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The Wan Smol Bag (WSB) Turtle Monitor (TM) Program that came about as about as part of the SPREP 'Year of the Turtle' and included the drama 'I am a Turtle' in 1995 has had a significant impact on efforts to sustainably manage turtle resources of Vanuatu. The program started with a small number of rural communities around the central island of Efate that chose TMs to work voluntarily within their communities to promote the sustainable management of declining turtles populations. Driven by community needs, the network has since expanded its role to include the wise use of all natural resources depended upon by ni-Vanuatu and the Program renamed the Vanua-tai Resource Monitors (VTRM).

This is a report on research conducted by the author under the auspices of research funding provided by The University of Adelaide and the International Waters Project of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP). The focus of the research project has been to examine how existing arrangements of and approaches to governance affect the management of coastal resources and environments in three Pacific countries: Fiji: Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. It is not a comparative study.

This report describes the background, progress and status of activities under the accountability of SPREP's Assistant Project Officer. Ozone Depleting Substances (APO ODS) during the three-year contract at SPREP. It is intended as an overview primarily for SPREP Management, the new APO ODS and SPREP programme staff. This report may also be used by Pacific Island Countries (PICs). executing agency (UNEP) and donors (Montreal Protocol's Multilateral Fund and Australia) on the status of the Project at SPREP.

The National Summit for Sustainable Development posed a question: How do we, the people of Tuvalu, raise the national standard of living, for every citizen? The Malefatuga Declaration, which arose from the NSSD, contains the “Vision” that was unanimously endorsed by the delagates at the NSSD: WE, the representatives at the Tuvalu National Summit on Sustainable Development; comprising all island Head Chiefs and Presidents of Island Councils, Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament, representatives of civil society and the private sector, government ministries and departments, development partners and Tuvalu expatriates; RECOGNISE the importance of sustainable development - [that is] development without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs-and endorse the Vision of “By 2015, guided by strong spiritual values enshrined in its motto -’Tuvalu mo te Atua’1 -we will have achieved a healthy, educated, peaceful and prosperous Tuvalu.”

The Management Action Plan (MAP) provides both short-term and long-term strategic roadmaps for the improvements in the Government of the Republic of Palau envisioned to take place during the second term of President Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr. and new Vice-President Elias Camsek Chin (2005-2008). The Plan expands upon the specific short and long-term recommendations that were developed in the President’s first term, through the review and analysis of a number of National Planning Documents and through a comprehensive process of governmental management and employee interviews.

In 1989, the kakerori (Pomarea dimidiata) was one of the 10 rarest bird species in the world, with a declining population of just 29 birds. During each breeding season since then, rats have been poisoned within the 155 ha of forested hill country they occupy in the Takitumu Conservation Area in southeastern Rarotonga. As a result, the kakerori population has rebounded, with a minimum of 292 birds found on Rarotonga in August 2003. In 2001/02, the emphasis of management shifted from the .recovery. of kakerori to a programme aimed at .sustaining. the population at 250.300 individuals. The major changes were an experimental reduction in rat poisoning effort to a level where recruitment of kakerori balances annual mortality, and a series of transfers to establish an insurance population on the island of Atiu. In 2003/04, all bait stations were filled fortnightly, rather than the previous mix of weekly and fortnightly refills. This reduced labour costs by 30% to 32 person days, and used a total of 39 kg of Talon® (active ingredient brodifacoum), which was only 13% of the maximum annual poison use over the same area during the .recovery. phase of the programme. Breeding success was high (0.91 fledglings/ breeding territory), even in the unpoisoned areas, and a record total of 80 fledglings was detected. The fortnightly poisoning regime offers promise as an effective, cheaper and less toxin-intensive method than that used previously, and so we recommend maintaining this regime in 2004/05, so that the longerterm effects can be assessed. A third and final batch of 10 young kakerori was transferred to Atiu Island in August 2003. This .insurance. population is becoming well established; the five breeding pairs monitored in 2003/04 each raised two fledglings, and a minimum of 15 birds was found in May.June 2004 in the small part of the island that was searched.

We found coral diversity to be relatively high, especially at both tips of the island. Here we estimated the hard coral coverage to be about 30-40% and soft coral coverage about 25%. However, dead Pocillopora and Acropora colonies, already overgrown by algae, were scattered throughout the reef. On the northwest windward side of the island we encountered vast areas of bare rock with nibble filling the crevasses. Even in deeper zones live hard coral coverage was estimated to be only about 10%, dead coral coverage about 40% and the rest of the area was comprised of old coral rock and sand. Dead corals were overgrown by algae, and some live coral colonies were smothered by filamentous algae mats, causing the colonies to decrease in size.

There is an urgent need to improve the management of toilet waste in Funafuti the capital of Tuvalu. The current water-based systems for managing toilet waste, such as water-sealed latrines and septic tanks, are now threatening the sensitive groundwater system of this fragile atoll. During high tides and heavy rains it is likely that contaminated effluent from soakage pits is overflowing into low-lying residential areas, putting people at risk from illnesses such as hepatitis, typhoid, gastroenteritis and diarrhea. Diarrhea is a leading cause of death, in many Pacific Island communities, particularly in children under five years of age.

The objective of the FSM International Waters Project is to promote sustainable coastal fisheries via a system of marine protected areas established and maintained through a collaboration of traditional resources owners, government and non-government organizations, and other stakeholders in one management framework with the goals to: 1. Work with communities to define and clarify root problems relating to fisheries resources and develop their capacity to address problems with assistance from relevant agencies: 2. Survey and demarcate MPA sites and surrounding areas and develop a context for their management; 3. Conduct surveys to gather data needed to enhance the design and function of the MPA: 4. Increase fisheries resources through locally managed MPA: 5. Gather data needed to manage external pressures on coastal fisheries exploitation: 6. Develop a co-management system that will integrate community desires and efforts with relevant government and nongovernment services and resources: and 7. Share information and experience from the project with others on Yap and elsewhere to enhance awareness and replication of the project within and beyond Yap State. The theme of the project concept. “ CHOTHOWLIY EA DAY” which means "take care of the marine environment" was advanced as a follow up to the Yap Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan which was being undertaken at that time.