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An invasive ant distribution database to support biosecurity risk analysis in the Pacific

Biodiversity Conservation, BRB

Burne, Allan R.

Cooling, Meghan

Gruber, Monica A.

Invasive species are one of the most serious threats to biodiversity. Up-to-date and accurate information on the distribution of invasive species is an important biosecurity risk analysis tool. Several databases are available to determine the distributions of invasive species and native species. However, keeping this information current is a real challenge. Ants are among the most widespread invasive species. Five species of ants are listed in the IUCN list of damaging invasive species, and many other species are also invasive in the Pacific. We sought to determine and update the distribution information for the 18 most problematic invasive ant species in the Pacific to assist in Small Island Developing States with risk analysis. We compared the information on six public databases, conducted a literature review, and contacted experts on invasive ants in the Pacific region to resolve conflicting information. While most public records were accurate we found some new records had not yet been incorporated into the public databases, and some information was inaccurate. The maintenance of public databases faces an enormous challenge in balancing completeness (~15 000 ant species in this case) with accuracy (the impossibility of constantly surveying) and utility.

Biodiversity Conservation

Available Online

GEF - PAcific Alliance for Sustainability (GEF-PAS)

Pacific POPs Release Reduction Project

SPREP

The Pacific POPs Release Reduction Project, funded through the Global Environment Facility Pacific Alliance for Sustainability (GEF-PAS), aims to reduce Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the Pacific region through the improved management of solid and hazardous waste. The project is co-funded by Agence Française de Développement (AFD). It is executed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). POPs are toxic chemicals that can travel long distances through air and water, and accumulate in the fatty tissues of humans and other animals. They do not degrade quickly over time, and, as a consequence, potentially expose people to serious health issues including cancer, birth defects and immune system impairments. For more information, please visit www.sprep.org/stopthepops

Interactions between sea-level rise and wave exposure on reef island dynamics in the Solomon Islands

Biodiversity Conservation

Available Online

Albert, Simon

Church, John A.

Gibbes, Badin R.

Grinham, Alistair R.

Leon, Javier X.

Woodroffe, Colin D.

Low-lying reef islands in the Solomon Islands provide a valuable window into the future impacts of global sea-level rise. Sea-level rise has been predicted to cause widespread erosion and inundation of low-lying atolls in the central Pacific. However, the limited research on reef islands in the western Pacific indicates the majority of shoreline changes and inundation to date result from extreme events, seawalls and inappropriate development rather than sea-level rise alone. Here, we present the first analysis of coastal dynamics from a sea-level rise hotspot in the Solomon Islands. Using time series aerial and satellite imagery from 1947 to 2014 of 33 islands, along with historical insight from local knowledge, we have identified five vegetated reef islands that have vanished over this time period and a further six islands experiencing severe shoreline recession. Shoreline recession at two sites has destroyed villages that have existed since at least 1935, leading to community relocations. Rates of shoreline recession are substantially higher in areas exposed to high wave energy, indicating a synergistic interaction between sea-level rise and waves. Understanding these local factors that increase the susceptibility of islands to coastal erosion is critical to guide adaptation responses for these remote Pacific communities.

solomon islands

The PNG-METT : A method for assessing effectiveness in Papua New Guinea's protected areas

Biodiversity Conservation

Available Online

Leverington, Fiona

Peterson, Ann

Peterson, Gregory

In 20152016, the Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG), through its Conservation and Environmental Protection Authority (CEPA) and with the support of United Nations Development Program (UNDP), organised an evaluation of its protected areas, as part of the process to improve management effectiveness. PNGs Policy on Protected Areas commits to regular evaluation of management effectiveness and to taking remedial action to improve effectiveness over time. Management effectiveness of Protected Areas will be regularly evaluated on a national basis, and improvements will be put into place based on assessment results. Where Protected Area effectiveness or wildlife populations and health are shown to be declining or at risk, causes will be investigated and corrective measures rapidly implemented (Independent State of Papua New Guinea, 2014, p. 50). This effort is a component of the third pillar supporting the vision for the protected area network in PNG: effective and adaptive biodiversity management

papua new guinea

Pacific Women in Meteorology

Biodiversity Conservation

Available Online

SPREP

Pacific women in meteorology - Samoa, Palau, Fiji, PNG

Calls to stop dumping by fleets supported by Pacific leaders

Biodiversity Conservation, Waste Management and Pollution Control

Available Online

Godfrey, Dominic

Latu, Kosi

Radio NZ

SPREP

The Pacific's environmental agency chief says he has received heartening support for his call to stop fishing fleets dumping waste. SPREP director-general Kosi Latu was speaking during the Fiji hosted UN Oceans Conference in New York. Mr Latu caught up with Dominic Godfrey about his presentation on marine pollution and the 10-thousand recorded cases of waste dumping in the Pacific by purse-seine fishing vessels over a 12-year period.

Effective management of hazardous materials, hazardous wastes and contaminated sites - Training Workshop Programme

Biodiversity Conservation

Available Online

SPREP

Training Workshop Programme for the 2001 Effective management of hazardous materials, hazardous wastes and contaminated sites

waste management

Critical Analysis Report - FNU (Fiji National University) Waste Management Vocational Training (2013-2014)

Waste Management and Pollution Control

Available Online

SPREP

Reduced emissions of unintentionally produced POPs (uPOPs) is hoped to be achieved under the GEFPAS project through a range of funded initiatives including the provision of quality vocational training of semi-skilled waste employees. It was envisioned that this would involve the development and delivery of a waste management vocational training course at a regional institution. The overall project objectives related to the training were to create a program that would: · Develop a solid waste management vocational training program in conjunction with regional institutions; · Routinely train course participants to become waste management trainers using the trainthe-trainer concept; and · Ensure long-term sustainability and continuity of the training program with regional institutions.

Port Vila ESRAM Project (Powerpoint presentation)

Climate Change Resilience

Available Online

Dr. Komugabe-Dixson, Aimée

Powerpoint presentation on ESRAM in Port Vila, Vanuatu

Elasmobranch captures in the Fijian pelagic longline fishery

Biodiversity Conservation

Gilman, Eric

Piovano, Susanna

1. Pelagic longline fisheries for relatively fecund tuna and tuna-like species can have large adverse effects on incidentally caught species with low-fecundity, including elasmobranchs. 2. Analyses of observer programme data from the Fiji longline fishery from 2011 to 2014 were conducted to characterize the shark and ray catch composition and identify factors that significantly explained standardized catch rates. Catch data were fitted to generalized linear models to identify potentially significant explanatory variables. 3. With a nominal catch rate of 0.610 elasmobranchs per 1000 hooks, a total of 27 species of elasmobranchs were captured, 48% of which are categorized as Threatened under the IUCN Red List. Sharks and rays made up 2.4% and 1.4%, respectively, of total fish catch. Blue sharks and pelagic stingrays accounted for 51% and 99% of caught sharks and rays, respectively. 4. There was near elimination of shark lines, branchlines set at or near the sea surface via attachment directly to floats, after 2011. 5. Of caught elasmobranchs, 35% were finned, 11% had the entire carcass retained, and the remainder was released alive or discarded dead. Finning of elasmobranchs listed in CITES Appendix II was not observed in 2014. 6. There were significantly higher standardized shark and ray catch rates on narrower J-shaped hooks than on wider circle hooks. Based on findings from previous studies on single factor effects of hook width and shape, the smaller minimum width of the J-shaped hooks may have caused the higher shark and ray catch rates. For sharks, the effect of hook width may have exceeded the effect of hook shape, where small increases in shark catch rates have been observed on circle vs J-shaped hooks. 7. Shark and ray standardized catch rates were lowest in the latter half of the year. Focusing effort during the second half of the year could reduce elasmobranch catch rates.

fiji

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