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The South Pacific1 has experienced a remarkable proliferation of Marine Managed Areas (MMAs) in the last decade. These protected areas, implemented by over 500 communities spanning 15 independent countries and territories represent a unique global achievement. The approaches being developed at national levels are built on a unique feature of the region, customary tenure and resource access, and make use of, in most cases, existing community strengths in traditional knowledge and governance, combined with a local awareness of the need for action, resulting in what have been most aptly termed Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs). The main driver in most cases, is a community desire to maintain or improve livelihoods, often related to perceived threats to food security or local economic revenue. In the South Pacific, conservation and sustainable use are often seen as inseparable as part of the surviving concepts of traditional environmental stewardship. The extent of this shift towards Community Based Resource Management in Melanesia and Polynesia is unprecedented on a global scale and is the subject of this report.

Asia and the Pacific, for the purposes of this book, encompasses a vast territory extending from Mongolia in the north to New Zealand in the south; from the Cook Islands in the east to Kuwait in the west (Map 1). The environmental diversity of Asia and the Pacific is therefore vast, and is contrasted by the region’s coldest and hottest deserts, verdant tropical rain forests, extensive steppe, desert steppe,grassland and range lands, mountains and plains. It is this great variation in geography, topography and climate that provides the rich and unique diversity found in the region’s ecosystems. There is great disparity too in the ethnicity of its people’s and the economic status of its nations.

Despite its extraordinary cultural and biological diversity and richness, the Pacific is recognised by the World Heritage Committee as one of the most under-represented regions on the World Heritage List. Moreover, the Pacific region requires special assistance for the more effective implementation of the World Heritage Convention, as it faces special challenges related to its unique geographical, cultural and social characteristics.

Hello boys and girls. Climate change is the most talked about topic all over the world. This is because it will affect the lives of everyone, including all who live in our Pacific Islands. Scientists say that climate change might cause longer dry seasons and more rainfall during the wet season. They also say that our days may get hotter, our oceans warmer, and our sea levels higher. Our environment plays a big role in helping us tackle climate change. We can all play a part in helping reduce the impacts of climate change on our islands by taking care of our forests, our land, our mangroves and our reefs. By doing this we also help look after all the wonderful birds, animals, and fish that surround us. We hope this booklet will help show you some ways you can help tackle climate change. Now join Pou and Miri on their adventure. Happy reading! Dr Wulf Killmann, Programme Director, SPC/GIZ Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region Programme

Don’t bring risky plant material, fruit or cut flowers into your country or take them to another country without advice from your Quarantine Service. Make sure shoes and personal items are clean and free of plant seeds and insects.