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In 1998, the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), organised a training workshop in Community-based Ecotourism for Conservation Areas. The workshop was held at Lonnoc Resort (Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu). The 1998 workshop was attended mainly by representatives from the Conservation Area projects supported by the South Pacific Biodiversity Conservation Programme (SPBCP), plus six Melanesian focal points for marine and coral reef conservation.

The SPREP region has a divcrne marine mammal fauna, ind\.lding reprelWntlltivcB from the three mojor mllrine mammal groUPl': tetacealUl, pinnipe

Most South Pacific island countries are characterised by small land masses surrounded by vast stretches of ocean. As such the marine environment is an important resource base for the people of these countries, with the livelihood of many people being closely connected with the sea. The potential for enhanced development and utilisation of marine resources is considerable, particularly as the demand for resources increases and the land becomes limited in its capacity to fulfil this demand. It is therefore imperative that appropriate measures are taken to safeguard the quality of both the marine and terrestrial environments.