This Review of Environmental Law in the Kingdom of Tonga has been implemented as an important component of the Regional Environment Technical Assistance (RETA) Project. The RETA project has been developed to address environmental issues in a
number of Pacific countries. It has been funded by the Asian Development Bank and carried out with technical assistance from IUCN - the World Conservation Union. The RETA project is an important regional initiative, which reflects the need for careful management of the Pacific environment.
2 copies
The Kingdom of Tonga has previously indicated to SPREP that specialised short term training in reef ecology and the development of coral reef survey and monitoring skills is a priority for their country (Thistlethwaite et al. 1993, SPREP 1995, SPREP 1996). In recognition of the ongoing need for regional capacity building in coral reef survey and monitoring techniques, and to accommodate the particular requests of the Kingdom of Tonga. SPREP sought and received funding from AusAID to run a sub-regional course in Vava'u. Kingdom of Tonga.
The Pacific Islands region is important for a great number of cetaceans (whales and dolphins), whether as a permanent habitat, a breeding ground or a migration corridor. Currently, more
than thirty species of whales and dolphins have been identified in this area.
The presence and diversity of cetaceans in our region has led to the development of whale watching, both on a commercial and recreational basis. Whale watching is defined as viewing
Key findings of the State of Conservation in Oceania 2013. For the 9th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas, SPREP commissioned an assessment of the status of biodiversity and conservation in Oceania. This comprehensive regional report summarises the key findings on the state of conservation in the 22 countries and territories of the Pacific islands region.
3 copies|Also available online|Holds link to the full report
Call Number: VF 7633 [EL],VF 7490
Physical Description: 6p. : ill. (col.) ; 29cm.
This session will analyze participation in nature conservation in the region through a range of lenses related to good governance (including equity, transparency, and accountability), respect for and incorporation of traditional knowledge, and the extent to which participation can be more effective if people achieve tangible benefits to livelihoods, well-being, and sustainable development.
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Physical Description: 59:32
A report on the convention on migratory species for the conservation of cetaceans and their habitats in the Pacific Islands region
Available online
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Physical Description: 24 p.
This Pacific conservation or this Talanoa session is about the State of Environment and Conservation (SOEC) regional report 2020.
The aim of the webinar is to update you, our members and partners about the online resources to support your work in the region. To raise awareness regarding the Pacific SOEC website and to answer your question on what resources available on this website.
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Physical Description: 1:01:14
Invasive species are the primary cause of extinction on islands (IUCN Red List 2020, SPREP 2016, SOCO 2017). Invasive species have been formally identified as a threat for 1,531 species in the Pacific islands region to date (IUCN Red List, 2020). Pacific leaders have established two core regional indicators for invasive species management. Efforts for invasive management are ongoing in almost all Pacific island countries and territories.
The Pacific Islands region that is served by SPREP covers 32 million km2 and is in
the middle of the largest continuous marine habitat on the planet, the Pacific Ocean.
This region is home to a diverse range of large marine animals, including cetaceans,
sirenians and marine turtles. Over half of the world’s known species of cetaceans are
found in the region. The area also supports the world’s largest remaining populations
of dugongs, and green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles.
Available online
Pacific islands are hotspots of unique biodiversity. Our ancestral traditions are linked
to nature. However, these traditions, the natural environment, and biodiversity are
threatened by changing global and regional environmental pressures, ecological
degradation, growing human populations, changing demands of our societies, and the
impacts of climate change and sea level rise.
Call Number: [EL],333.720961 STA
ISBN/ISSN: 978-982-04-0905-7,978-982-04-0906-4
Physical Description: 156 p. 29 cm.
Here, hazardous waste is defined according to the Basel and Waigani Conventions, with categories listed in Basel Convention Annex I, Annex II and characteristics in Annex III. These include wastes that are explosive, flammable or prone to spontaneous combustion, poisonous or toxic, and infectious, among other characteristics.
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Physical Description: 4 p.
The regionally endorsed Cleaner Pacific 2025 strategy set a target for the performance indicator Per capita generation of municipal solid waste of 1.3 kilograms or less per person per day by 2020.
The full range of wildlife use in the Pacific islands region is outside of the scope of the present indicator. Many wildlife species are used in modern Pacific societies, on land, at sea, and in coastal areas. Wildlife is used for subsistence, traditional ritual, and in a range of industries, including the aquarium and seashell trade, decorative arts, agrifood, tourism, pet trade, and more
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Physical Description: 10 p.
To formally launch the second phase of the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management (BIOPAMA) programme, a regional inception workshop for the Pacific was held at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, Apia, Samoa from 11th to 15th June 2018. The aim of the inception workshop was to ensure that all 15 countries in the Pacific ACP Group of States were engaged for the second phase of BIOPAMA. The working title of the workshop was Regional Workshop on Improving Information and Capacity for More Effective Protected Area Management and Governance in the Pacific.
The number of multilateral environment agreements (MEAs) varies by country, with at least 20 MEAs for the Pacific islands region. Pacific leaders have adopted the
Convention on Biological Diversity with its Aichi Targets
(2011–2020), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and several other global, regional, and national commitments that rely on resourced environmental management.
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Physical Description: 4 p.
The Pacific island region has diverse wetlands, such as
the classic coastal ecosystems of mangrove forests, salt marshes, coral reefs, and seagrass beds along with rivers, freshwater lakes, and swamps (SPREP 2016). However, these wetlands are understudied. Land-use change and environmental change can alter the areal extent and condition of wetlands, and the pace of these changes vary among Pacific islands.
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Physical Description: 4 p.
Ozone depleting substances (ODS) are considered hazardous waste s due to the impacts of ozone destruction on people, ecosystems, and species. For more about other hazardous wastes, please see Regional Indicator: Hazardous waste.
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Physical Description: 2 p.
Island biodiversity continues to be extremely vulnerable, and 47% of the known threatened Pacific species are declining towards extinction. Pacific island species have high levels of endemism combined with small land areas and therefore limited habitat. Habitat change, naiveté to predation by introduced animals, vulnerability to invasive species-driven changes, pollution, and climate change combine to influence
the abundance and population structure of Pacific biodiversity.
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Physical Description: 6 p.
Long timescales, uncertainties, and the multi-faceted nature of climate change adaptation makes monitoring progress in this field inherently challenging; there is no simple way to determine how well prepared we are for current and future climate change impacts. This contrasts with climate change mitigation, for which greenhouse gas emissions can be considered a universal indicator, and there are clear guidelines for preparing and analysing greenhouse gas inventories.
Pacific island countries and territories are well placed
to lead in the protection of nature, with customary land tenure and vast expanses of ocean within their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). Establishing protected areas has been used as a key mechanism for countries to conserve their biodiversity around the world and in the Pacific island countries and territories
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Physical Description: 14 p.