Pacific Island governments, along with other world leaders and civil society, have pledged their commitment to take action to change and promote sustainable development. Along with this
commitment is the recognition that a sustainable future is dependent upon a considerable shift in attitudes, value, lifestyles and behaviour.
Education and training are critical components of SPREP's mandate and vision for sustainable development in the Pacific. This is clearly identified in SPREP's Strategic Programmes and
Action Plan endorsed by Pacific leaders in 2004.
There is now a consensus that there is a discernible human influence on global climate. The form these global changes will take in the Pacific is far less certain, but the most significant and more immediate consequences are likely to be related to changes in rainfall regimes and soil moisture budgets, prevailing winds (both speed and direction) and in regional and local sea levels and patterns of wave action.
Available online
Call Number: 341.7623[EL]
ISBN/ISSN: 982-04-0194-1
Physical Description: 84 p.
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the
furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Mangroves are very special and unique trees.Mangroves are among the few trees that can grow in sea water as well as in places where the saltwater mixes with the fresh water from the land.
Mangroves grow in places with muddy soil and a protected shoreline. They live in large groups called "mangrove forests".
The mangrove forest is home to many different types of plants and trees.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 4 Pages
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.
The Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), have signed an agreement with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) to develop an innovative programme on Sustainable Integrated
Water Resources Management (IWRM).
Available online|Prepared for SOPAC
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 31 p.
The Apia Catchment is Samoa's selected IWRM demonstration project zone. It accommodates Lake Lanoto'o and its two main tributaries - Vaisigano and Fuluasou Rivers, which are very important water sources for drinking water, hydropower, bio-diversity and tourism. Unfortunately, with increasing population and development pressures over the years, this catchment area has become significantly degraded from problems such as soil erosion, siltation, water pollution/contamination and water shortages, causing major concern to the Government.
Available online
Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change have committed themselves to considering the special needs and concerns of developing countries resulting from the adverse effects of climate change in the area of insurance. The needs of small island states have been are highlighted for attention, due to their unique geographic features and exposure, and thus unique vulnerability.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 49 p.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) hosts some of the world's largest and
last remaining intact forest landscapes. While these forests have always been a haven for biodiversity and provided a livelihood for the millions of people who live in them, it is only in recent years that their importance for carbon storage has come to be fully appreciated.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 32 p.
This report provides a comprehensive yet simple guide to the construction and use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) for collating, analysing, updating and managing data in wildlife management or research projects. The spatial analysis of yellow-eyed penguin (hoiho, Megadyptes antipodes) nest site data
Coral reef habitats found in U.S. waters less than 18 meters deep are estimated to cover over 36,813 square kilometers, an area larger than Maryland, while those in water less than 180 meters deep are estimated to cover over 143,059 square kilometers, an area larger than New York (29). The Nation's coral reef habitats have major economic value, are a natural
Guam is the southernmost island in the Mariana Islands
Archipelago. Of all the islands in Micronesia, Guam is the
largest in terms of both land area (543 sq km) and population
The coral reefs offshore of Saipan and Tinian are most abundant on the islands' western shores. Off Saipan, the combination of fringing and barrier reefs offers the most diverse coral habitats in the Commonwealth. Rota is surrounded by fringing reefs, and newer reefs are located off the northwest and southwest coasts (30). The extent of coral reef habitat surrounding Rota, Saipan, and Tinian is presented.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 6 Pages
The Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC (IPCC AR4) Working Group II (2007) identifies small island states as being among the most vulnerable countries of the world to the adverse impacts of climate change. Hay, el al.y (2003) in discussing the Pacific's observed climate noted that compared to earlier historical records during the twentieth century, the southern Pacific had experienced a significantly drier and warmer climate (by 15 percent and 0.8°C, respectively).
This guide provides essential information to better understand
the role of marine protected area networks to achieve marine
The report was commissioned at the end of May 2008 with delivery of the final product by end June 2008. As such, it has been
researched and written over a very compressed timeline. Considerable shortcomings and inconsistencies in data
needed to be tackled in this period, and so a rapid desk assessment approach was used with limited opportunity for peer review and feedback.
Available online|1 copy
Call Number: 333.72 PAC ,[EL]
Physical Description: 97 p.
This process of assessing the individual, systemic and institutional levels to capture the gaps and constraints that exist within the different sectors, organisations and institutions in the country' especially those that have direct influence over the environmental sector in the country' was carried out over the 2005-2008 period. With the assessments as baseline, this Action Plan Document, the 'National Environmental & Capacity Development Action Plan' [NECDAP] of Solomon Islands was drawn up.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
This research identifies ship-generated marine pollution in ports of nine Pacific Islands Countries and Territories (PICTs) and related risks while a ship is visiting a port and the
measures that could be put into place to prevent marine pollution from occurring. The ports are: Apia of Guam, Apia of Samoa, Honiara of the Solomon Islands. Majuro of the
This atlas demonstrates the potential value of spatial
analyses as a tool to assist countries in maximising
biodiversity benefits whilst reducing carbon emissions from
land use change.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 16 p.
The Ninth Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region and Related Protocols (Noumea Convention), was held from 4-5 September 2008 in Palikir, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.
3 copies|Available online
Call Number: 363.7099 SEC [EL]
ISBN/ISSN: 978-982-04-0386-4
Physical Description: 40 p. 29 cm