This dataset contains preliminary impact assessments of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcanic eruption and induced tsunami in January 2022.
The eruptions sent a plume of ash, gas and steam 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) into the air. Satellite imagery showed a massive ash cloud and shockwaves spreading from the eruption. Ash was falling from the sky in the Tonga capital, Nuku'alofa, Saturday evening and phone connections were down. The eruption was likely the biggest recorded anywhere on the planet in more than 30 years, according to experts.
Ministry of Agriculture's entomologist, Mr. Mike Bowie, has sought to raise awareness on various insect species in the Cook Islands, including their features, size, and recommendations on pest control for some of the species. Hence, the release of the Bug of the Week.
Credit for these resources: Mike Bowie, Cook Islands Ministry of Agriculture.
For more information, contact Ministry of Agriculture on +682 28711
PNG's forest cover loss 2000-2017 downloaded from [www.globalforestwatch.org](https://www.globalforestwatch.org/)
From 2001 to 2017, Papua New Guinea lost 1.28Mha of tree cover, equivalent to a 3.0% decrease since 2000, and 158Mt of CO₂ of emissions.
The island of New Guinea harbours one of the world’s largest tracts of intact tropical forest, with 41% of its land
The Protected Area Forum's (PAF) outcome is that the forum will enable protected area practitioners, researchers, academics, private sector, potential donors and local communities who manage or support protected areas in PNG, to share their experiences, insights and any lessons learnt in relation to factors impacting protected areas. It will identify and formulate national priorities for effective protected area management in the country. The results of the forum will contribute to the implementation of the Protected Area Policy.
The Government of the Cook Islands has developed this National Spill Contingency
Plan (NATPLAN) as part of its commitment to protecting our valuable natural resources
and environment from the threat of pollution incidents.
NATPLAN has been developed to reflect the essential steps necessary to initiate,
conduct and terminate an emergency spill response on, or into the navigable waters of
the Cook Islands, on the adjoining shorelines, the waters of the contiguous zone or into
waters of the exclusive economic zone.
Online only
Since the early 1990s the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has been promoting the use of environmental planning and assessment processes amongst its member countries and territories. SPREP's approach to environmental planning and assessment has been part of a global programme for improving environmental management and supporting sustainable development.
This environmental impact assessment reports on the proposed seawall construction and land development project of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which is to be located at Tabonikabauea in Bairiki, and will be implemented by Kramer Group (Vanuatu) Limited, and local contractors.
1 copy|Also available online
Call Number: VF 7784 [EL]
Physical Description: 35p. : 29cm.
There is an increasing need for sand and gravel for building matericals in Tarawa and on other atolls. However, supplies from overseas are expensive. Furthermore, the mining of local beaches contributes to coastal erosion and lacks sufficient quantities for the current and future requirements. An answer to these problems is to source supplies from the lagoon. A purpose-built vessel capable of dredging lagoon aggregates in Tarawa and further afield is available through a European Union grant.
This document is aligned with the Terms of Reference (TOR) issued by National
Environment Services (NES) for guidance and advice in the preparation of
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Installation of Tanker Moorings and
Construction of a Sub-sea Pipeline.
The TOR identifies all issues that need to be addressed by the EIA.
Both facilities are for the purpose of conveying petroleum fuels into onshore storage
facilities.
Tanker mooring facilities are located offshore at Areanu Tapere, Avarua District.
An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA) for a proposed coastal reclamation
by Terra Holdings Limited at Kawenu Cove, Fatumaru Bay was prepared by BECON in
September 2011. The EIA Report was submitted to DEPC in October 2011. The Review
Committee met on 4 November 2011 as per section 22 subsections (1) and (2) of the
Environmental Management and Conservation (Amendment) Act No 28 of 2010 and
section 12 (b) of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations Order No of 2011.
Niue is a single raised coral atoll in the South-central Pacific located at latitude 19 S and Longitude 169 W. It is isolated, being approximately 480 kilometre East of Tonga. 930 kilometre west of Rarotonga and 660 kilometre South-East of Samoa.
As of 1969, the scientific community had no general information on the natural history of Namoluk Atoll in the Eastern Caroline Islands of Micronesia. The only significant published source for the atoll was an ethnographic and linguistic account provided by the German physician.
Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are heavily dependent on natural resources and likely to remain so for the near future, making resource management an issue of critical importance for economic development. This chapter employs a simple neoclassical
growth model to diagnose deficiencies in current policy regimes and suggest possible alternatives. Current practices in the exploitation of the regions mineral, tuna, and forest resources are used to illustrate problems and suggest possible policy interventions.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
As part of the Second National Communication Project, Samoa is currently preparing its second inventory of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. This inventory will be prepared in line with the
2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, and will estimate emissions from the four sectors of: 1) Energy. 2) Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU). 3) Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use. and 4) Waste. It is anticipated that the inventory will cover annual GHG emissions for the years 2000 - 2005 inclusive, depending on the availability of data.
Ten caves in the makatea limestone of Mangaia, Cook Islands were explored and mapped, totalling over 3.7 km of passage. Of these, there was an apparent grouping by elevation that corresponds with previously described sea-level terraces in the makatea. Four caves have major level sections 10-20 m above sea-level, corresponding with a 14.5 m Pleistocene terrace. The high dimensions of these caves indicate downcutting during
NEPA requires analysis of the relationship between a project's short-term impacts on the environment and the effects that those impacts may have on the maintenance and enhancement of the long-term productivity of the affected environment. Impacts that narrow the range of beneficial uses of the environment are of particular concern. This means that choosing one option may reduce future flexibility in pursuing other options, or that committing a resource to a certain use may often eliminate the
possibility for other uses of that resource.
Available online
The conservation status, ecology, and cultural importance of sea turtles at the three Polynesian atolls of Tokelau are presented. The green turtle, Chelonia mydas. is the most common species, occurring as a migrant breeder mostly during September through November. The hawks- bill, Eretmochelvs imbricata. is present in small numbers at all three atolls, but nesting is only known at Nukunonu Atoll. A third species, the loggerhead, Caretta caretta. has also been recorded on rare occasions.
Field work conducted by the senior author at Bikini
Atoll, Marshall Islands, in May 1986 yielded twenty-three
species of birds; six of these were documented as nesting
and an additional four species almost certainly nest as
well. Six species were previously unrecorded for Bikini
Atoll, and one of these, the Laughing Gull (Larus
atricilla) was new to Micronesia. The recorded avifauna
for Bikini Atoll now stands at twenty-six species. Major
seabird colonies were located on Aomoen (and other
In 1965 Vostok Island was visited briefly by Sibley and five members of the Pacific Ocean Biological Survey Program (POBSPJ of the Smithsonian Institution. Observations were made from 0900 15 June through 1300 16 June and collections were made of vascular plants, fish, reptiles, birds, mammals, and avian ectoparasites. A small number of seabirds was banded.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 12 Pages