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  • Collection Island and Ocean Ecosystems
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Climate change and water: technical paper of the IPCC
Climate Change Resilience, Island and Ocean Ecosystems
Available Online

Bates, Bryson

,

Kundzewicz, Zbigniew

,

Palutikof Jean

,

Wu, Shaohon Wu

2008
Observational records and climate projections provide abundant evidence that freshwater resources are vulnerable and have the potential to be strongly impacted by climate change, with wide-ranging consequences for human societies and ecosystems. Observed warming over several decades has been linked to changes in the large-scale hydrological cycle such as: increasing atmospheric water vapour content; changing precipitation patterns, intensity and extremes; reduced snow cover and widespread melting of ice; and changes in soil moisture and runoff. Precipitation changes show substantial spatial and inter-decadal variability. Over the 20th century, precipitation has mostly increased over land in high northern latitudes, while decreases have dominated from 10°S to 30°N since the 1970s. The frequency of heavy precipitation events (or proportion of total rainfall from heavy falls) has increased over most areas (likely). Globally, the area of land classified as very dry has more than doubled since the 1970s (likely). There have been significant decreases in water storage in mountain glaciers and Northern Hemisphere snow cover. Shifts in the amplitude and timing of runoff in glacier- and snowmelt-fed rivers, and in ice-related phenomena in rivers and lakes, have been observed (high confidence).
The role of coastal forests in the mitigation of tsunami impacts
Island and Ocean Ecosystems
Available Online

Broadhead, Jeremy

,

Forbes, Keith

2007
The tsunami of 26 December 2004 was a major natural disaster, killing some 229 866 men, women and children and causing billions of dollars in damage (United Nations, 2007). With a moment magnitude, Mw, between 9.1 and 9.3, the earthquake that caused the tsunami was the largest in the last forty years and second largest in instrumental history (Bilham, 2005). Yet, the devastation caused by the 2004 tsunami (like most other tsunamis) could have been greatly reduced in many of the thirteen countries that were hit, particularly in those countries farther from the earthquake epicenter and subject to less massive tsunamis. While it is well documented that the lack of an adequate early warning system for the Indian Ocean was largely to blame for the high casualty rate, the tragedy occurred for another reason, as well. Much of the coastline in many parts of Asia and the Pacific is heavily populated – an increasingly growing phenomenon seen around the world. As a consequence of this development, coastal vegetation – and the associated setback – that would have provided natural protection from hazards such as storms, cyclones or even tsunamis has been degraded, severely altered or completely removed.
Marine aquarium fishery management plan : Tonga
Island and Ocean Ecosystems
Available Online

Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture & Food, Forestry and Fisheries, Government of the Kingdom of Tonga

The Government of Tonga began promoting reef resources for generating foreign revenue in the mid 1980s. These particular reef resources include small inedible1 fish, corals (soft and hard), invertebrates and live rocks (rubbles, dead rocks, aquarium rocks). The purpose of this fishery is aimed at ornamental or pets in aquaria and is not for human consumption. All fisheries fundamentally have substantial economic contribution. It follows that it also has social importance. The UNEP reported that between 1.5 to 2 million world wide keeps marine aquaria in their homes, schools, Research Institutions and in public aquaria. By global standards it is a multi million dollar trade with an estimated worth of US$200-300 million generated annually.
Samoa Tsunami rapid environmental impact assessment report: draft October 14th 2009
Island and Ocean Ecosystems
Available Online

Ifopo, Pulea Etiseli

2009
A rapid assessment of the environmental impacts of the 29 September tsunami was conducted by a multi-agency team from 3 to 14 October, 2009. Fourteen “green” and 10 “brown” environmental variables were selected and measured based on the experience of the survey team and similar reports from elsewhere. During a tour of the affected area on Upolu by car and on foot those “assessable” variables were scored “high” (over two thirds affected), “medium” (over one third, less than two thirds affected), “low” (less than a third affected) or zero (unaffected). Manono and Savaii were surveyed by air with the former showing evidence of some damage and the later apparently none or very little. The most affected areas in Upolu were villages in the Aleipata, Lepa and Falealili districts with the most obvious indicators of the tsunami’s impact being solid waste (sometimes resulting from the complete destruction of a village), erosion of the beach and fore-shore and the (expected) impact on marine resources. Other environmental variables assessed also showed similar patterns. Impacts on a wharf/dry dock facility are also described (including lost fuel drums) as are the possible environmental implications of new settlements created by displaced persons (mainly revolving around sanitation, drainage and water supply).
Regional policy development on Climate and Sea Level changes in the Pacific Region
Climate Change Resilience, Island and Ocean Ecosystems
Available Online

Kaluwin, Chalapan

1995
It is a great challenge to convert scientific knowledge of climate and sea level change to information that is useful to policy makers. This process is especially important in the South Pacific where many small island nations are already facing the effects of climate change. This paper will address the following topics: the importance and priority of oceanography and science policies: the type of scientific results necessary for the policy process: whether the policy development is externally driven: communication between scientists and policy makers: and the vulnerability of small island states in the face of changing environmental conditions. The South Pacific region's combined Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) occupy 30 million square kilometers (three times larger than China or the USA). The land area is less than 2cc of that total with an estimated population of fewer than 6 million people.
Spearfishing in the Pacific islands: current status and management issues
Island and Ocean Ecosystems
Available Online

Gillett, Robert

,

Moy, Wayne

2006
Spearfishing is growing in importance in the Pacific Islands. While its management has featured as a topic in some regional-level meetings, detailed information on spearfishing is surprisingly scarce. In early 1994, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) proposed to consolidate information on spearfishing in the Pacific Islands. The original intent was to undertake a review of the available literature through a desk study. With the realization that many issues related to spearfishing are undocumented, the strategy was changed to include some field work. These activities were supported by the FAO FishCode Programme. This report reviews spearfishing in selected Pacific Island countries and identifies the important species caught by and the major problems associated with the method. It further considers possible interventions to mitigate these problems and the assistance that is likely to be required by Pacific Island countries in the management of their spearfisheries. Visits to five countries undertaken during the study show that there are very large differences between countries, and between locations within a single country, in the level and type of spearfishing activities. General conclusions on the management of spearfishing include: (a) for several reasons, a complete ban of scuba spearfishing coupled with effective enforcement is the single most important spearfishing management measure; (b) spearfishing effort must be managed along with other forms of inshore fishing, since attempts at restricting spearfishing alone are not likely to be successful as fishing effort may b easily transferred to other small-scale fishing methods; and (c) in the management of inshore fisheries, including that of spearfishing, interventions must be formulated, initiated and enforced at the local level, preferably with some assistance from the national level.
Plastic soup
Island and Ocean Ecosystems, Waste Management and Pollution Control

Goossens, Jesse

Tuvalu : summary of species on the 2008 IUCN Red List
Climate Change Resilience, Island and Ocean Ecosystems, BRB
Available Online

IUCN

2009
The Pacific islands of Oceania cover almost 15% of the world's surface and are characterised by a high degree of ecosystem and species diversity. The region is characterised by thousands of isolated small coral atolls and higher volcanic islands, which has led to the high diversity of species found today. In fact, the number of plants and animals found nowhere else on earth (endemic species) is extremely high - often up to 90% for particular groups. Often, these rare and endemic species are adapted to specialised habitats and limited to small areas of a few islands. With economic and cultural dependence on the natural environment very high in the Pacific islands, along with a rapidly expanding human population, there are ever increasing demands on the region's natural resources. Plant and animal species are therefore vulnerable to extinction from climate change, competition from introduced (invasive) species and human impacts such as habitat destruction, over-harvesting of species and pollution.
Vanuatu : summary of species on the 2008 IUCN Red List
Climate Change Resilience, Island and Ocean Ecosystems, BRB
Available Online

IUCN

2009
The Pacific islands of Oceania cover almost 15% of the world's surface and are characterised by a high degree of ecosystem and species diversity. The region is characterised by thousands of isolated small coral atolls and higher volcanic islands, which has led to the high diversity of species found today. In fact, the number of plants and animals found nowhere else on earth (endemic species) is extremely high - often up to 90% for particular groups. Often, these rare and endemic species are adapted to specialised habitats and limited to small areas of a few islands. With economic and cultural dependence on the natural environment very high in the Pacific islands, along with a rapidly expanding human population, there are ever increasing demands on the region's natural resources. Plant and animal species are therefore vulnerable to extinction from climate change, competition from introduced (invasive) species and human impacts such as habitat destruction, over-harvesting of species and pollution.
Wallis and Futuna: summary of species on the 2008 IUCN Red List
Climate Change Resilience, Island and Ocean Ecosystems, BRB
Available Online

IUCN

2009
The Pacific islands of Oceania cover almost 15% of the world's surface and are characterised by a high degree of ecosystem and species diversity. The region is characterised by thousands of isolated small coral atolls and higher volcanic islands, which has led to the high diversity of species found today. In fact, the number of plants and animals found nowhere else on earth (endemic species) is extremely high - often up to 90% for particular groups. Often, these rare and endemic species are adapted to specialised habitats and limited to small areas of a few islands. With economic and cultural dependence on the natural environment very high in the Pacific islands, along with a rapidly expanding human population, there are ever increasing demands on the region's natural resources. Plant and animal species are therefore vulnerable to extinction from climate change, competition from introduced (invasive) species and human impacts such as habitat destruction, over-harvesting of species and pollution.

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