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The environment and attendant biodiversity of Papua New Guinea has escaped much of the degradation witnessed in neighbouring countries, thanks more to the rugged terrain, absence of infrastructure and the traditional land tenure system than to any environmental management on the part of Government, individuals or the private sector. However, some areas of the country have experienced significant levels of degradation, generally related to resource extractions (i.e. mining and logging) and. there are serious future threats that need to be addressed with more vigour than heretofore.

Article 1 of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) spells out clearly the objectives of the Convention and Article 6 calls on Parties to develop national strategies, plans or programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. Further, Articles 26 also requires Parties to report to the Conference of the Parties the implementation of the provisions of the Convention This First National Communication Report is submitted in compliance with the intent of Article 26 and it contained measures which Tonga considers appropriate in terms of achievement of the objectives of the Convention.

The EU and the Pacific ACP countries can look back on more than 30 years of cooperation in the context of the EU-ACP partnership. This long-standing relationship is based on the legacy of a shared history, common values, economic and trade cooperation. Today, developments on both sides warrant renewal of this partnership and establishment of a fully-fledged strategy on the Pacific ACP countries. There are compelling reasons for proposing this first ever EU strategy for the Pacific.

The adverse effects of climate change, climate variability and sea level rise identified in the Kingdom of Tonga’s First National Communication present significant risks to sustainable development in Tonga. From the information gathered it is evident that Tonga will be among the first to suffer from these effects due to its physiographic, ecological and socioeconomic characteristics. Concern for the environmental consequences of man made activities in the Kingdom and in this context the impacts of climate change, climate variability & sea level rise go relatively unnoticed.