Marshall Islands flag
Marshall Islands

*Excerpt from 'RMI Country Environmental Analysis [ADB]'
Environmental Concerns and Constraints

Participatory consultations, supported by studies of…

Adaptation Learning Mechanism [climate change adaptation] country profiles
Marshall Islands

Asian Development Bank Country Profiles and Strategies
Marshall Islands

Biodiversity Clearinghouse Mechanism websites
Marshall Islands

Biosafety Profiles [CBD Biosafety Clearinghouse Mechanism]
Marshall Islands

Birdlife [Avifauna] Profiles

see Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World - browsable by country and by individual island within the Pacific region - excellent data source

see also Species profiles [*For the Globally Threatened Birds (those evaluated as Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable), each factsheet contains a summary account, range map and an illustration, plus additional data tables. For Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Near Threatened, Least Concern and Data Deficient species, each contains a concise summary paragraph and some additional data tables.] [Birdlife International]
Marshall Islands

see also Endemic Bird Areas [EBAs] of the Pacific [incl. Aitutaki (secondary area) ; East Caroline Islands ; Fiji ; Gilbert Islands (secondary area) ; Henderson Island ; Mariana Islands ; Marquesas Islands ; Marshall Islands (secondary area) ; Nauru (secondary area) ; Niuafo‘ou (secondary area) ; Niue (secondary area) ; Northern Line Islands (secondary area) ; Palau ; Pitcairn (secondary area) ; Rapa (secondary area) ; Rimatara ; Rotuma (secondary area) ; Samoan Islands ; Society Islands ; Southern Cook Islands ; Tonga (secondary area) ; Tuamotu archipelago ; Wake Island (secondary area) ; Wallis and Futuna (secondary area) ; Yap Islands ] [Birdlife International]

see also Important bird areas of the Pacific [IBAs] (2010) [Birdlife Pacific]

IBA Profiles: 
Marshall islands

IBA Reports:
Marshall islands

* order the complete CD-ROM 'Important bird areas in the Pacific: a compendium' from the SPREP IRC

see also Pacific regional overview [Birdlife International] 
see also Globally Threatened Birds (those evaluated as Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable) of Oceania [Birdlife International]
see also State of the World's birds website and report [Birdlife International] - including Pacific country case studies

Country Climate Profile [UNDP]
* Sourced from the Adaptation Learning Mechanism, a knowledge sharing platform developed by UNDP in partnership with the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the World Bank, and the United Nations Environment Programme.

Pacific Climate Change Portal (NEW)

Earthtrends Thematic Country Profiles [WRI]
Agriculture and food, Biodiversity and protected areas, Climate and atmosphere, Coastal and marine ecosystems, Economics, business and the environment, Energy and resources, Environmental governance and institutions, Forests, grasslands and drylands, Population, health and human well-being, Water resources and freshwater ecosystems.

Ecoregion Profiles [World Wildlife Fund]
Tropical Moist Forests
Eastern Micronesia [Marshall islands, Nauru, Kiribati]

Environment Statistics - Country Snapshots [UN; 2009]
Marshall Islands

Environmental Vulnerability Index - Country Profiles [SOPAC / UNEP]
Marshall Islands

EU Pacific Country Environment Profiles
see also EU Country Partnership Profiles [incl. environment and EDF10 strategies]
Marshall Islands

FAO Country Profiles and Mapping Information System
Marshall Islands

FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Country Profiles 
Marshall Islands

Fishbase Biodiversity Country Profiles (all fish)
Marshall Islands

Fisheries Resources Profiles
Marshall Islands (1992; 300kb),

Forestry Country Profiles 
Forestry Department Country Profiles [FAO] 
Marshall Islands

see also FAO Forest Resource Assessment : Country Reports [2010]
Marshall Islands (2010; 205kb)

see also State of the World's Forests 2007: Asia and the Pacific [FAO] (2008; 1.77mb)
see alsoTropical and subtropical forest profiles prepared by the World Wildlife Fund

Global Biodiversity Information Forum [GBIF] Country Profiles 
Marshall Islands

see also GBIF Google Earth Country Links
Marshall Islands

Global Environment Facility (GEF) Country Profiles
Use the drop down menu to go to the individual profiles - includes GEF-4 Allocation and Utilization , Approved Projects and Projects Under Preparation

Integrated Water Resource Management Profiles [SOPAC]
Marshall Islands

Invasive Species : Country Profiles [ISSG]
Marshall Islands

see also PIER reports on invasive species in Pacific islands:
Micronesia (all)

see also NBII Invasive Species information Node profiles
Marshall Islands

Land-based pollutants inventory for the South Pacific region: Part 2: Regional summary and country profiles [SPREP] (1993; 19mb)

Laws and legislation
SPREP National Laws and Legislation clearinghouse
Marshall Islands

see also the RMIEPA website - Laws and regulations

see also 'Legislative reviews' in Country Reports (below)

Mangrove and Wetlands Profiles [ *from Proceedings of the Pacific Regional Workshop on Mangrove Wetlands Protection and Sustainable Use . SPREP, 2002.]
Marshall Islands (2002; 148kb)

see also: A Directory of Wetlands in Oceania [1993]
see also: Wetlands of the Pacific Island Region (2008; 882kb)
see also: IWMI Global Wetlands - Interactive Web Map Server - includes countries of Oceania 
see also: Wetlands in Oceania - country profiles and wetlands information [UNEP-WCMC] - Marshall Islands

Marine Resource Profiles
Marshall Islands (1992; 300kb)

see also State of Coral Reef Systems
Marshall Islands (2008; 2.58mb)

see also:

The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2008(2008)

The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States:2005(2005; 5.47mb)

see also:

State of the marine environment in the South Pacific Region (1990; 3.48mb)

see also:

Reefbase Country Profiles (coral reefs, reef fish, biodiversity)
Marshall Islands

see also GIS data for corals in the Pacific from Reefbase - browse by country and reef profile
see also GIS data for marine protected areas in the Pacific from Reefbase - browse by country and ecosystem

see also:

NOAA's Coral Reef Information System - Pacific profiles
Marshall Islands

MPA Global Profiles (marine protected areas database)
Marshall Islands

National Communications Support Programme [Climate] Profiles [UNDP]
Marshall Islands

Pacific Biodiversity Information Forum Country Data:
Marshall Islands

Pacific Regional information System - PRISM [SPC]
Environmental and Climate Statistics 
Marshall Islands

Plant Profiles
Marshall Islands

 

Protected Areas

Pacific Islands Protected Areas Portal (NEW)

Protected Planet - Search the World Database on Protected Areas

Protected area profiles in the Marshall Islands

Reefbase GIS data for marine protected areas in the Marshall Islands
see also GIS data for marine protected areas in the Pacific - browse by country and ecosystem

SocMon profiles (Socioeconomic Monitoring Initiative for Coastal Management ) - Pacific
Marshall Islands

Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade 
Marshall Islands

SPREP Country Profiles: Exchange of Information by Members at SPREP Annual Meetings:
- Exchamge of information by Members on National Developments related to Natural Resource Management Priority of the Action Plan [2007]

see Agenda Item 6.1: Country Profiles of the Report and record of the 18th SPREP Meeting of Officials in Apia, Samoa on 11th to 14th September 2007

- Exchange of information by Members on national developments related to Pollution Prevention priority of the SPREP Action Plan [2008]
see Agenda Item 8.6: Country Profiles of the Report and record of the19th SPREP Annual Meeting of Officials in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia on 8–12 September 2008

- Exchange of Information by Members on National Developments Related to the Climate Change Focus Area of the SPREP Action Plan [2009]
see Agenda Item 11.2: Country Profiles of the Report and record of the 20th SPREP Annual Meeting of Officials in Apia, Samoa on 17 - 20 November 2009

- Exchange of Information by Members on Year of Biodiversity [2010]
see Agenda Item 11.3: Country Profiles of the Report and record of the 21st SPREP Meeting of Officials in Madang, Papua New Guinea on 6-10 September 2010
see also individual profiles for: Wallis and Futuna

Sustainable Development Profiles (UN Agenda 21)
Marshall Islands

Threatened species: Summary of species on the 2008 IUCN Red List
Marshall Islands

UNCCD Country Profiles:
Marshall Islands

UNEP Country Profiles [* poorly maintained and little information available]
Marshall Islands

Water Resource Profiles [SOPAC - Pacific water - http://www.pacificwater.org/]
Marshall Islands

WHO Environmental Health Profiles 
Marshall Islands

World Bank Country Profiles [country summary / statistics]
Marshall Islands / Marshall Islands

World Bank Environment indicators
Marshall Islands

World Factbook Country Profiles [CIA]
Marshall Islands

World Ocean Database 2005 [NOAA]
Geographically sorted data for the Pacific Ocean [datasets]

see also Environmental indicators: South Pacific (UNEP: 2004; 6.23mb)
see also Polynesia / Micronesia Biodiversity Hotspot Ecosystem Profile (2007; 1.16mb) 
see also Paciifc Biodiversity Information Forum website and databases

see also Plants and environments of the Marshall Islands

Asian Development Bank Country Environmental Analysis Reports
Marshall Islands (2005; 1.23mb)

Barbados Programme of Action + 10 (BPoA) 
National Assessment Reports: Marshall Islands (2004; 537kb)

Pacific Environment Outlook (2005; 30.99mb)

The Conference on Small Island Developing States (Barbados Conference, 1994) highlighted the importance of island biodiversity as an ecological corridor linking major areas of biodiversity around the world. The conference called for international co-operation and partnership to support the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in their efforts to conserve, protect and restore their ecosystems. The Barbados Plan of Action recognizes the importance of the coastal zone as a source of subsistence and economic development.

Coastal Management National Framework
Marshall Islands (2008; 858kb)

Country Strategy Papers and National Indicative Programmes [European Union - EDF9]
Marshall Islands (2002-2007; 109kb)

Country Strategy Papers and National Indicative Programmes [European Union - EDF10]
Marshall Islands (2008-2013; 2.97mb)

Disasters and Climate Variability in the Pacific Islands: WORLD BANK regional stocktake- Country Assessment:
Marshall Islands (2009; 398kb)

Forestry Reports

see State of Forest and Tree Genetic Resources[* REPORTS PRESENTED AT THE
PACIFIC SUB-REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON FOREST AND TREE GENETIC RESOURCES, 1999]

Marshall Islands (1999, 911kb)

Environmental Law Guidebook (NEW)
Marshall Islands 2015, 3MB (English)
Marshall Islands 2015, 3MB (Marshallese)

Legislative Reviews 
Marshall Islands (1992; 22.5mb)

see also:

Marine turtle legislative reviews:
Marshall Islands (2010; 555kb)

Millenium Development Goals National Reports
Marshall Islands (2005; 621kb)

Pacific Islands Regional MDG - Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability (2004; 324kb)
Pacific Islands Regional MDG Full Report

see also ADB Key Indicators 2006 for progress towards Millenium Development Goal 7: ensuring environmental sustainability (2006)

see also Millenium Ecosystem Assessment Website and Reports

Mauritius Strategy + 5 Review: National Assessment Reports [5-year Review of Progress Made in Addressing Vulnerabilities of Small Islands Developing States Through Implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Further Implementation (MSI) of the
Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA) ] 

Marshall Islands (2010; 61kb)

Montreal Protocol. National Compliance Action Strategies to implement the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
Marshall Islands (2001; 176kb)

National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans (NBSAP)
Marshall Islands (2000; 142kb)

see also National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans: Pacific Regional Review (2007; 269kb)

National Capacity Self Assessment (NCSA)

NCSA Status (NCSA website)
Marshall Islands ,

National Conservation Area Plans
Marshall Islands (2008; 2.83kb)

National Environment Management Strategy (NEMS) 
Marshall Island (Part A) (1993; 8.54mb), Marshall Islands (Part B) (1993; 5.02mb)

National Integrated Water Resource Management : Diagnostic Reports - drafts only [SOPAC]
Marshall Islands (2007; 642kb)

National Invasive Species Strategy
Invasives reports: Micronesia - region(1999; 878kb)

see also Invasive alien species in the Austral-Pacific region: national reports and directory of resources[GISP] (2002; 3.75mb)

see also Invasives Species on Pacific Islands [reports] - HEAR / PIER project website

National [Sustainable] Development Plans / Strategies [ForumSec]
Marshall Islands 2003-2018 (2001; 9.43mb)

ADB Reports: Marshall Islands (2004; 461kb)

see also:

SPC Country Joint Country Stategies in support of National Strategies for Sustainable Development :
Marshall Islands

Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change [PACC] - reports, activities and PACC news updates
Marshall Islands

Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change [PACC] - report of in-country consultations 
Marshall Islands (2009; 172kb)

Pacific Regional Energy Assessment: Country Reports (PIREP) 
Marshall Islands (2004; 2.78mb)

Regional overview report (2004; 2.59mb)

Peristant Organic Pollutants (POPs): Country Plans
Marshall Islands (2003; 255kb)

National Implementation Plans (NIPs)
Marshall Islands (2008; 1.79mb)

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (Basel Convention, 1989), the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (Rotterdam Convention, 1998) and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) (Stockholm Convention, 2001) together provide an international framework for the environmentally sound management of hazardous chemicals throughout their life cycles.

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands: Country reports to the RAMSAR CoPs
National Reports submitted to the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (2008)
Marshall islands (2008; 187kb)

Sea Level & Climate: their present state: Country reports
Marshall Islands (2006; 2.08mb)

see also:

Climate Change Strategic Plans
Marshall Islands (2006; 251kb)

Ships' Waste Management in Pacific Islands Ports: Country reports
Marshall Islands

State of the Environment Reports
Marshall Islands (1993; 8.54mb)

see also State of the Environment of the South Pacific 1983 (UNEP: 1983; 1.66mb)
see also State of the marine environment in the South Pacific Region (1990; 3.48mb)
see also State of the Environment of the South Pacific 2005 (2005; 382kb; see also ~ http://www.unescap.org/esd/environment/soe/2005/mainpub/ ~) 
see also Regional perspectives: Asia and the Pacific (UNEP, GEO-4. 2007; 382 kb)

United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED: Brazil, 1992)
Country Reports : Marshall Islands (1992; 2.01MB)

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, 1992) and the Rio Declaration highlighted the need for sustainable development-socially responsible economic development that protects the resource base and the environment for the benefit of future generations. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which was one of the outcome instruments of the UNCED process, also highlights the need for conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)
National Reports: Marshall Islands 1 (1997; 40kb), Marshall Islands 2 (2001 ; 286kb)

see also Country profiles compiled by the Secretariat for the UNCBD.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which was one of the outcome instruments of the UNCED process, highlights the need for conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (Land Degradation) (UNCCD)
Second National Report: Marshall Islands (2002; 170kb)

see also UNCCD Country Profiles:
Marshall Islands

see also UNCCD Reports clearinghouse mechanism

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is an agreement to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
(i) National Communications and In-depth Reviews
Marshall islands (2000; 1.91mb)

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC,1992) is concerned with global warming and the consequent rise in sea levels that may result in the flooding of coastal areas, and submerging islands, which could adversely affect coastal communities. The treaty aims at reducing emissions of greenhouse gas in order to combat global warming. Although the treaty as originally framed set no mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions for individual nations and contained no enforcement provisions; it did include provisions for updates (called "protocols") that would set mandatory emission limits. The principal update is the Kyoto Protocol.

World Summit on Sustainable Development [Rio+10 - Johannesburg 2002]

National Assessment Reports: 
Marshall Islands (2002; 301kb)

Pacific WSSD Regional Assessment (2002; 91kb) and Pacific Position Paper (2004; 91kb)
see also: Synthesis Report for Asia and the Pacific (2001; 1.22mb)

The WSSD Plan of Implementation calls for the management of the natural resources base in a sustainable and integrated manner. In this regard, to reverse the current trend in natural resource degradation as soon as possible, it is necessary to implement strategies which should include targets adopted at the national and, where appropriate, regional levels to protect ecosystems and to achieve integrated management of land, water and living resources, while strengthening regional, national and local capacities.

The Johannesburg Declaration and the Plan of Implementation arising from the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD, 2002) reconfirmed the commitment of States to advance and strengthen the interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development-economic development, social development and environmental protection-at the local, national, regional and global levels.

Marshall Islands Govt. - Biodiversity Clearinghouse; Office of Environmental Planning and Policy Coordination (OEPPC); Marshall Islands Meteorological Office ; Environmental Protection Authority
RMIEPA
 (incl. RMIEPA website - Laws and regulations)

Marshall Islands Climate Change website

Marshall Islands Conservation Society [MICS]

Marshall Islands Economic Planning and Statistics Office - Publications and Reports - Environment Statistics

Micronesia Challenge

Micronesian Seminar

Plants and environments of the Marshall Islands 
Detailed website with excellent photographs and narration. Inspired by the the book Plants and Environments of the Marshall Islands.

see also:

The Pacific Environment Information Network [PEIN] Regional Frameworks and Strategies Directory [SPREP]

SPREP Library and IRC collection [SLIC] - includes online full text access to a wide range of Pacific environment materials.

The Pacific Environment Information Network [PEIN] Virtual Library - full text publications from SPREP, SOPAC, SPC and other CROP agencies, Pacific govt. environment depts. , regional institutions, and NGOs active in the area of environment conservation.

Pacific Environment Databases and Recommended Internet Resources

see also:

SPREP's International Instruments' webpage
"International instruments relevant to SPREP's work in the areas of Sustainable Economic Development, Ecosystems Management, Climate Change, and Waste Management."

Academic literature and research

via Google Scholar