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The purpose of this paper is to set out the essential requirements for a successful regional agreement for sea turtles in the South Pacific. To achieve this, the current Regional Marine Turtle Conservation Program (RMTCP)2 which runs under the
auspice of the South Pacific Regional Environmental Program (SPREP) will be juxtaposed against the 'best practice' in this area, as evinced by current development in international environmental law and a number of other regional agreements which focus exclusively on sea turtles.

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The shallow coastal zone of Fiji is comprised of three major, interrelated habitat types: marine algae and seagrass: large areas of mangroves; and extensive coral reefs. The marine resources include approximately 1000 coral reefs with representatives of all major reef types (Vuki et al„ 2000). Although marine biodiversity is lower than the 'coral triangle' of Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and northeastern Australia. Fiji does support approximately 200 species of coral (Veron. 2000).

There is growing scientific and public awareness of the widespread depletion of marine habitat-forming species, such as mangroves, seagrasses, oysters, and corals [e.g., 1,2,3]. This loss inevitably leads to the decline of the plants and animals that live in the biogenic structures created by such foundation species, and contributes to the overall degradation of marine ecosystems [4]. For example, the reduction of coral cover on tropical coral reefs directly and rapidly causes a decline in the abundance and diversity of reef fish through the loss of structural heterogeneity [5,6].

The maintenance and enhancement of arboreal biodiversity, especially forest and tree genetic resources, is vital for sustainable development in the Pacific Islands. For Pacific peoples, their forest and tree genetic resources are not just a matter of scientific, economic (in monetary terms), recreational or ecological value. They are a capital inheritance that, until recent times, was passed on, relatively intact or in some cases enhanced, by past generations to current generations.

The Convention on Biological Diversity CBD recognises that humans are a major force in changing nature. Vast parts of the earth's surface are transformed to meet human needs and wants for agricultural production, water, energy, urbanisation, construction, tourism, transport and industry. In the process humans are causing threats to and massive extinction of

The community based conservation (CBC)paradigm predicts that sustainable biodiversity can only be achieved if local people perceive benefits from conservation. Through interviews,

The Marshall Islands are critically dependent on the health of their coral reefs: every rock and sand grain on the islands are the remains of coral reef organisms. Only actively growing coral reefs can protect the islands against ocean waves and global sea level rise, and provide fish to feed the people. These crucial services are rapidly deteriorating because global warming is

Solomon Islands consists of many islands extending over 1,400 kilometers of ocean in the western equatorial Pacific
between 5 and 13 degrees south and 155 and 158 degrees east. It has an estimated total land area of 29,000 square
kilometers, a 12 mile territorial sea and approximately 1.3 million square kilometers of ocean within its 200 mile

Solomon Islanders rely heavily on marine resources and have one of the highest per capita rates of seafood consumption in the world. In 1982, the national average annual consumption of fish per person was estimated to be 25.7 kg, ranging from <10 kg in rural Guadalcanal and San Cristobal, to 54 kg in the Western Province (Cook, 1988). Another survey conducted in Honiara in 1992, found that 31 per cent of households consumed fresh fish each day and that 82.4 per cent of meals containing animal protein were based on fish.

New Zealand's geographic isolation and long period without human habitation allowed a unique natural environment to flourish. Our
environment is known for the richness of its biodiversity, with more than 80,000 native animal, plant, and fungus species. As a result of New Zealand's isolation, much of our flora and fauna are not found anywhere else on earth.

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Call Number: 333.7 ENV [EL]

ISBN/ISSN: 978-0-478-30194-6

Physical Description: 74 p. ; 29 cm

In summary, the coast is part of an emergent, Holocene reef-carbonate system, with the beach being comprised entirely of carbonate sediments developed on phosphate-rich, cavernous, dolomite limestone bedrock. The coastline is partly rocky with classic karst limestone pinnacles found throughout the bay. The reef is a coral dominated system and is narrow and well-flushed, with many closely-spaced reef channels. The coastline at Anibare Bay is an active and dynamic one. The relatively coarse admixture of abraded sand and gravel and highly abraded karts pinnacles testify to this.

American Samoa is a U.S. Territory located approximately 4,200 km south of Hawai'i. It is the southernmost of all U.S. possessions and the only U.S. jurisdiction in the South Pacific. American Samoa comprises seven islands (five volcanic islands and two coral atolls) with a combined land area of approximately 200 km2 . The five volcanic islands, Tutuila, Aunu'u, Ofu, Olosega, and Ta'u, are the major inhabited islands of

The 290 km long Mariana Islands Archipelago encompasses 14 islands of the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), the U.S. Territory of Guam, and numerous offshore banks.

The Republic of the Fiji Islands (Fiji) has generally returned to normalcy after a period of political unrest and uncertainty. Instability over a period of nearly two decades, highlighted by the military coups that occurred in 1987 and again in 2000, has brought into focus the urgent need to achieve peace and security, in order to restore private sector confidence, and to accelerate various proposed public sector reforms needed to promote sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. In 2001, the Government pledged to build a better Fiji.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) uses the country environmental analysis (CEA) as the tool to assist with early incorporation of environmental considerations into the country strategy and program (CSP) for its Developing Member Countries. The CEA provides targeted information necessary for informed decision making on environmental constraints, needs, and opportunities, including those that impinge upon poverty partnership agreements, as appropriate.

Asia-Pacific is a region of contrasts. It has some of the fastest-growing economies of the world while, at the same time, the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) continue to face persistent

There is no shortage of provisions relating to waste management issues in the current laws of Kiribati. While it may be useful to consider the opportunities for recognising the role of the community in waste management under the laws of Kiribati, there would appear to be only limited scope for effective legislative action in this regard. The role of Local Government Councils is clear and this is effectively provided for the in the Local Government Act 1984.

In terms of national aggregates, the Cook Islands have already achieved two of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG's): Goal 4 on Reducing Infant Mortality and Goal 5 on Maternal Health. With the exception of Goal 7 on environmental sustainability and an additional Goal 9 on Improving Governance, the Cook Islands is capable of achieving most of the other MDG's by the year 2015.

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Call Number: [EL]

Physical Description: 66 p.

Fiji Islands, one of the larger countries of the South Pacific island region, has a relatively high level of human development. Its multi-ethnic population, which numbers approximately 800,000, is growing slowly due to a moderately low level of fertility and a high level of emigration. The economy rests primarily on sugar production and tourism but is becoming more diverse, with manufacturing now an important sector of employment.

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Call Number: [EL]

Physical Description: 83 p.

Specific challenges, which may hamper the achievement and must be addressed during implementation of each MDG are briefly outlined in the MDG chapters of this report but are detailed in the Comprehensive Report. Generally, all future interventions, designed to achieve the MDGs should not only be very closely coordinated with the implementation of the MTDS but also with the implementation of the National Poverty Reduction Strategy (NPRS), the National Population Policy (NPP) and all sectoral plans.

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Call Number: [EL]