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Dans le cadre du projet PROTEGE une enquête a été réalisée à Maré par l’Agence néo-Calédonienne de la Biodiversité (ANCB) auprès des chasseurs de chèvres ensauvagées. Les objectifs sont d’évaluer les pratiques et l’effort de chasse, le niveau de prélèvements, la capacité et la volonté de diversifier les techniques de chasse et à augmenter l’effort de chasse, au regard des dégâts constatés. Les chèvres ensauvagées (ou férales, Capra hircus) contribuent à la raréfaction de nombreuses espèces végétales natives et à la dispersion et au développement de plusieurs plantes introduites envahissantes. Aux Îles Loyauté des troupeaux de chèvres sont présents sur une grande partie des corniches littorales de Lifou et de Maré, où la chasse de la chèvre ensauvagée répond principalement à un besoin pour les dons et coutumes, et pour l’autoconsommation. Une pré-enquête a été réalisée par l’animateur PROTEGE (également agent de l’ANCB), afin de recenser les chasseurs de chèvres férales sur Maré et de prendre leurs contacts pour la réalisation de l’enquête. Dans un deuxième temps, l’ensemble des chasseurs de chèvres ensauvagées identifiés ont été contactés afin de répondre à l’enquête.

This is a newsletter about what has been happening lately around the globe. From bushfires in Australia to COVID-19 pandemic and then to Tropical cyclone Harold that hit our neigbhouring countries (Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga and Solomon Island). Mainly these problems are caused by climate change around the world which affects the health of people and their environment that they live in.

This island nation contains many marine eco-systems, from globally significant coral reefs to mangroves, seagrass areas, seamounts and deep-sea trenches supporting at least 769 fish species, including sharks and rays, as well as whales, dolphins and sea turtles.

The Union continued to shape global policy along so many essential dimensions – illustrating the centrality of IUCN’s work to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Much needed attention was, for instance, given to the plight of our oceans and IUCN was very active in the Ocean Conference for implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (June) as well as the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (July) which focused, in particular, on SDG 14. Not to mention negotiations on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction which made significant and welcome progress this year. Drawing on IUCN’s unique Commission structure, the Union is able to bring excellence, relevance and science to international fora for enhanced sustainability outcomes.

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’. The invited participants primarily centred on people who are directly involved in work relating to marine, coastal and terrestrial (including inland waters)protected areas including: national government staff, NGO project officers; staff from national, regional and international agencies and institutions, and; resource persons with special technical skills and experience. The ACP Secretariat was represented by Mr Edmund Jackson. The full list of workshop participants can be found in Annex B

When the government of Australia created the Great Barrier Reef Region (346,000 km2) in 1975 and subsequently declared parts as sections of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, the protected area greatly surpassed all existing marine protected areas (MPAs) in both scope and scale. Yet it would be nearly 30 years before a second LSMPA or areas greater than 150,000 km2 (see Box 1) was declared. Established as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve in 2000, the new site was the first truly remote LSMPA. In 2006, the area was slightly expanded and recognised as the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (362,074 km2), and expanded again in 2016 (1,508,870 km2) to become the largest MPA globally

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are areas of the ocean set aside for long-term conservation aims.| MPAs support climate change adaptation and mitigation while providing other ecosystem services.| Currently 6.35% of the ocean is protected, but only just over 1.89% is covered by exclusively no-take MPAs.| Most existing MPAs do not have enough human and financial resources to properly implement conservation and management measures.| Increased political commitments can help boost the governance of and resources available to MPAs.

Biological control of introduced weeds in the 22 Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) began in 1911, with the lantana seed feeding fly introduced into Fiji and New Caledonia form Hawaii. To date, a total of 62 agents have been deliberately introduced into the PICTs to control 21 weed species in 17 countries.

Biological control of introduced weeds in the 22 Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs) began in 1911, with the lantana seed-feeding fly introduced into Fiji and New Caledonia from Hawaii. To date, a total of 62 agents have been deliberately introduced into the PICTs to control 21 weed species in 17 countries. A further two agents have spread naturally into the region. The general impact of the 36 biocontrol agents now established in the PICTs ranges from none to complete control of their target weed(s). Fiji has been most active in weed biocontrol, releasing 30 agents against 11 weed species. Papua New Guinea, Guam, and the Federated States of Micronesia have also been very active in weed biocontrol. For some weeds such as Lantana camara, agents have been released widely, and can now be found in 15 of the 21 PICTs in which the weed occurs. However, agents for other commonly found weeds, such as Sida acuta, have been released in only a few countries in which the weed is present. There are many safe and effective biocontrol agents already in the Pacific that could be utilised more widely, and highly effective agents that have been released elsewhere in the world that could be introduced following some additional host specificity testing. This paper discusses the current status of biological control efforts against introduced weeds in the 22 PICTs and reviews options that could be considered by countries wishing to initiate weed biological control programmes.

Biological control of weeds in Vanuatu began in 1935, with the introduction of the tinged Teleonemia scrupulosa to control Lantana camara. To date, nine biological control agents have been intentionally introduced to control eight weed species. Seven of these agents have established on their respective hosts while an eighth, Zygogramma bicolorata, an agent for Parthenium hysterophorus has only recently been released and establishment is unlikely.