The main aim of this report is to set out a preliminary assessment of the current needs within SPREP in relation to assisting the development of environmental law in Pacific island countries, particularly in relation to legal responses to the impacts of climate change in the region, and to make a series of recommendations based on that assessment. The context of the assessment is that climate change has become one of the overarching priorities within SPREP, also recognizing SPREPs climate-change leadership role within the region.
Available online
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
This study presents the first elements of an initiative on solid waste management, endorsed by France under the framework of reinforcing regional cooperation in the Pacific region and
identified jointly by the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The initiative will be based on the strategy adopted by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and will be coordinated with existing or future projects in the region.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
In preparing for the workshop participants were requested to prepare a list of issues and/or challenges that, based on national experience, had been identified in implementing the interim PIC procedure or in working towards ratification of the Rotterdam Convention.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 83 p.
Most of the marine protected areas (MPAs) around the world, estimated to number about 5000, have been established both on an ad hoc basis and through systematic planning processes. The
The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) (represented by Greg Urwin and Tuiloma Neroni Slade, respectively former and present Secretary-General. Iosefa Maiawa, Feleti Teo and Peter Forau, Deputies Secretary-General) and the European
This report presents an overview of the global assessment landscape and highlight elements of best practice with respect to the future undertaking of major assessments. It includes an analysis of existing and ongoing sub-regional and regional assessments from a multi-thematic perspective.
The main map shows that higher population densities occur (i) around and inland from major coastal towns, (ii) in the elevated PNG Highlands (H) and the Baliem Valley (B) of Papua, and (iii) along most of the coasts of the mainland and major islands. The distributions of inhabited places and of annual fires reveal that people and their effects are widely dispersed across much of the landscape. However, vast landscapes in the upper catchments of the Mamberamo River (M) in Papua and in parts of the upper Fly River (F) and Sepik River (S) in PNG remain sparsely inhabited.
Some presentations refer to the term Marine Managed Area (MMA) instead of Marine Protected Area (MPA) in order to cover more management options. The workshop proposed and adopted a rough typology of MM As that will be useful to communicate with the key decision makers (land use planners, coastal zone planners and managers, regional planners, protected area planners and managers, community leaders, sectorial planners in fisheries and environment...)
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 28 p.
National SoE Reports give information about environmental and social conditions, trends and
pressures for the country, and the surrounding seas. The SoE reporting process forms the basis for
effective environmental and sustainable development planning by examining the current condition of
environmental indicators influenced by national, regional, and global pressures.
The report uses state and trend indicators to evaluate how these state conditions impact not only the
Powerpoint on GBIF and the 19th Annual Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation, by Kyle Cobas
Online only
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 18p. : ill. (col.)
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.
Call Number: [EL]
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
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 10 p.
The Oceania region is very prone to natural disasters having experienced two Category 5 cyclones in as many years; Tropical Cyclone (TC)Pam struck Vanuatu on 13 March 2015 and TC Winston struck Fiji on 20 February 2016.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 92 p
Who are we? UN Environments specialist biodiversity assessment centre, based in Cambridge, UK
Available online|Powerpoint presentation
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 16 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.