Search the SPREP Catalogue

One of the ongoing problems that Fiji faces in the aftermath of Cyclone Winston is the disposal of large amounts of disaster waste, and more than 17 months after Cyclone Pam, Vanuatu is still struggling with the same problem. It's an issue that's high on the agenda of the inaugural Clean Pacific Roundtable, and another post-disaster gathering that's going on in Fiji this week. Stewart Williams says it's important to act early, and in a more co-ordinated way than after Winston and other recent extreme weather events in the Pacific.

Samoa is playing play host to a regional meeting of CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora this week. The gathering comes ahead of the global CITES conference in South Africa next month, and provides an opportunity to prepare an agenda on the most important issues facing the Pacific. Michael Donoghue, Adviser on Threatened and Migratory Species for SPREP, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program says regional concerns are centred on the protection of several important marine species.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress continues in Hawai'i has just released a comprehensive review on the impact on humans and marine life of ocean warming, calling it one of this generation's greatest hidden challenges. Tommy Moore, from the Pacific Islands Global Ocean Observing System Officer at SPREP, says along with the impact of climate change, ocean acidification is already having a noticeable effect on the Pacific Ocean.

New regulations governing environmental impact assessments on Niue are to be introduced soon. So ahead of time, a team from SPREP has been to the island to provide training. The aim is to ensure that those tasked with protecting the environment from the impact of future developments know how the assessment system works, and how to get the best out of it. SPREP's Environmental Planning Officer, Melanie Bradley was part of the group that trained up the Niueans, and she says the hope is the new regulations will help manage the impacts of increased tourism on the island.

Eradicating invasive rats to help protect native Tongan birds.