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This document outlines the new programme-based approach that has been adopted for the SPREP Secretariat. This new approach to regional delivery is both more innovative and strategic than the project-based approach previously practiced. It provides clear, measurable indicators of the progress and impact of the Secretariat’s work in the region. This is an important element of the Secretariat’s efforts to encourage long-term collaboration with existing and new partners.

This is the Action Plan of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) for the period 2005–2009. This plan is owned by the membership of SPREP and their Secretariat. The members of SPREP are: American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, the United States of America, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna.

The Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) share some common characteristics with other Small Island Developing States (SIDS), including small physical size and geographical remoteness, fragile biodiversity, exposure to natural hazards, high population growth, a limited natural resource base, remoteness from world markets, and small economies of scale. However, some of these features are even more pronounced in PICTs, making them unique among SIDS. For example, PICTs are more geographically remote and have higher population densities than other SIDS. These characteristics make the environment and economies of SIDS particularly vulnerable to external pressures, as recognized in the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of SIDS (BPOA)and other international frameworks such as Agenda 21and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI).

This Annual Report notes the major achievements of SPREP in supporting Pacific island countries and territories to address issues relating to: biodiversity and ecosystem management, waste management and pollution and environmental monitoring and governance

National conference on sustainable development

activities have not necessarily been stimulated by Barbados. Indeed the timeframe for the development of successful projects in the Pacific is such that it is unlikely that the Barbados Programme of Action has been a significant catalyst for much of wha is contained in this report. But it does provide an internationally agreed framework for review.

A Joint Meeting of the Working Groups on the Apia and SPREP Conventions was convened in Siumu, Western Samoa, 3 July, 1996. Representatives of the following Contracting Parties attended: Apia Convention: Australia, Fiji and Western Samoa SPREP Convention: Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, the United States of America and Western Samoa. Other SPREP Members represented were Kiribati and Niue. A list of participants is at Annex 1.

This Annual Report notes the major achievements of SPREP in supporting Pacific island countries and territories to address issues relating to: biodiversity and ecosystem management, waste management and pollution and environmental monitoring and governance