to economic losses
in many countries as well as environmental degradation. International
policy exists to curtail some of the trade, but there are still clandestine
operations by large organisations and criminal networks. This report
examines the scale of the illegal timber trade in the Asia-Pacific region,
encompassing the processes and current trends in logging, sourcing, trafficking,
manufacturing, importing and consumption of illegal timber and timber
products. Assessments of countries' timber resources, extent of illegal
logging, policies and legislation, and enforcement initiatives show the
efficacy of local, regional, national and international legislative frameworks
and actions to suppress illegal trade. The report highlights the need
for cooperative policies and regulations between countries to resolve
sovereignty issues, share information
and develop standards. Issues addressing monitoring the transit of
timber and timber products would identify weaknesses in governance,
laws, policies and enforcement. Potential research that identifies
the causes of the trade, economic dimensions and legal frameworks combined
with government intelligence would inform policymaking...Download from http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/rpp/89/
Guarding
the riches of the ocean
Mining Online - 18 April 2008
Undersea-mining environmental regulations are being developed as commercial
operations loom . SPACE may be called the final frontier on TV, but for
mining industry and environmentalists, bragging rights must surely go
to the ocean
deeps – the most inaccessible and unexplored regions on Earth.
Speculation has continued for decades about the potential mineral riches
on the ocean floor, but there have always been four problems with extracting
them: no one really knows what is down there; the expense of prospecting
for such minerals could be prohibitive; there is as yet no comprehensive
internationally-agreed legal regime covering potential work in global
waters; and there is the risk of causing irreparable damage to ecosystems
that are barely understood...more
SPREP launches news Biodiversity newsletter
SPREP - 18 April 2008
SPREP has launched 'Living Islands: SPREP's Biodiversity Newsletter'..
The first issue is April 2008 and is available online - http://www.sprep.org/documents/highlights/biodiversity/sprepbiodiversity01.pdf
New publication: Locally-Managed Marine Areas: A guide
to supporting Community-Based Adaptive Management (freely available
online)
April 2008
This document presents step-by-step guidelines and community organizing
activities and ‘tools’ used in setting up a LMMA. This
guide is
intended for those working in the local management of coastal resources,
including community members and leaders, local and national government
agencies, non-government organizations, universities and other interested parties. The guidebook is available at:
http://www.lmmanetwork.org/Site_Page.cfm?PageID=64
New
Report Highlights Environmental Issues; Some in Unlikely Places
EPA - April 2008
Cutting tons of pollution from power plants, turning food waste into
energy, preserving threatened waterways, and reducing exposure to toxics
in beauty salons -- just a few of the issues highlighted in the newly
released 2008 environmental progress report. The illustrated report takes
an in-depth look at many of the important environmental issues facing
Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, 146 tribes, and several Pacific
Islands. ..more.
see EPA Progress
Report 2008: Pacific SouthWest Region
Scientists study lagoon for future management [Cook Islands]
Contributed by Ana Tiraa - 17 April 2008
A five-member team from the Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission
(SOPAC) in Fiji is in Aitutaki until mid-May to carry out a marine
survey. The
survey includes mapping of the lagoon and is a part of the regional
project to reduce vulnerability in Pacific states. A shipping container
full of the team's scientific equipment arrived on Saturday aboard
the Southern Express. The team was busy on Sunday
unloading the equipment to begin placing data gathering devices inside
the lagoon.
SOPAC's senior project officer Peni Musu says the three current meters
are placed at different locations and multiple sonar beams in these
meters help map out the lagoon floor. The current meters collect data
on waves, as well as current speed and direction. Tide gauges
will also sit on the lagoon floor for a month to collect tidal information. Local
head marine resources officer Richard Story and marine officer Ngere
George have been helping the SOPAC team.
The project began with consultations three years ago and last month
SOPAC oceanographer Jens Kruger and his team met with marine resources,
the environment service and aid management to find the island that
would most benefit from the survey. Because of the constraints to Aitutaki's
economic growth caused by limited ports handling capabilities and the
high cost of unloading
containers, the project will provide valuable data to be used when
planning the dredging of the Avatapu channel.
Land zoning for Rarotonga to go to the people [Cook Islands]
Contributed by Ana Tiraa - 17 April 2008
The office of the prime minister will soon consult with the public
in Rarotonga to discuss land zoning possibilities for the island. A
team consisting of Dr David Leslie (NZ Landcare), Inoke Ratukalou
(SPC land management) and Marita Manley (SPC economist) presented their
zoning approach yesterday in Rarotonga. The team was tasked
by government in 2006 to draw up zoning ideas for minimum and maximum
guidelines appropriate to the environment of Rarotonga
for developmental activities. At a workshop yesterday morning, the
team highlighted the land zoning prospects and identified key land
use opportunities for both development
and protection of land.
They say that zoning would establish criteria and standards for the
protection, conservation and preservation of flora and fauna, and common
property resources such as land, water and air where the natural resources
have been threatened by human activity.
Betel Nut
Chewing Endangers Reefs
Solomon Times - 16 April 2008
Betel nut chewing contributes to the degradation of coral reefs, was
a message among others that stood out at the launch of the Pacific year
of reefs 2008. People who enjoy chewing betel nuts were told to think twice about how
much damage their habit has done to the reefs....more
Islanders act to protect their lagoons [Cook Islands]
Contributed by Ana Tiraa 0 16 April 2008
Lagoon management and how well
this should be done to sustain nature and the marine life that comes
with it was drummed around Rarotonga
and Aitutaki for at least ten days. The beauty of this ‘drumming’ was
that it was community driven and supported by WWF Cook Islands who
gathered international
experts to help put together the thoughts of the communities. Annie
Aubanel and Charles Egretaud are from IFRECOR – a French
government agency specialising in resources mapping of marine protected
areas. Hugh Govan is from LMMA (Locally Managed Marine Areas), a network
of marine protected areas in Asia/Pacific. Caroline Vieux is a SPREP
coral reef management officer. WWF’s marine officer Sylvia George
said they concluded all meetings in Rarotonga and Aitutaki with plans
on the ‘next steps forward’ developed
by the communities for better management of their lagoons, including
ra’ui areas. Participants noted in the meetings that any land-based
activity can have a direct impact on the coast. Such as agriculture
and deforestation
that wash soil into lagoons, smothering coral and spawning sites. Even
effluent seeping into the lagoon from household septic tanks, tourist
resorts and farms. Reclamation of land and the construction of seawalls
also cause major problems and over-harvesting of seafood and coconut
crabs is depleting the diversity of species along the coastal environment.
Climate
change protection a Pacific challenge
ABC - 15 April 2008
A leading planner in the Pacific says instituting measures to protect
people, infrastructure and the environment from climate change will be
more challenging than in developed countries...more
New publications available from the Global Biodiversity Information
Facility [GBIF]
April 2008
First GBIF Training Manual available now -
GBIF Training Manual 1: "Digitisation of Natural History Collections
Data" is now available online ...download...http://www.gbif.org/Stories/STORY1203629435
Guide to Best Practices for Generalising Sensitive Species Occurrence
Data
The Guide to Best Practices for Generalising Sensitive Species Occurrence
Data is now available in PDF... download ...http://www.gbif.org/News/NEWS1206991025
AMERICAN
GUILTY OF SMUGGLING FIJI IGUANAS: Faces 20-year jail term
PI Report - 16 April 2008
An American man has been acquitted of smuggling iguanas from Fiji to
the United States in his hollowed-out prosthetic leg. However, Jereme
James, 34, was found guilty of concealing and possessing Fiji Island
banded iguanas (Brachylophus fasciatus), an endangered
species, and could face up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on
July 14....more
PNG'S
RAMU NICKEL MINE TO DUMP TAILINGS IN SEA: Company says waste will
be "neutralized"
PI Report - 16 April 2008
Ramu NiCO Management Company, the operator of the Ramu nickel and cobalt
mine, has promised not to endanger any environment or marine life with
its proposed deep sea tailings placement (DSTP). A company spokesman
said that the deep sea tailings discharge was not submarine marine tailings,
while submarine tailing discharge system
usually discharged the tailing into the shallow sea water...more
CORAL
EXPORTERS PLUNDER REEFS IN FIJI: Villagers earn "peanuts" in $16
million industry
PI Report - 16 April 2008
Coastal villagers who plant and sell corals are being ripped off by exporters
who pay them only FJ$150 to FJ$200 (US$101 to US$135) a week while making
FJ$1.5 million to FJ$2 million (US$1 million to $1.3 million). The Fisheries
Department has decided that it is not going to increase the number of
operators who go out or work with coastal communities
to collect both live and dead corals from the reefs. "And some of
them are only operated by four or five people and they have a turnover
between FJD$1.5 to FJD$2million (US$1,011,340-$1,348,454).
All these people are all millionaires and yet they only pay $30 (US$20.22)
permit through the Environment department’s Fisheries," research
officer Aisake Batibasaga said...more
PALAU
BILL WOULD BAN EXPORT OF MIGRATORY FISH: Tuna, billfish, sharks would
be protected
PI Report - 16 April 2008
President Remengesau has proposed a bill which prohibits the commercial
export of highly migratory fish from Palau and bans foreign fishing vessels
from Palau waters. The president introduced Fisheries Protection Act
of 2008. In a letter to Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) leaders, the president
said the bill would finally put an end to the over-exploitation of Palau’s
highly-migratory fish populations by creating one of the largest sanctuaries
for migratory fish in the Pacific. "Under its provisions, no one
may export for commercial purposes any highly migratory fish, including
tuna, tuna-like species, billfish,
and sharks," the president said....more
Yap
starts invasive species action planning process [FSM]
SPREP - 15 April 2008
PILN Coordinator Jill Key facilitated two half-day multi-agency workshops
in February to start the invasive species action planning process in
Yap. The coordinating mechanisms and strategic framework of the invasive
species action plan were identified at the workshops, which represent
the first step in a longer strategic action planning process... more
Bikini corals recover
from atomic blast
University of Queensland online - 14 April 2008
Half a century after the last earth-shattering atomic blast shook the
Pacific atoll of Bikini, the corals are flourishing again. Some coral
species,
however, appear to be locally extinct. These are the findings of a remarkable
investigation by an international team of scientists from Australia,
Germany, Italy, Hawaii and the Marshall
Islands. The expedition examined the diversity and abundance of marine
life in the atoll. One of the most interesting aspects is that the team
dived into the vast Bravo Crater left in 1954 by the most powerful American
atom bomb
ever exploded (15 megatonnes - a thousand times more powerful than
the Hiroshima bomb). The Bravo bomb vapourised three islands, raised
water
temperatures to 55,000 degrees, shook islands 200 kilometers away and
left a crater 2km wide and 73m deep. After diving into the crater, Zoe
Richards of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James
Cook University said: “I didn't
know what to expect – some kind of moonscape perhaps. "But
it was incredible, huge matrices of branching Porites coral (up to 8
meters
high) had established, creating thriving coral reef habitat....more ..*The
team's report on Bikini corals surviving atom bombs appears in Elsevier's
Marine Pollution Bulletin No. 56, March 2008 page 503--515.
Turkey
pledges $US37 million to Pacific
ABC - 14 April 2008
Turkey says it will give $US37 million towards small and medium scale projects
in the Pacific Islands. The promise was made at the first ever Turkey-Pacific
Islands Foreign Ministers meeting in Istanbul, held to strengthen relations
between the
West Asian state and Pacific countries. During the three-day meeting
last week, ministers discussed possible areas for cooperation in the context
of the globalisation and climate
change challenges facing the Pacific...more
Protector
of our ocean
Fiji Times - 13 April 2008
FORMER body builder-turned film star and now Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger,
could become the face for the protection and safety of the Pacific Ocean. Governor
Schwarzenegger, who is known for his strong environmental policies, especially
on climate change, is being sought after by planners of a new initiative to be
known as the "Pacific Ocean 2020 Challenge." This challenge, which
is being coordinated by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature
based in Suva, seeks to focus global attention, build new partnerships, and generate
the necessary commitments to address threats to the world's largest natural resource
the Pacific Ocean by 2020...more
New publication: 'Sharing Experiences - Sustainable
sanitation in South East Asia and the Pacific'
April 2008
Includes the following case studies:
- 3. VANUATU:
Putting community development principles into practice: A case study of a rural water, sanitation and hygiene project in Vanuatu p.22
- 5. FIJI:
The Sanitation Park Project: A regional initiative to increase participatory approaches in the sanitation sector p.33
- 6. TIMOR LESTE:
A journey from subsidy to Community Led Total Sanitation: The experience of WaterAid Australia and Plan in Timor Leste p.38
- 7. PAPUA NEW GUINEA:
A Toilet Paper: Reflections on ATprojects school sanitation in Papua New Guinea .p.43
... download from http://www.watercentre.org/resources/sharing_experiences/
Oceania
regional meeting on Wetlands opens
SPREP - 10 April 2008
The fourth Oceania regional meeting of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
opened today in Apia, Samoa. The two-day meeting is to prepare the Pacific
Islands region for the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention,
in October this year. The Ramsar Convention promotes the conservation
and wise sustainable use of wetlands around the world. The importance of wetlands
worldwide and to the Pacific region was highlighted during the welcome
address of Asterio Takesy, the Director of the Secretariat
of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). “Wetlands
are among the world’s
most productive ecosystems and have cultural and traditional significance
in the Pacific. They are
our first line of defence against natural disasters and also provide
our peoples with the essentials of life.” ...more
Ramsar
Convention meeting in Samoa
SPREP - 8 April 2008
The Oceania region is coming together to develop a stronger Pacific voice
at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention in October.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
is coordinating a two-day preparatory meeting to be held at SPREP headquarters
in Apia, Samoa from 10-11 April. Five Pacific Island countries are a
party
to the convention that promotes the conservation and wise, sustainable
use of wetlands around the world:
Fiji, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, Papua New
Guinea and Samoa will be attending the upcoming preparatory meeting,
along with non-party Kiribati who are currently in the process of joining
the convention...more
U.S.
EPA awards CNMI $400,000 to assess and cleanup Brownfields [Northern
Marianas]
EPA - 8 April 2008
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today a total of $400,000
in Brownfields grants to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The CNMI Division of Environmental Quality will receive $200,000 to continue
assessment of hazardous substance sites and support community
outreach activities. Another $200,000 will be provided to the CNMI
Dept. of Public Lands for the cleanup of WWII unexploded ordnance on the northern
end of Saipan. Eventually, this cleanup will allow for the development
of approximately 500 new homesteads for local residents...more
News noted in the MNRE newsletter [Samoa]
April - 2008
- Conservation International (CI) signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)
with the Government of Samoa through the Ministry of Natural Resources
and Environment ( MNRE ) securing a long-term biodiversity conservation
partnership. The MOU formalises a collaboration that has been ongoing
for three years in a number of areas including invasive species management,
marine conservation, threatened species recovery, environmental awareness
programs and site based conservation including reserve and national parks
management.
- The Prime Minister Hon. Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, officially opened the Conservation International's (CI) new Pacific office in Apia, and launched two new posters of Native Trees and Birds of Samoa was funded by CI.
- A two-day joint workshop on marine invasive species between American Samoa and Samoa was attended by Juney Ward with over twenty participants looking to forge a partnership to address the threat of invasion by foreign marine animals and plants. Participants heard presentations on the results of surveys that were carried out in the Archipelago since 2002. The surveys, carried out mostly in Pago Pago and Apia harbours, found many species brought into the Archipelago from places as far as the Caribbean, western Atlantic, Australia and the Indian Ocean. Shipping is the likely cause of how these foreign species arrived in the Archipelago, as most of them were found in the harbours. Those found in Apia were also likely to be found in Pago Pago.
WHO:
Climate Change Threatens Millions
The Associated Press - 7 April 2008
Millions of people could face poverty, disease and hunger as a result of
rising temperatures and changing rainfall expected to hit poor countries
the hardest, the World Health Organization warned Monday ...Malaria-carrying
mosquitoes represent the clearest sign that global warming has begun to
impact human health, he said, adding they are now found in cooler climates
such as South Korea and the highlands of Papua New Guinea....Omi said poorer
countries with meager resources and weak health systems will be hit hardest
because malnutrition is already widespread, with the young, women and the
elderly at particular risk. He said unusual, unexpected climate patterns — too
much rain or too little — will have an impact on food production,
especially irrigated crops such as rice, and can cause unemployment, economic
upheavals
and political unrest ...more
Climate change
a threat: Luveni
Fiji Times - 7 April 2008
CLIMATE change is a real threat to our Pacific islands and we will not
be spared of its after effects and the health consequences, says Doctor
Jiko Luveni. Dr Luveni, the interim Health Minister, made the at the launch
of World Health Day, which will be celebrated throughout the week. Dr Luveni
said the theme for this year, Protecting health from climate change, was
very relevant and is designed to put health at the centre
of Government policies on global warming. ..more
New Resource: Reefbase Pacific DVD
ReefBase Pacific is a regional project of the world’s leading
information system on coral reefs - www.reefbase.org - and is coordinated
by the
WorldFish Center with joint funding by the Agence Francaise de Developpement
and the United Nations Fund. The main focus of the project is to improve
accessibility and availability of information relating to the dynamic
relationships between people and reefs; livelihoods, natural systems,
institutions and governance, and external threats and opportunities.
One of the initial outcomes of the project is a database DVD containing
information resources relating to reef fisheries and coral reef research,
management, monitoring, conservation, and education
in the Pacific Islands region. Project activities during 2008 will
increase the quantity and range of information available on the DVD
and associated
web-based databases. The information tools produced by the ReefBase
Pacific will provide support to reef resource management initiatives
that consider
implications for fisheries, livelihoods, and biodiversity.
For more information on the project, and to receive a copy of the DVD, please contact the ReefBase Pacific Project Coordinator, Pip Cohen, at P.Cohen@cgiar.org...find out more
Noted
in Issue 2 of Vai Pasifika [joint newsletter of the Pacific
Islands Observing Systems]
Contributed by Dean Solofa - 4 April 2008
PI-GOOS – Helping to Increase Access to Coastal and Ocean Observations;
ReefBase Pacific: Capturing and Distributing Information Resources on
Pacific Island Reef Fisheries; Historical Aerial Photos Help to Reveal Changing
Shorelines; Coral Reef Bleaching Alerts.
PI-GCOS - PI-GCOS Instrument Plan to expand in 2008; Weather and Climate End User Consultation Workshops; Website Training for Pacific Island Meteorological Services.
Pacific HYCOS - Hydrological Data Rescue Reaches Samoa.
...download
Vai Pasifika - http://www.sopac.org/tiki/tiki-download_file.php?fileId=1480
REVIEW OF SUSTAINABLE DELIVERY OF MET SERVICES IN PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION
[Press Statement] contributed by Dean Solofa - 3 April 2008
The Pacific Plan’s emphasis on regional integration of services
within the region could soon extend to the meteorological services being
provided by several different agencies at the moment.
“Weather and climate information is regularly used by people from all walks of life. Safety in aviation and shipping industries depends on actions taken in response to weather conditions. It is also of relevance to the agriculture and fisheries industries, not to mention availability of water for human consumption. More recently there is increased attention on sustainable meteorological services from the perspective of climate change and natural disasters,” says Feleti Teo, Acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
“The region relies on some regional and international services, which is need of strengthening. Following a decision last October by Leaders of the Pacific’s Smaller Island States (SIS) in Tonga, a review is to be undertaken on the sustainable delivery of meteorological services in the region,” says Mr Teo
The SIS Leaders at their Summit urgently called for the immediate strengthening of regional and national institutions and services for monitoring and communicating weather, climate and extreme events to support basic livelihood, wellbeing and security of the Pacific peoples, build resilience to natural disasters and to maintain hard-won social and economic gains.
They also urged Forum Members countries, CROP agencies and development partners to support the strengthening of regional and national services for monitoring and communicating weather, climate and extreme events, including institutional and human capacity development.
In response to this directive, a Technical Working Group (TWG) has been formed under the auspices of PIFS. It comprises representatives of SPREP, SOPAC, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), and two representatives of Regional Meteorological Services Directors (RMSD) (Director of the Fiji Meteorological Service/Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) in Nadi, and current Chair of the RMSD).
“The Group has developed a roadmap towards the implementation of the SIS Leaders directive and core to this will be the undertaking of this Consultancy, which is aimed at providing a review of the current arrangements and a detailed analysis of practical and sustainable options for strengthening delivery of weather, climate and related extreme events related services in the Pacific region,” says Mr Teo.
The review is expected to start early April with the final report expected at the end of May. SIS Leaders are expected to discuss the report at their next summit in Niue in August.
Whale
watching makes a splash
NZ Herald - 3 April 2008
There has been a 10-fold increase in the number of people whale and dolphin
watching in the Pacific region, not including New Zealand or Australia,
in the past decade. A review of whale watching in the Pacific released
yesterday showed a mammoth surge of visitors to the region who went whale
or dolphin watching. In 2005, tourists - mostly international - made more
than 110,700 visits to watch whales compared with 10,300 in 1998. The review,
by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, said the Pacific was home
to a high diversity of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and contained
critical breeding, calving and feeding grounds and migratory pathways
for many species....more
Pacific
Islanders on marine mammal study tour of NZ
kaikoura Star - 3 April 2008
Kaikoura was the most important stop for representatives from five Pacific
Island nations doing an intensive eight day study tour of the country incorporating
dolphin and whale watching, said Mike Donoghue of the Department of Conservation.
Ten representatives from Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Niue,
Tonga and Samoa visited Kaikoura last Friday and Saturday to view whale
watch and dolphin operations with the view to either establishing similar
ventures in their countries or further developing those already in
existence....Included in the party were Lui Bell of the Marine Species
Office for the Pacific Regional Environmental Organisation which co-ordinates
the environmental policy for 22 Pacific islands and Dr Gae Gowae, second
in charge of PNG's conservation policy. The tour's aim was to encourage
development of well managed, sustainable marine mammal watching businesses
in the Pacific Islands region through
showing representatives what has been achieved in New Zealand and the
support and advice that can be provided here...more
Cover
Story: OPERATION SAVE OUR CORALS
islands Business - 3 April 2008
Indo-Pacific Ocean, a region that encompasses Indonesia to the west and
French Polynesia to the extreme east, is losing 3168 square kilometres
of coral cover each year. Translated to island language, that’s equivalent
to losing 450 rugby fields a year. Put another way, this vast region lost
two percent of its corals in the eight years between 1995 and 2003. Compare
that with the net annual
loss of rainforest worldwide at 0.4%. These figures were shared at a recent
regional environmental forum in Fiji by the coral reef management officer
at the Secretariat of the Pacific
Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Caroline Vieux....“The
2008 Pacific Year of the Reef campaign is a regional initiative to incite
action to save the Pacific’s coral reefs,” explains SPREP’s
official webpage www.sprep.org. “The goal of the PYOR campaign is
to encourage Pacific islanders to take action to reverse the current degradation
of their coral reefs
and build their resilience to natural stresses such as climate change. “The
campaign is part of the International Year of the Reef that aims to raise
awareness of the value and importance of coral reefs and
threats to their sustainability and motivate people to take action to
protect them. “Coral reefs play critical roles as providers of Pacific
islanders’ livelihoods
and cultures and protectors of our islands. “Their conservation is
key to the sustainable development of our region.” ...more
Views
from Auckland: WHEN ECOLOGICAL GENOCIDE HAPPENS, THE BLOOD WILL BE
ON RICH NATIONS' HANDS
islands Business - 3 April 2008
There can be no two ways of looking at this: there is simply no argument
against human rights violations by pollution of the environment not being
seen in the same light as human rights violations from the political/ governmental/
administrative angle. There is simply no justification for glossing over
violations that could have such far reaching consequences on entire populations...Speaking
at a public function last month, Queen Elizabeth said that those who pollute
the least suffer the most. In our context here in the
Pacific, There is no better illustration of this than the humble, utterly
powerless Pacific Islander –particularly from the atoll nations
and low lying islands....more
We
Say: 2008-Year of Sanitation
islands Business - 3 April 2008
'The importance of sanitation cannot be overstated because of the impact
the lack of it can have on public health.'
One of the growing problems that insular environments like the islands
have had to contend with but one that does not get the attention
it deserves is that of the disposal of waste of all kinds. Natural growth
in populations, national economies and importantly, the growth in tourism –the
cornerstone of the economy of many island nations—has meant ever
increasing volumes of waste being generated in the islands and their
immediate littoral environments. Over the past few years, almost all
the Pacific
Islands have had to struggle with waste disposal issues, which have been
particularly pronounced
in the case of more densely populated islands like Fiji and Kiribati....more
Conference
announcement: BioEd 2009 [12-16 Feb 2009 Christchurch, New Zealand]
Contributed by Gilliane Brodie - 3 April 2008
"As we enter the anniversary of 200 years since the birth of Charles Darwin
and 150 years since the publishing of his book "On the Origin of Species",
it is timely to consider and reflect on the impact of this contribution,
as well as findings from more recent studies that have investigated the
origins and evolutionary relationships of organisms, genes and genomes.
BioED09 will bring together scientists and educators from across the world
to discuss the science and teaching of evolution, including its
contribution towards current understanding of: the Origins of life, people
and their languages, Biodiversity and its conservation in a time of change,
Origins, evolution and the spread of disease..." find
out more [http://awcmee.massey.ac.nz/IUBS_BioEd_2009/index.htm]
Island Wide Marine Debris Clean-Up [Palau]
Contributed by Kliu Basilius
- 3 April 2008
The Council of Chiefs, State Youth and the Earth Day 2008 Committee collaborate
to help rid our beautiful coasts of trash that are blatantly discarded along
our roads and coastal areas. This past Saturday (March 29) the youths of Melekeok
- Ngara Mecherocher and Ngiwal - Elementary school children began cleaning up
their coastlines and mangrove areas of trash. Melekeok collected 2,189 lbs. of
trash, a total of 133 trash bags and Ngiwal totaled 991 lbs. with a total of
69 bags with half of their state done and its completion hoped for the weekend.
Ngardmau and Ngchesar are scheduled to start their marine debris clean up this
Saturday (April 5) and Peliliu is scheduled for April 11. We hope that the rest
of the states will soon follow suit in this effort. The Earth Day 2008 Committee
joins the Council of Chiefs and State Youth as part of their campaign to spread
and promote awareness on the fragility of our island environment and that our
future livelihood is dependent on its preservation. The Earth Day theme for Palau
is “Change … One Step at a Time” coinciding with the international
community in fighting against Climate Change. We call every man, woman and child
to take those individual steps and make a change.
SOLOMONS'
MALAITA SHOWING EFFECTS OF RISING SEA: Minister cites coastal
erosion,
salt water intrusion
PI Report - 2 April 2008
Minister for Environment, Conservation and Meteorology Gordon Darcy Lilo
confirms that effects of global warming are now evident in Solomon Islands.
Speaking in Parliament last week, Mr. Lilo said the effects include coastal
erosion, inundation and salt water intrusion of Fanalei and
Walande Islands in Malaita Province and the sinking of Hakupa Island
in Ontong Java, also in Malaita Province. Mr. Lilo said climate change
will affect Solomon Islands in five main areas...more
SOLOMONS
WESTERN PROVINCE FORBIDS DOLPHIN EXPORT: Premier says the marine
animals will remain free
PI Report - 2 April 2008
The International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute is
thanking Mr. Alex Lokopio, Premier of the Western Province of the Solomon
Islands, for rejecting the capture and export of live dolphins. Mr. Alex
Lokopio, Premier, stated that no dolphins would be caught and no dolphins
would be exported; instead, he said, the dolphins of
the Western Provinces of the Solomon Islands would remain free...more
Indigenous
peoples hardest hit by climate change describe impacts
EurekaAlert - 2 April 2008
Indigenous peoples have contributed the least to world greenhouse gas
emissions and have the smallest ecological footprints on Earth. Yet they
suffer the worst impacts not only of climate change, but also from some
of the international mitigation measures being taken, according to organizers
of a United Nations University co-hosted meeting April 3 in Darwin, Australia.
Impacts of climate change on indigenous people worldwide include:
-
In tropical and sub-tropical areas, an increase in diseases associated
with higher temperatures and vector-borne and water-borne diseases
like cholera, malaria and dengue fever;
- Worsening drought conditions and desertification, leading to more
forest fires that disrupt subsistence agriculture, hunting and gathering
livelihoods, as well as serious biodiversity loss;
- Distinct changes in the seasonal appearance of birds, the blooming of flowers, etc. These now occur earlier or are decoupled from the customary season or weather patterns;
- In arid and semi-arid lands: excessive rainfall and prolonged droughts, resulting in dust storms that damage grasslands, seedlings, other crops and livestock;
- In the Arctic, stronger waves, thawing permafrost and melting mountain glaciers and sea-ice, bringing coastal and riverbank erosion;
- Smaller animal populations and the introduction of new marine species due to changing animal travel and migration routes;
- In Boreal Forests, new types of insects and longer-living endemic insects (e.g. spruce beetles) that destroy trees and other vegetation;
- In coastal regions and small-island states, erosion, stronger hurricanes and typhoons, leading to the loss of freshwater supplies, land, mangrove forests and dislocation (environmental refugees);
- Increasing food insecurity due to declining fish populations and coral bleaching;
- Crop damaging pest infestations (e.g. locusts, rats, spruce beetles, etc.), and increasing food costs due to competition with the demand for biofuels;
- Extreme and unprecedented cold spells resulting in health problems (e.g. hypothermia, bronchitis, and pneumonia, especially for the old and young).
.. more ... *(Papers / documentation are available online at http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/EGM_CS08.html). See in particular 'Effects of Climate Change on Indigenous Peoples: a Pacific perspective'
Whale
Watching Brings Millions To Pacific
Scoop - 2 April 2008
Whale and dolphin watching is one of the fastest growing
industries in the Pacific Island region. According to a new IFAW
report
released today at the opening of the first meeting of Pacific
Island region whale watching industry leaders, the industry is
growing at 45 per cent and worth US$21 million annually to the
region...The three day Pacific Islands Working Group on Whale
and Dolphin Watching workshop is being conducted by IFAW, the
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
and Operation Cétacés with support
from the Australian Government and Fonds Francais Environment
Mondial. The workshop brings governments and whale watching industry
representatives together to develop region wide whale watching
guidelines to minimize potential impacts on the animals and maximize
the educational value...more
Articles
of note - a selection of recent academic literature
Compiled by Peter Murgatroyd . Articles marked with an * are available
from the SPREP
IRC or via OARE
[Online Access
to Research in the Environment].
- May 2008
Tropical Island Ecosystems and Sustainable Development. Pacific Science , Jul2008: Vol. 62, No. 3 pp. i–ii *
Biodiversity Research on Coral Reef and Island Ecosystems: Scientific Cooperation in the Pacific Region / Tsuchiya, Makoto; Galzin, René; Davies, Neil. Pacific Science, Jul2008, Vol. 62 Issue 3, p299-301, 3p *
Pacific Island Forests: Successionally Impoverished and Now Threatened to Be Overgrown by Aliens? / Mueller-Dombois, Dieter. Pacific Science, Jul2008, Vol. 62 Issue 3, p303-308, 6p *
Biogeography of the Decapod and Stomatopod Crustacea of the Tropical Pacific: Issues and Prospects / Poupin, Joseph. Pacific Science, Jul2008, Vol. 62 Issue 3, p377-383, 7p, 2 graphs, 1 map *
A Framework for Assessing Impacts of Marine Protected Areas in Moorea (French Polynesia) / Lison de Loma, Thierry; Osenberg, Craig W.; Shima, Jeffrey S.; Chancerelle, Yannick; Davies, Neil; Brooks, Andrew J.; Galzin, René. Pacific Science, Jul2008, Vol. 62 Issue 3, p431-441, 11p, 2 charts, 3 graphs, 1 map *
Heavy metal pollution in Suva harbour sediments, Fiji / Maata, M.; Singh, S.. Environmental Chemistry Letters, Jun2008, Vol. 6 Issue 2, p113-118, 6p; DOI: 10.1007/s10311-007-0122-1 *
Baselines and degradation of coral reefs in the northern Line Islands / Sandin, SA, JE Smith, EE DeMartini, EA Dinsdale, SD Donner, AM Friedlander, T Konotchick, M Malay, JE Maragos, D Obura, O Pantos, G Paulay, M Richie, F Rohwer, RE Schroeder, S Walsh, JBC Jackson, N Knowlton, E Sala (2008). PLoS ONE 3(2): e1548. http://www.plosone.org/doi/pone.0001548 *
Microbial ecology of four coral atolls in the northern Line Islands / Dinsdale, EA, O Pantos, S Smriga, RA Edwards, F Angly, D Hall, E Brown, M Haynes, L Krause, E Sala, SA Sandin, R Vega Thurber, BL Willis, F Azam, N Knowlton, F Rohwer (2008). PLoS ONE 3(2): e1584. http://www.plosone.org/doi/pone.0001584 *
- April 2008
Land use change and population growth in the Morobe Province of Papua New Guinea between 1975 and 2000 / Ningal, T; Hartemink, AE; Bregt, AK . Journal of Environmental Management [J. Environ. Manage.]. Vol. 87, no. 1, pp. 117-124. Apr 2008. *
Remote sensing of native and invasive species in Hawaiian forests / Asner, Gregory P.; Jones, Matthew O.; Martin, Roberta E.; Knapp, David E.; Hughes, R. Flint. Remote Sensing of Environment, May2008, Vol. 112 Issue 5, p1912-1926, 15p *
Dietary shift of an invasive predator: rats, seabirds and sea turtles / Caut, Stéphane; Angulo, Elena; Courchamp, Franck. Journal of Applied Ecology, Apr2008, Vol. 45 Issue 2, p428-437, 10p *
A non-native invasive grass increases soil carbon flux in a Hawaiian tropical dry forest / LITTON, CREIGHTON M.; SANDQUIST, DARREN R.; CORDELL, SUSAN. Global Change Biology, Apr2008, Vol. 14 Issue 4, p726-739, 14p *
Arsenic speciation in marine fish and shellfish from American Samoa / Peshut, PJ; Morrison, RJ; Brooks, BA. Chemosphere [Chemosphere]. Vol. 71, no. 3, pp. 484-492. Mar 2008. *
Mangrove crab (Scylla serrata) populations may sometimes be best
managed locally /
Ewel, KC.
Journal of Sea Research [J. Sea Res.]. Vol. 59, no. 1-2, pp. 114-120.
Feb 2008. *
Invasive species detection in Hawaiian rainforests using airborne imaging spectroscopy and LiDAR / Asner, Gregory P.; Knapp, David E.; Kennedy-Bowdoin, Ty; Jones, Matthew O.; Martin, Roberta E.; Boardman, Joseph; Hughes, R. Flint. Remote Sensing of Environment, May2008, Vol. 112 Issue 5, p1942-1955, 14p *
The effects of temperature on the growth of juvenile scleractinian corals / Edmunds, Peter J.. Marine Biology, Apr2008, Vol. 154 Issue 1, p153-162, 10p, 1 chart, 3 graphs *
Comments on “Using Bayesian state-space modelling to assess the recovery and harvest potential of the Hawaiian green sea turtle stock” / Snover, Melissa L.. Ecological Modelling, Apr2008, Vol. 212 Issue 3/4, p545-549, 5p *
Population dynamics and environmental conditions affecting Trichodesmium spp. (filamentous cyanobacteria) blooms in the south–west lagoon of New Caledonia. / Rodier, Martine; Le Borgne, Robert. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology & Ecology, Apr2008, Vol. 358 Issue 1, p20-32, 13p *
Bikini Atoll coral biodiversity resilience five decades after nuclear testing / Zoe T. Richards , Maria Begerd, Silvia Pincae, and Carden C. Wallacea. Marine Pollution Bulletin . Volume 56, Issue 3, March 2008, Pages 503-515 *
Systematics of the extinct reed warblers Acrocephalus of the Society Islands of eastern Polynesia / CIBOIS, ALICE; THIBAULT, JEAN-CLAUDE; PASQUET, ERIC. Ibis, Volume 150, Number 2, April 2008 , pp. 365-376(12).
Sunscreens Cause Coral Bleaching by Promoting Viral Infections / Environ Health Perspect 116:441–447 (2008) . doi:10.1289/ehp.10966 available via http://dx.doi.org/ *
Distribution and abundance of the dugong in New Caledonia, southwest Pacific / Garrigue, Claire; Patenaude, Nathalie; Marsh, Helene. Marine Mammal Science, Volume 24, Number 1, January 2008 , pp. 81-90(10)
- March 2008
The Bali Road Map A First Step on the Difficult Journey to a Post-Kyoto Protocol Agreement / Clémençon, Raymond. Journal of Environment & Development; Mar2008, Vol. 17 Issue 1, p70-94, 25p, 1 chart *
Local Approaches to the Protection of Biological Diversity: The Role of Customary Law in Community Based Conservation in the South Pacific / Erika Techera. Macquarie Law Working Paper No. 2007-2 [ download ] *
Protected Area Management in Vanuatu / Erika Techera. Macquarie Journal of International and Comparative Environmental Law, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 107-119, 2005 [ download ] *
Potential Implications of Climate Change for the Coastal Resources of Pacific Island Developing Countries and Potential Legal and Policy Responses / William C. G. Burns. Harvard Asia-Pacific Review, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 4-7, 2006 [download] *
Climate Change: National & Regional Security Threat Multiplier for Australia / JASON D. SÖDERBLOM . Security Solutions, No. 52, pp. 58-68, March/April 2008 [ download ] *
Land, conflict and community forestry in Fiji /
Murti, R; Boydell, S
Management of Environmental Quality [Manage. Environ. Qual.]. Vol. 19,
no. 1, pp. 6-19. 2008.
Sediment delivery from the Fly River tidally dominated delta to the nearshore marine environment and the impact of el Nino / Ogston, Andrea S; Sternberg, Richard W; Nittrouer, Charles A; Martin, DPreston; Goni, Miguel A; Crockett, John S Journal of Geophysical Research. F. Earth Surface [J. Geophys. Res. (F Earth Surf.)]. Vol. 113, no. 1, [np]. Feb 2008.
Biology and Impacts of Pacific Island Invasive Species. 4. Verbesina encelioides, Golden Crownbeard (Magnoliopsida: Asteraceae). By: Feenstra, Kathleen R.; Clements, David R.. Pacific Science, Apr2008, Vol. 62 Issue 2, p161-176, 16p; (AN 30006075) *
Stability of reef framework and post settlement mortality as the structuring factor for recovery of Malakal Bay Reef, Palau, Micronesia: 25 years after a severe COTS outbreak. By: Victor, Steven. Estuarine Coastal & Shelf Science, Mar2008, Vol. 77 Issue 1, p175-180, 6p; DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2007.09.009; (AN 30066931) *
Subsistence harvest of coral reef resources in the outer islands of American Samoa: Modern, historic and prehistoric catches. By: Craig, P.; Green, A.; Tuilagi, F.. Fisheries Research, Mar2008, Vol. 89 Issue 3, p230-240, 11p; DOI: 10.1016/j.fishres.2007.08.018; (AN 30016798) *
Encouraging outlook for recovery of a once severely exploited marine megaherbivore. By: Chaloupka, Milani; Bjorndal, Karen A.; Balazs, George H.; Bolten, Alan B.; Ehrhart, Llewellyn M.; Limpus, Colin J.; Suganuma, Hiroyuki; Troëng, Sebastian; Yamaguchi, Manami. Global Ecology & Biogeography, Mar2008, Vol. 17 Issue 2, p297-304, 8p, 1 chart, 2 graphs; DOI: 10.1111/j.1466-8238.2007.00367.x; (AN 28807648) *
Land use change and population growth in the Morobe Province of Papua New Guinea between 1975 and 2000 By: Ningal, Tine; Hartemink, A.E.; Bregt, A.K.. Journal of Environmental Management, Apr2008, Vol. 87 Issue 1, p117-124, 8p; DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2007.01.006; (AN 29370750) *
Exploiting Macrofauna Diadromy for Assessing Anthropogenic Impact in American Samoa Streams. By: Wade, L. M.; Fanolua, F. S.; Vargo, A. M.; van Houte-Howes, K.; Bardi, E.; Vargo, D. L.. Pacific Science, Apr2008, Vol. 62 Issue 2, p177-190, 14p; (AN 30006076) *
A Comparison of Immature Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) Diets among Seven Sites in the Main Hawaiian Islands. By: Arthur, Karen E.; Balazs, George H.. Pacific Science, Apr2008, Vol. 62 Issue 2, p205-217, 13p; (AN 30006078) *
Relative Abundance and Distribution of Mariana Swiftlets (Aves: Apodidae) in the Northern Mariana Islands. By: Cruz, Justine B.; Kremer, Shelly R.; Martin, Gayle; Williams, Laura L.; Camacho, Vicente A.. Pacific Science, Apr2008, Vol. 62 Issue 2, p233-246, 14p; (AN 30006080) *
Evolutionary Lineages in Emballonura and Mosia Bats (Mammalia: Microchiroptera) from the Southwestern Pacific / D. J. Colgan,and S. Soheili. Pacific Science (2008), vol. 62, no. 2:219–232 *
New Small-Bodied Species of Bavayia (Reptilia: Squamata: Diplodactylidae) from Southeastern New Caledonia. By: Bauer, Aaron M.; Jackman, Todd R.; Sadlier, Ross A.; Shea, Glenn; Whitaker, Anthony H.. Pacific Science, Apr2008, Vol. 62 Issue 2, p247-256, 10p; (AN 30006081) *
Additional Marine Benthic Algae from Howland and Baker Islands, Central Pacific. By: Tsuda, Roy T.; Vroom, Peter S.; Abbott, Isabella A.; Fisher, Jack R.; Foster, Kevin B.. Pacific Science, Apr2008, Vol. 62 Issue 2, p271-290, 20p; (AN 30006083) *
Ocean's least productive waters are expanding / Polovina J. J., E. A. Howell, M. Abecassis (2008), , GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 35, L03618, doi:10.1029/2007GL031745, 2008
* see also Latest
news from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
[SPREP]
** more PEIN Resources:
Pacific Environment Databases and Recommended Internet Resources Directory
Pacific Environment Information Network [PEIN] Country Profiles Directory
Pacific Environment Information Network [PEIN] Regional Frameworks and Strategies DirectoryPacific Environment Information Network [PEIN]
Directory of Pacific Environment Videos on YouTube
Compiled
by Peter Murgatroyd. Last updated 8 May 2008.
© SPREP