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Preparation of the Samoa Shadow Report On The Millennium Development Goals was outsourced to the O Le Siosiomaga Society Incorporated (OLSSI) by the Samoa Umbrella Non Governmental Organisation (SUNGO) in a collaboration project with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator and the Government of Samoa. The Shadow Report itself culminates weeks of advocacy work by Non Governmental Organisations that are members of SUNGO in association with relevant government ministries. These activities included information “spots” on local television, panel discussions over the radio, and two national workshops that included participants from communities throughout the country

This study explores ways in which environmental considerations can be integrated into economic decisions in order to facilitate planning for sustainable development (SD), with particular emphasis on Pacific Island Countries (PICs).1 Ever since the ‘Earth Summit’ was held in June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, sustainable development has been embraced worldwide as a desirable development goal. At the Earth Summit, world leaders adopted Agenda 21, an agreement consisting of various action programmers covering nearly every aspect of all human activities that impact on the natural environment. Chapter 8 of Agenda 21 deals with integrating environment and development in decision making. Section 8.5, ‘Improving planning and management system’, states.

La zone est extrêmement variée et les enjeux le sont donc également. Toutefois certains d’entre eux sont présents dans presque tous les sites où le programme intervient : Pêches récifales de plus en plus problématiques Travaux sur l’état de santé des récifs, l’effet des pêches, l’effet des AMP, éparpillés et peu coordonnés, Coopération régionale très limitée malgré la similitude des problèmes et probablement des solutions Possibilité de renforcer la couverture des AMP dans le Pacifique Disponibilité de savoir faire (centre de recherche, ONG, entreprises, Etats), de réseaux (LMMA, ONG, GCRMN, etc.) et de moyens (commande politique de la France de coopérer régionalement sur le sujet, ONG internationales prêtes à cofinancer) Espèces phares en danger par endroit (tortues, dugong, etc.) Pressions : - Activités humaines : surtout surpêche ou pêche avec des techniques destructives mais aussi, pollution des eaux (agriculture intensive, problèmes miniers, etc.) - Facteurs climatiques: cyclones

The production of an identification guide for traditional Asian medicines in trade was thought necessary to assist enforcers to determine which medicines and ingredients are legal or illegal, in the context of the cases they are dealing with. The majority of law enforcers have 110 knowledge of Chinese characters and the many forms that these medicines take. This guide is primarily for law enforcers based outside Asia, in countries where large volumes of traditional Asian medicines are imported. The regions where this version of the guide may be of most use include Europe. North America and Australasia.

The Belau National Museum published a limited country-based needs assessment in 2004 with regard to terrestrial arthropods. Priorities identified included basic taxonomic research and surveys to complete the cataloguing of arthropod diversity with focus on protected areas, caves, aquatic habitats and other fragile ecosystems.

The completion of this report would not have been possible without the assistance of a large number of organizations and individuals. We would like to convey our sincere thanks and gratitude to all those who provided information, guidance and advice. Special thanks are extended to the following individuals whose assistance was instrumental in providing information for this report. Mr. Francis Itimai for the Federated States of Micronesia. Mr. Theo Isamu, Mr. Obichang Orak, Mr. Roman Yano, Mr. Larry Goddard, Mr. Francis Matsutaro, Mr. Yimnang Golbuu, Ms. Elisabeth Mathews and Mr. and Mrs. Yano in Palau. Mr. Danny Wase, Ms. Florence Edwards, Mr. Terry Keju, Dr. Manoj Nair and Mr. Rod Bourke in the Marshall Islands. Dr. Dan Sua, Ms. Malwine Lober, Mr. Lui Bell and Mr. Masanami Izumi in Samoa. Ms. Michelle Lam, Mr. Walt and Mrs. Debra Smith, Mr. Tim McLeod, Mr. Hugh Govan in Fiji. Mr. Poasi Fale, Mr. Dickson, Joe Viock and Ms. Mandi Johnson in Tonga. Mr. Moses Amos, Mr. William Naviti, Mr. Larry Sharron and Mr. Quentin Segrest in Vanuatu. In addition, we would like to extend our thanks to a number of individuals; Mr. David Hesaie, Mr. Ian Bertram, Mr. Georges Remoissenet, Dr. Mike Rimmer, Mr. Flinn Curren, Mr. John Gourley, Ms Cathy Hair, Ms. Marine-Ange Hnaujie Mr. Paul Holthus, Mr. Nelson Kile, Mr. Idris Lane, Mr. Ben Ponia and for their help, information and guidance.

Coral reefs represent some of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth, providing critical habitat to approximately 25 percent of marine species. In addition, these ecosystems provide economic benefits through tourism and fisheries. One recent estimate valued the annual net economic benefits of the world’s coral reefs at $30 billion. However, human activities including development in coastal areas, over-fishing, and pollution have contributed to a global loss of over 10 percent of these valuable ecosystems. An additional 15 percent have been lost due to warming of the surface ocean, and climate change will further contribute to coral reef degradation in the decades ahead.

National Waste Policy : Defines waste and sets out the general principles which guide how waste issues are dealt with in the Cook Islands

Plants, birds, insects, mammals, amphibians and fishes are rapidly responding to the observed changes in climate everywhere on the planet. Extreme high temperatures immediately result in hefty responses. The responses, however, significantly differ from species to species and from year to year, which complicates a clear attribution of causes. The ecological impacts are nowadays visible everywhere through changes in the timing of life cycle events and the geographic distributions of species. Plants have advanced flowering by up to 30 days and are now doing so at dates never documented in the last two centuries. Some species show a dramatic increase in range area, disrupting ecosystems like, for example, the rapid spread over millions of hectares of the Mountain Pine Beetle in North America and the northward expansion of the Oak Processionary caterpillar in The Netherlands. Also fires have increased catastrophically in tropical wet forests during the severe droughts of the El Niño years in the nineties. Other species show a dramatic decrease in distribution or population sizes, illustrated by bleaching corals and disappearing amphibians worldwide. Warm winters, hot summers, excessive precipitation and extended droughts are weather events that trigger these responses

Vehicle traffic in Tarawa is increasing rapidly with the importation of more and more vehicles. Vehicle waste is of course also increasing, and as the upsurge in vehicles imported in the last few years feeds through, and those vehicles are no longer in service, the waste issue is set to increase dramatically. On an atoll any waste is a problem, and large wastes such as vehicles are particular problems. They also contain liquid and toxic wastes that need dealing with in a systematic manner, that are currently a major source of ground water pollution.