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
More than a century ago,in 1870, a party of explorers travelled to the Amercian West. They had been sent to determinne the truth about fantastic tales of steaming rivers and bubbling pools. These explorers agreed among themselves,once to be as free as the air and water
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 7 Pages
The Vanuatu Environmental Unit (VEU) is undertaking a capacity building add-on to the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Planning Project (NBSAP). One priority within the work is protection of the rights of Ni-Vanuatu, innovations and practices relating to biological diversity. The NBSAP Project has information from Regional Networks that have been promoting interest in protection of indigenous rights, including information from a forum held in Vila in 2001.1 Clark Peteru, a Samoan based lawyer, has provided advice on intellectual
This report has been prepared by the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts for Members of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to support discussion on Agenda Item 8.1 'Streamlined reporting by Pacific Island countries (PICs) to the biodiversity- related multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) - the development of a consolidated reporting template' at the 19th SPREP Meeting in September 2008.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 49 p
Poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation are basic social goals and part of the policy agenda of postcolonial states and international agencies. It is not surprising therefore that a large number of programmatic interventions have
This paper suggests that this terrestrial and marine biodiversity inheritance constitutes the foundation upon which rests the survival of the relatively benign and peaceful ways of life in the Pacific ("Peaceful") Ocean. It is stressed that this inheritance, including traditional knowledge concerning it, is endangered by modem development and education, and that if it is not maintained or strengthened, the cultures, economies and rich biodiversity inheritances of Pacific societies WILL NOT SURVIVE.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Beginning with the 1972 Stockholm Summit on Sustainable Development, the links between economic, social and environmental aspects to achieving sustainable development have received increasing attention.
Work is based around country visits by the network coordinator to support PILN teams to identify and take strategic action to manage their priority invasive species. The network is functioning by sharing awareness of successful activities being earned out by the teams, providing the mechanism for other teams to do the same, and actively encouraging them to do so.
Capacity building is linked to on-going invasive species projects and achieved through workshops and exchanges.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
The Pacific Invasives Initiative (PII) is a sister partnership based at Auckland University which shares 6 partners with PILN. The goal of the PII is to contribute to conserving island biodiversity and enhancing the sustainability of island livelihoods by minimizing the spread and impacts of invasive species in the Pacific region. This is achieved by increasing support and developing capacity in the region for managing the impacts of these species.
Fishers have changed their methods from wading in the shallows to the use of sail and paddle canoes, and dinghies with outboard motors. This has resulted in greater coverage of the area where sea cucumbers live, more regular fishing, access to remote areas and the capacity to transport greater catches. Loss of much larger numbers of sea cucumbers from many areas as a result of this increased fishing pressure reduces the chances of adults remaining at densities high enough for effective reproduction.
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 plastic demijohn
Origin: streets, streams, beaches and boats.
Behaviour: can cause serious, even fatal intestinal
blockages in marine animals if swallowed.
Average lifespan: 400 to 600 years.
Eighteen Species of beche-de-mer were recored in a survey of eef flats and seagrass areas in Vanuatu.Composition and diversity was variable in different habitats, and denstities were genereally low.It is unlikely that present stocks could support recommended harvesting quotas.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 7 Pages
The Vanuatu Environment Unit is undertaking a capacity building add-on to the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Planning Project. One priority within this work has been to assess capacity to conduct research, assessment and monitoring of biological resources and their ecosystems to which they are part of. An inventory of recent and current research, assessment and monitoring programmes have just recently been done by the project. A report is currently in preparation following this stock take.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
In 2001, the Government of Samoa released the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) for the conservation and sustainable development of the country's biological resources. The NBSAP identifies invasive alien species (IAS) as being one of the greatest threats to Samoa's
biodiversity. The National Invasive Alien Species Implementation Action Plan (NIASIAP) addresses this threat, building on the actions identified in 'Theme 6 - Biosecurity' of the NBSAP,
as well as elements of Themes 1, 2, 3 and 7, and pursuing the following objective:
This article describes and discusses the establishment and operation of the Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT). Following three years of preparations and multi-stakeholder consultations MCT was established in 2002 with the objective of supporting biodiversity conservation and related sustainable development for the people of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) by providing long-term sustained funding. In 2008 MCT completed
The CBD, the Ramsar Convention and the CMS recognise impact assessment as an important tool to ensure that development is planned and implemented with biodiversity 'in mind'. The CBD requires parties to apply impact assessment to projects, programmes, plans and policies with a potential negative impact on biodiversity. Considerable progress has been made in strengthening impact assessment as a tool to further the aims of the CBD and related conventions. However, practise shows
that more work is needed.
This document outlines the activities that the Secretariat plans to undertake to support the IYB. Some of these have already begun and others are in development. The paper includes suggestions as to actions that other partners may take to advance the celebrations of the IYB.
The end result of the IYB celebration will be action at various levels as a result of targeted "public awareness" campaigns in collaboration with a number of partners. A comprehensive
The Department of the Navy (DoN) is committed to demonstrating environmental stewardship while executing its national defense mission. The United States (U.S.) Navy (Navy) is responsible for
1. Article 6 of the Convention on Biological Diversity/ requires each Party to develop or adapt national strategies, plans or programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and to integrate, as far as possible and as appropriate, the conservation and sustainable use of biological
diversity into relevant sectoral or cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 11 Pages