Search the SPREP Catalogue

Fiji and other Pacific Island Countries face a high risk of communicable disease outbreaks caused by endemic, emerging and re-emerging disease, which are influenced by social, economic and ecological changes.

A monthly e-bulletin of activities and assistance from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme to its member countries

Currently much of the waste going to community dumps is organic materials (40-65%) which, when mixed in a dump with other material like plastics and nappies etc, can cause soil and water pollution, odour, and methane (climate change effects).

On Taveuni Island, organic farmer Liopoli Cirimaitoga is showing that with care and dedication, the land can heal. By reforesting 100 acres of once-degraded land, Mr. Cirimaitoga is proving that farmers can sustain their livelihoods without encroaching into the Taveuni Forest Reserve. Through the Teitei Taveuni Land Care Project and support from #PEBACC+, he’s restoring the soil, supporting biodiversity, and securing a greener future for his community.

Ocean Outlook, fortnight to 18 April: • Sea surface temperature (SST) forecasts more than 0.8°C above normal are favoured in the following country EEZs: Palau, northern CNMI, southern Line Is. (Kiribati), most of PNG, western and southern Solomon Is., central and southern Vanuatu, western and southern New Caledonia, northern Tonga, Niue, southern A. Samoa, southwest Cook Is., northern and parts of southern French Polynesia. SST anomalies above 1.2°C are favoured in parts of PNG, southern New Caledonia, and southern French Polynesia. Elsewhere SSTs are predicted to be near-normal.

At the outset, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Government of French Polynesia for the warm welcome, and for graciously hosting us in your beautiful country. I would also like to thank the Blue Cradle Foundation and collaborating partners for organising the Tiaki Moana Summit and Workshop on ‘Other Effective Area based Conservation Measures (OECM).

Biosecurity and environmental monitoring systems were drawn up and implemented between the islands of Futuna and Alofi as well as between Uvea and the islets of Wallis lagoon. These systems aim to prevent the spread of invasive alien species (IAS), in particular to ensure that the benefits of the eradication and restoration initatives carried out as part of the project are susaintable.

Last year brought both successes and disappointments in global efforts to tackle the triple planetary crisis: the crisis of climate change; the crisis of nature and biodiversity loss and desertification; and the crisis of pollution and waste.

Ocean Outlook, fortnight to 11 April: • Sea surface temperature (SST) forecasts more than 0.8°C above normal are favoured in the following country EEZs: Palau, northern CNMI, western FSM, far northern RMI, southern Line Is. (Kiribati), most of PNG, central and western Solomon Is., most of Vanuatu, northern and central New Caledonia and northern French Polynesia. SST anomalies above 1.2°C are favoured in southern Palau, large parts of PNG, far southeastern French Polynesia and southwestern Pitcairn Is. Elsewhere SSTs are predicted to be near-normal.

Environmental restoration operations were implemented at five sites that are key for biodiversity and ecosystem services in Wallis and Futuna, through the removal of invasive plant species (IPS) and the reintroduction of heritage plants. The project's contribution aimed to provide technical expertise on appropriate methods of combating IPS present in order to target efforts, and to finance the human and materials resources necessary to carry out actions in support of local services.