Invasive species, particularly animals, are being eradicated from islands at ever more ambitious scales. In order to protect island biodiversity and the essential ecosystem functions that it provides, however, plant invasions should be given more management attention. While many advances have been made, plant eradication is inherently more difficult than animal eradication due to persistent seed banks, and eradication may not be possible for more extensive populations.
Humanity is waging war on nature. This is senseless and suicidal. The consequences of our recklessness are already apparent in human suffering, towering economic losses and the accelerating erosion of life on Earth.
This report represents a scientific blueprint for howclimate change, biodiversity loss and pollution can be tackled jointly within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals. The report is a synthesis based on evidence from global environmental assessments.
Call Number: [EL]
ISBN/ISSN: 978-92-807-3837-7
Today, May 10th, in addition to being SIDS Day, coincides with the release, in Nairobi, Kenya, of the third
edition of Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-3). This major new assessment of the current state of
biodiversity and the implications of its continued loss for human well-being was produced by the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the broadest international treaty for the conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of the benefits from the utilization of genetic
The project office in Suva, Fiji, shared with another NGO, was opened at the start of the Action, and initially provided adequate facilities and space. However, following the development of the BirdLife Fiji Programme, the office was moved to new premises in mid 2007 with significant improvements to office facilities which now comply with local health and safety regulations.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 33 p.
This synthesis focuses on estimates of biodiversity change as projected for the 21st century by models or
extrapolations based on experiments and observed trends. The term biodiversity is used in a broad
sense as it is defined in the Convention on Biological Diversity to mean the abundance and distributions
of and interactions between genotypes, species, communities, ecosystems and biomes. This synthesis
pays particular attention to the interactions between biodiversity and ecosystem services and to
Species which have been assessed for extinction
risk are on average moving closer to extinction.
Amphibians face the greatest risk and
coral species are deteriorating most rapidly in
status. Nearly a quarter of plant species are estimated
to be threatened with extinction.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
ISBN/ISSN: 92-9225-220-8
Physical Description: 96 p.
Sea cucumbers are important resources for coastal livelihoods and ecosystems. At least 60 species are fished from more than 40 countries and most of the harvests are processed then exported to Asian markets. Sea cucumbers generally appear to have slow rates of population turnover and are easily harvested in shallow waters in the tropics. With retail prices of up to USD300500 per kg (dried), exploitation has often been indiscriminant and excessive.
This brochure demonstrates how measures and policies can be shaped to simultaneously address climate change, biodiversity loss and poverty. It identifies opportunities for synergies and mutual enhancement of the objectives of international agreements, particularly the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), as well as decisions taken by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly following the recommendations of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF).
Available online|1 copy
Avariety of factors can affect the biodiversity of tropicalmammal communities,
but their relative importance and directionality remain uncertain. Previous
global investigations of mammal functional diversity have relied on range
maps instead of observational data to determine community composition. We
test the effects of species pools, habitat heterogeneity, primary productivity
and human disturbance on the functional diversity (dispersion and richness)
of mammal communities using the largest standardized tropical forest camera
The research agreement signed on 19th December 2005 by the Institute of Research for Development (IRD), the University Paul Sabatier (Toulouse III) and Nantes University, the Pharmacochemical laboratories of Natural Substances and Pharmacophores Redox (UMR 1165) and the Centre of Maritime and Ocean Law (EA 1165, CDMO) led to the international research program Coral Reef Initiatives for the Pacific (CRISP).
Natural capital our ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources underpins economies, societies and individual well-being. The values of its myriad benefits are, however, often overlooked or poorly understood. They are rarely taken fully into account through economic signals in markets, or in day to day decisions by business and citizens, nor indeed reflected adequately in the accounts of society.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
ISBN/ISSN: 978-3-98-13410-0-3
Physical Description: 47 p.
As environmental problems continue to increase at an ever more rapid rate, exacerbated by the major threat of global climate change, the need for widespread remedial action is becoming ever more pressing. Scientific consensus on both the root causes of these problems and the measures required to tackle them is growing, while mass media and public interest has reached fever pitch.
The purpose of this handbook is to provide practical, step-by-step guidance on how governments and other national actors can mainstream poverty-environment linkages into national development planning. We here define poverty-environment mainstreaming as the iterative process of integrating poverty-environment linkages into policy making, budgeting and implementation processes at national, sector and subnational levels. It is a multi-year, multi-stakeholder effort grounded in the contribution of the environment to human well-being, pro-poor economic growth and achievement of the MDGs.
The fourth national report to the CBD will provide an opportunity to assess progress towards the 2010 Biodiversity Targets at national level, drawing on analysis of current status and trends in biodiversity and actions taken to implement the Convention at the national level.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 32 p.
Ecosystems, from forests and freshwater to coral reefs and soils, deliver essential services
to humankind estimated to be worth over USD 72 trillion a year comparable to World
Gross National Income. Yet in 2010, nearly two-thirds of the globes ecosystems are considered
degraded as a result of damage, mismanagement and a failure to invest and reinvest
in their productivity, health and sustainability.
References pp. 102-109|Also available online
Call Number: 338.910 NEL,[EL]
ISBN/ISSN: 978-82-7701-083-0
Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is the variability of life
on earth from genes to species to the entire biosphere.
Biodiversity provides immeasurable benefit to human societ-
ies through medicine, food, fiber, ecosystem services, and
cultural values. Yet, this diversity of life is under siege: species
arc being lost at a rate far beyond the natural extinction rate.
Available online|Both in English and Samoa|2 hard copies
Call Number: 333.72099614 ATH [EL]
Physical Description: 36 p.
The geographic scope of this report is defined in terms of the freshwater hydrology of the northern African region and is based on major river catchment delineations within the countries of Algeria, Egypt, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco and Tunisia. The assessment region also includes parts of Mauritania, Mali, and the northern tip of Chad, and stops at the northern tip of Lake Nasser in southern Egypt. Freshwater species native to northern Africa and those introduced to the region before 1500 AD are included in this report.
The Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative is an international partnership advancing the scientific basis for conserving biological diversity in the deep seas and open oceans. It aims to help countries, as well as regional and global organizations, to use and develop data, tools, and methodologies to identify ecologically significant areas with an initial focus on the high seas and deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction
1 copy
Call Number: VF 7130
Physical Description: 24 pages
The role of the youth as "custodians of the future" has been emphasised repeatedly at international conferences related to sustainable development, climate change and environment. Since various UN agencies have been supporting youth participation to ensure the voice of the youth present when international agendas are set. Their participation if motivated based on the facts that half of the world's population is under 30, decision taken today directly affect the lives of youth and youth are the future decision makers.
The Pacific region is by far the largest in terms of surface and is characterized by coral reefs found only around oceanic islands making the region unique. The Pacific region includes more than 25,000 islands. The tropical Pacific region supports approximately 27% (about 66,000 km2) of the total global area of coral reefs. Coral reefs are in integral part of the Pacific culture and provide crucial food resources (25-100% of dietary protein) among many other socio-economic benefits
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 1:16:36