Search the SPREP Catalogue

This is the seventh volume in a WWF series of reports developed as part of the Arguments for Protection project, which aims to identify and where possible quantify the range of benefits derived from protected areas, increase support for protection, develop new interdisciplinary partnerships, identify innovative financing mechanisms and broaden and strengthen protected area management strategies. In this case we focus on the positive benefits that can be provided by protected areas for human health. Our understanding of the term ‘human health’ in this context is based on the definition of the World Health Organization (WHO): “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.

This is the fifth volume in the WWF series of reports developed as part of the Arguments for Protection project which is assembling evidence on the social and economic benefits of protected areas to widen and strengthen support for park creation and management. In this volume we explore the increasing number and severity of so-called natural disasters, review how environmental degradation is contributing to this trend, look at how conservation through protection is currently mitigating the impacts of hazards and disasters and discuss the options for further developing the role of protected areas in disaster prevention and mitigation strategies.

The earth is currently facing the real possibility of permanently losing a vast number of wild plant and animal species in an "extinction crisis" that is unparalleled in history for its speed and severity. The CBD estimates extinction rate as 100-200 times higher than the historical natural level, with the greatest losses on islands and in freshwaters1, while the United Nations Environment Programme also identifies forest species as being particularly at risk2. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment is more pessimistic and believes that extinction rate may be up to a thousand times above historical levels. Drawing on IUCN Red Data List material3, it estimates that for instance 12 per cent of bird species and 23 per cent of mammals are threatened with extinction. Just as significant, studies suggest that almost all species are currently declining in either range and/or population size and all ecosystems are declining4.

Well managed natural forests almost always provide higher quality water, with less sediment and fewer pollutants, than water from other catchments Some natural forests (particularly tropical montane cloud forests and some older forests) also increase total water flow, although in other cases this is not true and under young forests and some exotic plantations net water flow can decrease Impacts of forests on security of supply or mitigating flooding are less certain although forests can reduce floods at a local headwater scale As a result of these various benefits, natural forests are being protected to maintain high quality water supplies to cities Protection within watersheds also provides benefits in terms of biodiversity conservation, recreational, social and economic values However, care is needed to ensure that the rural populations living in watersheds are not disadvantaged in the process of protection or management for water quality

The SPBCP is now two years away from the end of its funding support to Conservation Area Projects it is supporting in 12 different Pacific Island Countries. By the end of the year 2001, all CAP will have ceased receiving funds and would be very much self-dependent unless arrangements with some other donors are made.

This regional workshop was held at the SBEC Training Room, Apia, Samoa, from July 13th to 24th, 1998. The eighteen participants who attended the workshop came from Palau, Cook Island, Tuvalu, Niue, Solomon Island, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tonga, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Samoa. The opening remarks were given by the Officer-in-Charge of UNDP Mr. Richard Olver and the Director of SPREP, Mr Tamarii Tutangata and the keynote address and official opening by the Hon. Minister of Lands, Survey & Environment, Tuala Tagaloa Kerslake. The workshop was officially closed by the Chairman of the SBEC Board, H.E. Peter Hamilton and the certificates presented by Mr. François Martel, on behalf of SPREP.

This is a two week training workshop for 20 Conservation Area Projects (CAP) participants from throughout the Pacific islands region. The purpose of the workshop is to provide trainees with the skills to assist local communities and small operators in SPBCP-supported Conservation Areas to develop successful natural resource-based income-generating activities based on solid business principles.

The Komarindi Catchment Conservation Area Project (KCCAP) is a community based project designed to facilitate the long term sustainable management of the Komarindi Catchment Conservation Area (KCCA) and its resources. Its aim is to work with the local landowning communities to develop appropriate plans and approaches to long term management which integrate their objectives for social and economic development with the conservation of the environment and its biodiversity. It is based on community recognition of the biodiversity of the KCCA as the critical resource base for future generations.