Search the SPREP Catalogue

An invasive alien species are known to cause significant economic and environmental damage. Islands are much more vulnerable to the invasion of invasive alien species, and have higher rates of extinction. In the islands of the South Pacific, there are several species Polynesian land birds which are threatened with extinction due to invasive alien species and human interference. Without any intervention from humans, it is likely that these birds will suffer extinction in the next few decades. The island of Atiu in the Cook Islands (South Pacific) supports a range of avian fauna. In 2007 the Rimitara lorikeet (Vini kuhlii), also known locally as the ‘Kura’ was introduced to Atiu, to make a reserve population, as there were only approximatley 1000 left on the island of Rimitara, French Polynesia. There is concern for this species on Atiu due to the existence of the common myna (Acridotheres tristis). The myna is an aggressive invasive which is one of the world’s worst 100 invasive species. It was introduced to the Cook Islands by the government, with the intention to control the coconut-stick insect (Graeffea crouani), but is now a pest itself. A myna control programme on Atiu is being coordinated and controlled by Gerald McCormack (Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust), working through George Mateariki, and using funding from various conservation organisations. Poisioning is being carried out by George in order to reduce myna numbers, and a bounty has been set on the birds or for every right foot so that the locals can help as much as possible. This investigation aimed to estimate the total population size on the island to use as a starting count to determine whether the programme is successful or not. Two methods were used which included roost counts to find an estimate of the population, and a transect method using a Distance programme to estimate the number of birds per hectare as well as the level of abundance in various habitat types. The two methods had overlapping results, giving a total estimated range of 3250 to 8460 birds on the island, although it is more likely to be at the higher end of this estimate at around 6000 to7000 birds. Further investigation will need to determine any change in the population size, any changes in habitat composition as well as the impact on the native species, especially the effect on the Kura and its population size.

Niue is a coral island atop an extinct volcano, with a beautiful array of caves, and chasms, and a breathtaking coastline fringed with vibrant coral reefs. Most of its goods are imported from New Zealand, but the resulting waste has to be managed on the island. There are several positive waste management activities such as a can recycling program, and a regular household waste collection system. Unfortunately, due to lack of appropriate infrastructure, and shortage of human and financial resources, most of the waste is poorly managed. This is of concern to the people of Niue, since poor waste management above ground can pollute the fresh water lens, which is the source of drinking water for the entire island.

This is the Federated States of Micronesia’s National Solid Waste Management Strategy (NSWMS) which provides the strategic vision and direction for solid waste management over the five year period 2010-2014. The Strategy has been developed in consultation with key stakeholders from each of the four States, as well as the private sector, NGOs, communities, and municipal and national government representatives.

This report presents the findings of a preliminary survey initiated and conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to assess the situation of the generated solid waste and the sewage conditions at the Aleipata and Lepa Districts following the tsunami which hit Samoa on Tuesday, 29th September 2009. The occurrence of the Tsunami event has resulted with the generation of large quantities of solid wastes deposited at 10 villages of the Aleipata and Lepa Districts. Wastes from fallen trees, damaged buildings and furniture as well as other destroyed properties were deposited along the coast towards 200m inland. The toilet facilities at these villages were all destroyed with the contents of most septic tanks being swept away by the waves leaving open ditches, while some partly damaged septic tanks still have active and unstable sludge. Samoa like most of the Pacific Islands does not have any special policy and strategy in place to provide a management framework to respond to such a situation. The findings of this preliminary survey are therefore very important in providing some baseline information and data to assist JICA in its post tsunami relief waste management works.

The Republic of Palau (Palau) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean with a tropical climate and average annual rainfall of approximately 4,000 mm. Palau’s population is approximately 20,000 (Census 2000). The majority of the population lives in Koror State, the capital of Palau; about 14,000 people, or 70% of the total. Like many countries in the Pacific Region, Palau has been facing various kinds of solid waste problems caused by the characteristics of the country, such as lifestyle, high dependence on imports, concentration of population in the capital, limited capacity for solid waste management (SWM), and lack of proper waste management facilities and recycling industries.

Five year project commencing from June 2015, between CEPA & JICA : The Project for Biodiversity Conservation through Implementation of the PNG Policy on Protected Areas. Targets: Provincial administrations, district administrations, and LLG governments surround the target Protected areas.

Shinichi Kitaoka JICA president, April 7, attended the public event to discuss are affected by the conflict, which the Brookings Institution (Washington DC) was organized, about the role of development in highly vulnerable areas, keynote with perform, it took part in the panel discussion. (In an unstable region, how to realize the development), "Securing Development in Insecure Places" in the this event, titled, US State Department of Sharon Morris Deputy Assistant Secretary (Near East, the Western Hemisphere and Europe in charge), Georgetown University Edmund • a • Walsh diplomacy School of Joel Hermann science director, Brookings Institution Bruce Jones Vice-President and foreign policy program director (or more panelists), Homi crow Senior Fellow and global economy and development program of the Institute deputy director (moderator, moderator) will participate, for the role of development aid in conflict-vulnerable region, lively discussion from a professional point of view have been made. It should be noted that, in the event, the US government, development agencies, universities and research institutes, diplomatic corps, and the private sector, NGO, mass media, etc. about 120 people took part. Kitaoka Chairman, in the keynote speech, reviewing the history of parallel Japan of international cooperation, which began from Asia and the post-war compensation, but was also failures and inadequacies, generally the experience that helped the Asian countries of the development-oriented Although it was a success, it said to have contributed significantly to job creation and poverty reduction through the stabilization of the country, the economic development.