The islands of the southern Cook and Austral groups in
the South Pacific exhibit astonishing differences in geology
and topography, even between closely adjacent islands of
similar ages. Some are sea-level atolls, others have low
fringes of Pleistocene raised reefs, and others substantial
rims of elevated mid-Tertiary limestones, locally known as
makatea. On some islands the relief of the makatea is
subdued, but on others it is dominated by eroded volcanics,
sea-level swamps, and vertical limestone walls. Sixty years
The purpose of the present study is to: 1/ list the presently known heterodont bivalve fauna of the Cook Islands, 2/ document the habitat specificity of the species involved in as much detail as possible, and 3/ investigate the correlation between a species' habitat specificity and its distribution among the various islands. While several studies have been done on the molluscan fauna of inner reef environments on Pacific islands (though bivalves are often neglected), there has been little work on the fauna of the outer reef slope.
Located at 148°15' West and 15°50' South, in the northwesternmost part of the Tuamotu archipelago (Central Pacific), Makatea island is isolated from its nearest
neighbouring atolls, Rangiroa and Tikehau by about 80 km, and it is 245 km from its closest volcanic neighbour, Tahiti. This island rises at least 3,500 m above the sea floor.
The island was first mentioned by Roggeveen in 1722
(JOURDAIN 1970), but visits became regular only during the
XlXth century. An evangelist, of the "London Missionary
Society" settled down in 1829 (NEWBURY 1986), which supposes
that exchanges with the outside were regular at that time.
This probably explains the presence of bird specimens
collected outside the Scientific Expeditions (e.g. description of Ptilinopus purpuratus chalcurus in 1859 by GRAY).
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
The Northern Line Islands consists of four atolls aligned on
an an axis which runs from south east to north west. The three southern islands Christmas (Kiritiraati), Fanning (Tabuaeran) and Washington (Teraina) have permanent populations and are part of the Republic of Kiribati. The fourth island, Palmyra, on the north end of the chain, is an unoccupied U.S. possession.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 39 p.
The conservation status, ecology, and cultural importance of sea turtles at the three Polynesian atolls of Tokelau are presented. The green turtle, Chelonia mydas. is the most common species, occurring as a migrant breeder mostly during September through November. The hawks- bill, Eretmochelvs imbricata. is present in small numbers at all three atolls, but nesting is only known at Nukunonu Atoll. A third species, the loggerhead, Caretta caretta. has also been recorded on rare occasions.
Landing on Swains Island is made on the west side at Taulaga, the only village on the island. Besides a small number of thatched, Samoan- style huts ("fale"), Taulaga has a small white church and a large, barn- like copra shed. Leading from the copra shed to the nearby beach are old railway tracks which were once used to transport copra from the shed to the beach for transfer to cargo vessels. Nearby is a large cleared area that may one day be made into an airport runway to link Swains Island by air to Tutuila, the main island of American Samoa.
CEPA Environment Permit Application Form to Discharge Waste Schedule and Additional Information Schedule 2.
Papua New Guinea Final National Action Plan to the ten year (2008-2018) UNCCD Strategy.
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.
All South Pacific countries have a need to monitor the weather conditions within the region especially during the cyclone season. An important tool to assist in monitoring and
forecasting weather conditions is the weather
satellite image.
3 copies
Call Number: 551.6354 SCH [EL]
ISBN/ISSN: 982-04-0112-7
Physical Description: iv, 16 p. ; 29 cm
The National Environment Pollution Awareness Workshop conducted at Funafuti in Tuvalu on 11 - 13 May 1993 came about as a result of the assembling of environmental priorities within countries of the South Pacific under the National Environment Management Strategy (NEMS) Programme. The identification of the lack of proper waste management and pollution control measures were regarded as priorities that had to be addressed.
2 copies|Also available online
Call Number: 363.73 NAT [EL],341.762
ISBN/ISSN: 982-04-0005-8
The environmental needs of small island developing countries were given special attention at the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 as was the need to determine "how the new global framework for sustainable development can be put into action in island countries" (Miles, 1993, p. 34). The environment is a vital resource for all island developing states. Its special
The main objective of the expedition was to compare as large a series of islands of different climatic conditions, ages and geological origins as possible. This necessitated short visits to each selected island. The structure and components of the ecosystem under study were the focus of attention, while their functioning was considered to be of secondary importance.
3 copies
Call Number: ECO [EL],PC 577.52 ECO
Physical Description: x, 220 p. : ill. ; 30 cm
Economic development activities in the South Pacific island countries have increased in momentum in recent years, often with
significant environmental effects on the limited resource base of island ecosystems.
Available in e-copy
Call Number: 363.707155 ONO [EL]
ISBN/ISSN: 982-04-0081-3
Physical Description: iv, p.10 . ; 29 cm
This report presents the results of studies made on five Pacific lagoons located at Suva, Fiji; Vila, Vanuatu; Tarawa, Kiribati; Tongatapu, Tonga; and Marovo, Western Province, Solomon Islands. Studies were made on water quality by physical, chemical and microbiological analyses. Analyses of shellfish and sediments were also completed for some sites.
SLIC hold 2 copies|Available online
Call Number: 628.161 WAT (EL),574.52636 NAI
Physical Description: iv, 99 p. ; 30 cm
Coral reefs are diverse marine ecosystems that flourish in the clear, tropical waters of the South Pacific. Samoa is fortunate to have well developed coral reefs surrounding most of the islands in the archipelago. These reefs are an important natural resource, since they provide the basts for the valuable inshore fishery for the people of American and Western Samoa (Craig et ai. 1993, Zann 1991). Coral reefs also play an integral role in the rich cultural heritage of these islands.
Samoa copy held at STA and SLIC at VF 5940. Available electronically
In September 1991 the Government of the Marshall Islands requested assistance in compiling a bibliography of material relating to fisheries and marine resources of the Marshall Islands. After discussions between the staff of the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority and the Fisheries Programme of the South Pacific Commission, it was decided that a search for appropriate documents would take place in Majuro, Guam, Tokyo, Honolulu and Suva during September, October and November 1991.
Look in the SPC shelf under section I.
Call Number: 639.016 IZU
The Maori language of the Cook Islands is derived from those of Eastern Polynesia, except for Pukapuka which has a Samoa-related language. Despite the Eastern Polynesia origin of plant and