Action Plan for Managing the Environment of the South Pacific region : 1997-2000

Abstract

Pacific island people rely on biological resources to meet their traditional needs and, increasingly, for generating cash income. Rising material expectations and, in many cases, increasing populations are placing considerable pressure on the limited land and coastal marine ecosystems, and the biodiversity they contain. The biodiversity of Pacific islands is characterised by high levels of species diversity and endemism and is among the most threatened in the world. Poor natural resource management and poorly planned or executed development activities are depleting and compromising this natural resource base. Human capacity and financial resources to effectively tackle these issues remains very limited.