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Events such as floods, bushfires, droughts and cyclones frequently hit the news headlines as they often cause significant loss of life and large-scale economic impacts. Planning to mitigate the impact of such incidents has become even more critical given the prediction of increased climatic extremes associated with present global warming.

The harmful effects of anti-fouling systems were considered by the International Maritime Organization's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) for the first time in 1998, when the Paris Commission requested the MEPC to consider the need to measure to restrict the use of tributyltin (TBT) compounds on seagoing vessels.

Many tourism companies include visits to protected areas, including World Heritage sites, as part of their tourism excursions. These visits could also benefit conservation and site protection but this requires forging links between parks managers and the tourism industry.

Agriculture and food production offer stable livelihood options to rural communities throughout Asia and the Pacific region. Even as the effects of globalization spread in the region, farm production – most often at the smallholder level – continues to be a family enterprise. A fair share of farmers in the region engages in subsistence farming and poverty is a common occurrence among them. Farm enterprises are mostly managed by family members and family labour is a critical asset and often the only reliable investment. As rural women and men toil to preserve their heritage and broaden their economic choices, their endeavours are made more difficult by a lack of resources and market fluctuations. Asian and Pacific farmers, both men and women, are guardians of biodiversity, household food security and providers of food to urban communities. In these small farm enterprises distinct gender roles and gender differentiated access to technology and resources are evident. This disparity is compounded by the neglect of investment in rural social infrastructures such as education, health care and communications. In such resource poor rural environments, the struggle by rural women for access to resources and services is inevitable. In many Asian and Pacific countries, substantial gender equality gains have been made in urban areas in education, health and employment. Yet rural women lag behind. Moreover, rural women’s work is multifaceted and demanding both as family workers and agricultural labourers. Social and economic indicators often do not do justice to their contributions. Development innovations such as microcredit and self-help groups promote rural women’s economic development, but emerging evidence suggests that gender equality in rural communities is far from an everyday reality. Persisting social biases and traditional perceptions and assumptions regarding women’s responsibilities and their capacities continue to hamper women’s progress. This publication presents an overview of both the substantial contribution made by rural women to the economies in the region and the persisting barriers to their advancement. The framework of analysis, data and information reviewed together illustrate the complexity of rural women’s work in the region and offer a broad perspective on women’s economic and social contribution as well as on the barriers they encounter in accessing resources.

Toothpaste, poke, puka shell necklaces, medicine and rain are just some of the things that come from the ocean. In many ways--more than we know--we are connected to the ocean. Without it, we could not survive. And guess what? the ocean depends on us too! Everything we do, including watering the grass, throwing away rubbish and snorkeling, has a huge effect on the sea and the creatures who live there.

Reef and shore fishes of the South Pacific : New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands / John E. Randall

The coconut and the Fiji fan palm are by far the best known of Fiji's palms, but both may actually be old introductions to Fiji. This new book, the first ever published on the subject, describes the 31 species of palm that may be found growing wild in Fiji today; 25 of these are considered native and six are introduced. It is 25 little-known indigenous palms that are the core subject of this book as they form a distinctive and unique component of the natural heritage of the Fiji Islands. Fiji's palms are poorly known; indeed, two 'species' are not even scientifically described. They vary in size and form from the delicate 3-4 metre Balaka seemammii to the recently described Hydriastele boumae which is as tall as a coconut emerges from the forest canopy. What we know about these palms should give rise to serious concern. Indeed over half of Fiji's endemic palms are on hte world Red List of endangered plants and are officially categorized by the World Conservation Union as threatened with extinction. The plight of Fiji's palms is a micrcosm of the plight of Fiji's forests which are being butchered and burned, year in and year out, with hardly a mumur of public concern. Palms are a very appropriate conservation flagship for the Fiji islands and also provide a wonderful opportunity for some of the more academic interests of the vunerability of island floras and extinction processes. It is the author's hope that this book will contribute to a greater knowledge and awareness of Fiji's palms and Fiji's pressing forest and biodiversity conservation issues.

Small island developing States (SIDS) have long been recognized by the international community as a special case whose needs and concerns have to be addressed. Although these countries are among the least responsible for climate change, they are likely to suffer most from its adverse effects and could in some cases even become uninhabitable. This is what makes them a special case requiring the help and attention of the international community.