The reefs of Guam have been spared from severe and widespread coral mortality associated with large-scale bleaching events, but observations in 2006 and 2007 suggest that bleaching events in Guams reefs may become more frequent and severe in the coming decades. The first large-scale bleaching event reported in Guam since the establishment of the University of Guam Marine Laboratory (UOGML) in 1970, was an event in 1994, with another event reported in 1996 (Paulay and Benayahu, 1999).
Since the 1997-1998 El Niño event, which was described by Golbuu et al. (2005), Palau has not experienced any major bleaching events. However, there have been reports of localized bleaching in different parts of Palau that are believed to be related to human impacts.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 29 p.
A deadly tsunami hit the Western and Choiseul provinces on the 2nd April 2007 following an earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Ritcher scale. Other parts of the pacific, including Australia and Papua New Guinea, also received Tsunami warnings. The tsunami caused a lot of damage to properties and loss of lives in the two provinces. A number of communities The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is working in partnership with in Choiseul
province have been badly affected.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 8 Pages
Coral reef monitoring lias been an on-going activity in Samoa since 1997. In 1998. a pilot Village Level Coral Reef Monitoring Project (VLCRMP) was initiated in collaboration between The Fisheries Division, the Division of Environment & Conservation and the International Ocean Institute Pacific Islands. The pilot project provided monitoring equipment and assisted in training the trainers that, in nuns trained 46 villagers from six villages selected from around the country ( Mulipola 2001 ).
Western Samoa, the larger and more westerly portion of the Samoan Archipelago lies approximately centred on latitude, 13°45 ' south and longitude 1.72° West;. There are two main islands, namely Savai'i and Upolu, the smaller islands of Apolima and Manono and five uninhabited islets. The land area of Western Samoa is approximately 1,100 square miles and the archipelago lies approximately 2,500 miles from Sydney and Hawaii, 1,800 miles north east of New Zealand, with Fiji lying approximately 800 miles to the west.
The Western Samoan Turtle Hatchery Project is, as the accompanying documents will show, a low-input, high-potential stock-reviving programme aimed primarily at increasing the amount of fresh protein currently available to the local population.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 13 p.
WITH UNRULY hair; a cheerful glint in his eye and a mischievous grin. Samoan-born Vili lese is passionate about conservation. Right now, he's undertaking ground-breaking research in Tuvalu's waters to help build a sustainable future for Tuvalu's community of almost 12,000 a community who rely heavily on fishing and
farming to survive.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 6 Pages
The impetus tor developing this Guide came primarily from two situations. Firstly, the enormity of the Asian Tsunami disaster in 2004-2005 right on Australia's doorstep, and the inability of the renewable energy community to donate goods and services, highlighted a need to develop an understanding of a pathway with the aid and disaster relief organisations to overcome this situation.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
ISBN/ISSN: 978-0-9803518-1-1
Physical Description: 82 p.
The Takitumu Conservation Area was created in 1996 on the island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. Its main purpose is to conserve biodiversity for the benefit of present and future gen-
erations. Only local people own the land and its resources. Ecotourism will be the area's main economic activity. A guided nature walk has been organized with landowner agreement and
support.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 4 Pages
Tuvalu is a nation of low-lying coral atolls and is presently listed by the LIN as one of the least-developed of nations, with GDP per capita estimated at $US 800 in 1995 (CIA. 2000).
Tuvalu is essentially bereft of natural resources, with the exception of those provided by the sea. A major component of
Tuvalu economy is income generated by licensing international fisliing vessels to operate within the nation's EEZ.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 8 Pages
The guidelines provide advice on watching whales and dolphins in the wild, including observations from the land, water or air as well as activities such as swimming and diving, feeding, touching, and making noise. They are relevant to all Australian
waters (Commonwealth, State and Territory) and cover all people watching whales and dolphins including both commercial operators and the general public.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 20 p.
Estimates vary but Nauru has probably been occupied for at least 3000 years. Although the people are considered Micronesians. the island was probably discovered by different ethnic groups at different times - there are indications of both Melanesian and Polynesian influences - and their descendents combined to form today's ethnic Nauruans. The language of Nauru is unique and gives few hints of its origins. Traditional Nauru society
is matrilineal and is based on 12 tribal grouping.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
This report presents the results of field studies of the National Forest Inventory. Details of the survey methodology and coverage are provided and summaries of results are presented.
We found coral diversity to be relatively high, especially at both tips of the island. Here we estimated the hard coral coverage to be about 30-40% and soft coral coverage about 25%. However, dead Pocillopora and Acropora colonies, already
overgrown by algae, were scattered throughout the reef. On the northwest windward side of the island we encountered vast areas of bare rock with nibble filling the crevasses. Even in deeper zones live hard coral coverage was estimated to be only
Over the past decade since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio, there has been only modest progress in the Asia-Pacific Region towards sustainable development. Since 1992, environmental quality in the Region has deteriorated. In advance of the September, 2002, World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), a number of agencies active in the Asia-Pacific Region, including ADB, ESCAP, UNDP, and UNEP, agreed to co-ordinate a series of subregional and regional preparatory meetings.
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.1
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 49 p.
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]
This thesis applies an approach of political ecology to analyze environmental change in the Cook Islands in the context of the fiscal crisis of the state in the 1990's. Questions and methods from both human and physical geography are brought to the empirical case. Corruption and financial management surrounding a hotel development on Rarotonga, Cook Islands presents a case of "criminal ecology" This research finds that the Pacific
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
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.