The history of New Guinea started about 130 million years
ago with the break-up of the great southern landmass called
Gondwana. The Australian continental plate then drifted
northwards somewhat isolated from other lands and carrying
a unique collection of plants and animals. The present form of
New Guinea developed as the leading edge of the Australian
plate crumpled on impact with a complex of smaller plates
and volcanic islands near the equator. Much of New Guinea
formed far to the east in the Pacific Ocean before being
The main map shows that higher population densities occur (i) around and inland from major coastal towns, (ii) in the elevated PNG Highlands (H) and the Baliem Valley (B) of Papua, and (iii) along most of the coasts of the mainland and major islands. The distributions of inhabited places and of annual fires reveal that people and their effects are widely dispersed across much of the landscape. However, vast landscapes in the upper catchments of the Mamberamo River (M) in Papua and in parts of the upper Fly River (F) and Sepik River (S) in PNG remain sparsely inhabited.
This report records and presents an account of the Pilot Water Education Project for Samoa executed from the October 2003 to January 2004. Freshwater is not only a resource for human use but also provides important habitats for many native plant and
animal species. Hence, water cannot be isolated but must be seen as one element in a broader ecosystem.
Available online
Call Number: EL
Physical Description: 34 p.
Catchments deterioration
. Low river flows (dry season)
. Frequent flash-flood (wet season)
. Changed river flow patterns over time
. high soil erosion
. turbid & colored water (koko Samoa)
Available online
Call Number: EL
Physical Description: 32 p.
Traditionally, Pacific Island people have lived a subsistence lifestyle with taboos and practices that ensured sustainability of resource use. However, modernization with all its implications has reduced the quality of life with problems affecting the very pillars of sustainable development. There are many disadvantages that derive from small size, a narrow range of resources, excessive dependence on international trade, high population density, over use of natural resources, relatively small watersheds, costly infrastructure, fragile ecosystems and high levels of endemism.
Traditionally, Pacific Island people have lived a subsistence lifestyle with taboos and practices that ensured sustainability of resource use. However, modernization with all its implications has reduced the quality of life with problems affecting the very pillars of sustainable development. There are many disadvantages that derive from small size, a narrow range of resources, excessive dependence on international trade, high population density, over use of natural resources, relatively small watersheds, costly infrastructure, fragile ecosystems and high levels of endemism.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 15 p.
The Millennium Assessment for the Ecosystems was another big step towards the development of studies relative to reef economic value. Chapter 2, thus, offers a standard method to assess ecological services and goods provided by ecosystems that will allow the multiplication of this kind of studies (Millennium Ecological Assessment, 2003). At this time, first semester 2008, economic or socio-economic valuation of coral reefs has become a priority issue for many funding agencies and
Few studies1 have been published on school-based environmental education (EE) in the Pacific islands, and there is little available information on effective initiatives in schools. The key purpose of this study is to review and assess the extent to which EE is being carried out in Pacific Island schools to support ongoing dialogue about environment and sustainable development education at the national, regional and international levels.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 74
One of the greatest challanges we face in protecting our islands biodiversity is how to balance the needs of the people that use it, and the future of the environment. There are many reasons why the Pacific islands way of life is endangered, it is
necessary to address these threats, all of them. Understand ing their causes will help to stop them, if it is possible or to change or adapt our way of life. It is necessary to focus on long term sustainability strategies, but in the mean time develop and carry out short term projects to address the immediate needs of our islands.
Mangroves are trees that live halfway between land and sea. This is what makes them special; as for most plants salt water is deadly. Mangroves are among the few trees that can grow in seawater and in places where the seawater mixes with the fresh water from the land.
In Samoa, most of the mangroves grow in areas protected by coral reefs. They are found in coastal areas, especially in river estuaries - the wide lower part of a river's lower end
where it meets the sea.
Available online
Call Number: 375.00830095 FAA [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.
The plan is designed to guide work in Pacific islands countries and territories over the next five years. In developing this plan, the experts representing the Pacific countries and territories sought to ensure that the plan would reflect the special circumstances which impact on implementation of the World Heritage Convention in region and in their respective countries.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 26 p.
Land, seascapes and natural resources are increasingly being set aside for
protection in response to various drivers: to tackle biodiversity loss, to prevent
deforestation as a climate change mitigation strategy, to restore declining fisheries.
Within the biodiversity conservation sector, the impacts (positive or negative)
of protected areas on local and indigenous communities have generated a lot
of debate and discussions and this discussion is escalating as other protection
Museums, libraries and archives carry collections of photographs, sound-recordings, films and manuscripts that document indigenous peoples and traditional communities lives, cultural expressions and knowledge systems. A new awareness has emerged of indigenous peoples and traditional communities interests in owning, controlling and accessing this documentation. Importantly, this has led to recognition that the management of access and use of collections raises a number of challenges for museums, libraries and archives.
The goal of the Childrens Perception of the Environment Toolkit is to help children living in coastal and island environments in Asia to become responsible stewards of the environment through a better understanding of coastal and marine ecosystems. The Toolkit also seeks to improve understanding of how coastal and marine ecosystems can be managed in order to create a more sustainable human economy.
In key organizations that experts and institutions in various fields involved in cultural heritage international cooperation to participate, the Secretariat National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo has entrusted management from the Agency for Cultural Affairs. And at the same time to promote network building and information sharing between the consortium members, we have a research and dissemination and awareness-raising activities related to cultural heritage international cooperation activities
1 copy
Call Number: VF 7147
Sea turtles of today have changed little from their ancient reptilian ancestors that appeared
on earth millions of years ago before humans. For many years, humans have been exploiting
turtles for food and decorative ornaments. In the last 200 years or so, the uncontrollable
harvests of adults and juveniles and turtle eggs have caused sea turtle population worldwide
to drastically decline. The remaining population are critically endangered and very close to
extinction.
Online only
Call Number: [EL]
Linkages of GEF Goals, PNG's Multilateral Environmental Agreements and Sustainable Development Goals which are within the administration of CEPA.
Agriculture s the foundation of and heart of the rural PNG economy with over 85% of its 7.5 million people depending on the sector for their livelihoods. This sector is faced with so many challenges including climate change, lack of access to markets and so on. The access to suitable and timely information and knowledge is also seen to be one of the key drawbacks of agriculture advancement in PNG.