This paper highlights the seriousness of the “biodiversity crisis” on atolls and the need to place greater research and conservation emphasis on atolls and other small island ecosystems. It is based on studies over the past twenty years conducted in the atolls of Tuvalu, Tokelau, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia. It stresses that atolls offer some of the greatest opportunities for integrated studies of simplified small-island ecosystems.
The Tuvalu State of Environment Report presents an overview across four thematic areas: Environmental Governance, Coastal and Marine, Atmosphere and Climate, and Built Environment. The report uses the 'Drivers, Pressure, State, Impact and Response' model to describe the environment, As far as possible the report is based on quantitative data relating to the state of the environment, supplemented by stakeholder input to describe casual relationships and environmental effects.