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The review of the SPREP Regional Marine Species Action Plans (MSAP) 2008 – 2012 was conducted from the 8 – 14 March, 2012, at the Hexagon International Hotel, Nadi, Fiji Islands. The SPREP MSAPs are a composite of individual plans for whales and dolphins, marine turtles and dugongs.

Coastal populations are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of extreme events such as storms and hurricanes, and these pressures may be exacerbated through the influence of climate change and sea level rise. Coastal ecosystems such as mangrove forests are increasingly being promoted and used as a tool in coastal defence strategies. There remains, however, a pressing need to better understand the roles that ecosystems can play in defending coasts. This report focuses on mangrove forests and the role they can play in reducing wind and swell waves. While mangrove forests are usually found on shores with little incoming wave energy, they may receive larger waves during storms, hurricanes and periods of high winds. Large wind and swell waves can cause flooding and damage to coastal infrastructure. By reducing wave energy and height, mangroves can potentially reduce associated damage.

A BIORAP is a biological inventory programme undertaken in marine and/or terrestrial environments, and is designed to rapidly assess the biodiversity of highly diverse areas. Options to manage threats and protect biodiversity of national or international significance are recommended to governing communities.

The Pacific Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement through Renewable Energy Project (PIGGAREP) is a Global Environment Facility (GEF) US$5.25 million project in eleven Pacific Island Countries (PICs). Implementation of the project started on 1 January 2008. PIGGAREP’s planned five year duration has been extended to six and a half years, with a scheduled end date now of December 2013.