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The Regional Seas programme of UNEP commenced in 1974 and since that time
considerable advances have been made in the development of regional action plans and
conventions for the protection of the marine and coastal areas of some eleven regions world-
wide. Following these developments UNEP has encouraged inter-regional co-operation in
addressing various issues of environmental concern through the organisation of international
meetings and inter-regional symposia. This volume contains the record of one such symposium,

"The impacts of the 1997-1998 El Nino are
fresh in our minds, and the latest reports from
the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) confirm tvhat all of you
already know— changes in climate matter to
individuals, communities, businesses and
governments who call islands home. Your
valuable natural resources, traditional ways of
life, critical economic sectors, community support
infrastructure, atid, to a great extent, your
future, depend on developing an effective

On ne connait qu'une seule espece de mysticete, la
baleine de Bryde (dont il existe deux formes ou sous-
especes), qui sejourne toute l'annee dans la region du
PROE. Trois ou quatre autres especes - l'une ou les
deux especes de petit rorqual de l'hemisphere sud, la
baleine a bosse et la baleine bleue - migrent regulierement merit en saison dans certaines parties au moins de
la zone d'action du PROE. Le rorqual boreal et le rorqual commun ont egalement ete signals, mais ne sont
apparemment pas frequents (voir Rice, 1979, 321 ;

The area of concern for this Regional Wetlands Action Plan (RWAP) is the Pacific islands region, extending from Palau and the Northern Mariana Islands in the north-west to French
Polynesia and Pitcaim in the south-east, encompassing 22 Pacific island countries and territories including large countries such as Papua New Guinea (PNG). It equates to the region of operation
of the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

3 copies|SLIC other copy kept in VF 3098|Available electronically

Call Number: 333.918 REG (EL),VF 3098

Given the unique socio-cultural and ecological conditions of the
Pacific Islands, it is essential that the baseline studies and
monitoring conducted as part of EXA should be undertaken by
specialists from the region itself. This will have the added
advantage of exposing local specialists from a variety of
disciplines to the techniques of EIA, thus building up a regional capability in EIA over the period of the programme.

Kept in vertical file collection|Available in e-copy

Call Number: VF 3038 [EL]

Latent sea-level rise is defined here as the sea-level rise ultimately likely to occur due to emissions of greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere, i.e. if all anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases were to cease at a particular time, various global systems would continue to change in response to
the gases remaining in the atmosphere until equilibrium was reached. Those systems include the atmosphere: the cryosphere, comprising snowfields,tundra soils, glaciers and ice-caps: the biosphere,including both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems:

The Pacific Islands Climate Change Assistance Programme (PICCAP) is a three-year climate change enabling activity involving 10 Pacific Island Countries (PICs): Cook Islands, Federated States
of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. PICCAP is designed to assist PICs in meeting their reporting requirements under
Articles 4 and 12 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the United Nations

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the
expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the World Meteorological
Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or
concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

•2 copies

Call Number: 551.632 PAC

Physical Description: various pagings

This report was commissioned by the South Pacific Regional Environment Programmme (SPREP) in early 2000, and forms part of SPREP’s initiative to: identify the requirements of the National Meteorological Services (NMSs) of twenty Pacific island SPREP member countries and territories, package the requirements for aid consideration, and further, to coordinate and administer any consequential aid projects.

3 copies|Also available in e-copy if you clink on "FL" field|Tuvalu copy kept at NEE

Call Number: 551.5092099 NEE (EL),NEE

The idea for tills manual has roots in more than 25 years of work interpreting and transferring scientific and technical information for
use by policy and decisionmakers. I was privileged to take part in the formulation of the U.S. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
while Chief of the Environmental Policy Division of the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress. This law called for the
preparation of an environmental impact statement—an action-forcing provision aimed at American government officials. But the concept of

Samoa is party to a number of international and regional treaties and conventions, including several with energy implications, particularly the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol. Environmental issues related to energy use include air pollution from incineration of rubbish and cooking in outside kitchens. About 70% of Samoa's population and infrastructure are located in the environmentally vulnerable coastal zone. Only four of the coastline is resilient to coastal hazards.

The Environment can be considered tropical marine. Atolls are especially vulnerable to environmental damage. The water supply is easily damaged by pollutants. Land biodiversity is low. The primary dangers to the environment are tropical storms, oil spills and waste disposal from the settlements. Direct hits by cyclones are not common though near passages have caused serious damage due to high waves.

Available online|This report is based on data gathered by a PIREP team consisting of Tomas Tafia and Herbert Wade

Call Number: 333.794159615 WAD [EL]

Tonga has a small open economy with squash, coconuts and vanilla the main export crops that make up two thirds of total exports. A high proportion of food is imported, mainly from New Zealand. Remittances are important to the economy, as is tourism. Private sector development is emphasized in its Strategic Development Plan and there is a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well-developed social services. Fisheries and tourism are considered as having the most potential for further economic growth.

Environment The Solomon Islands is part to various treaties and conventions related to environmental protection, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol. A communication to UNFCCC, including greenhouse gas emissions and vulnerability to climate change, is expected to be submitted during 2004.

Available online|This report is based on data gathered by a PIREP team consisting of John Korinihone, Morgan Wairiu, John Vos and Peter Johnston

Call Number: 333.79415953 JOH (EL)

PNG has two distinct economies: i) a modem, cash economy dominated by mining, timber, gas and oil. and agricultural expoits (coffee, cocoa, tea. oil palm and copra): and ii) the traditional subsistence economy and semi-subsistence fanning, with most villages producing little or no surplus for trading. Economic growth has varied considerably but averaged less than 3% annually in real terms since independence in 1975. with per capita income less in 2002 than at Independence. The government expects real growth to average 2.1% from 2003-2008.

Palau lias an equatorial, marine environment. No cyclones have been recorded though near passages are not unusual when high waves can be a problem. Palau has a strong program for preserving the environment, particularly that of the major tourist attractions including the Rock Islands and the reefs where some of the best diving in the world is found. Marine biodiversity is high and land biodiversity moderate. Strict USA

Environmental issues have a high priority. The people of Nine have taken positive action to maintain the environment for future generations. The low population density has allowed large areas of the island's interior to remain as natural forests and this natural state has become a tourist attraction along with the exotic coral formations, caves and other natural attractions of the island. In general water quality and air quality are very good. Periods of drought occur that can cause loss of crops and hardship for residents.

The climate is equatorial marine in nature. There are 110 cyclones though rainfall is cyclic and periodic droughts are a serious problem with one year having a recorded rainfall of only 280 nun. The land biodiversity is limited with only

The Republic of the Marshall Islands consists of two groups of atolls and islands: Ralik in the west and Ratak to the east, within a rectangle extending 1150 km north-south and 1300 km east- west. about 3200 kilometers from Honolulu and Tokyo. Twenty-two of 29 atolls, and four of the five small raised coral islands are inhabited. The islands are typically several km long and rarely over 200 meters in width.

With these decisions in mind, the Pacific Plan identifies initiatives within an implementation framework that extends to 10 years. Some of this work is already underway. The Plan provides a framework for effective and enhanced engagement
between Forum countries and Pacific territories and with their non-state actors and development partners. It does not limit the sovereign right of Forum Member countries to determine their own national goals and priorities. It may also guide but does not restrict bilateral development programmes and activities.

1 copy