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All environment, historical, cultural, political and judicial issues may impact biological diversity in one way or another. In this context, Kiribati Government recognises the need to sustain biological diversity. In doing so, related programmes in Environmental Impact Assessment, Climate Change and Sea Level Changes, Solid Waste Management and Conservation Areas have been implemented with the full assistance and support of Government.

In a region sometimes called ‘Oceania’, the health of the ocean is fundamental to the health of all aspects of the entire Pacific islands region. Marine pollution is widely recognised as one of the three major threats to the world’s oceans, along with habitat destruction and over-exploitation of living marine resources. Spills of oil and other chemicals into the marine environment, both from ships and land-based sources, are a significant source of pollution.

The region served by the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP; fig. 1) is situated in the middle of the largest continuous marine habitat on the planet, the Pacific Ocean. Marine mammals (whales, dolphins, porpoises, dugongs and seals) range throughout much of this huge region. Of the world’s approximately 120 living marine mammal species, three-quarters occur in the Pacific (cf. Rice, 1977a). Of the 90 or so Pacific species, perhaps a third are known to be resident in the SPREP region or at least to visit it seasonally or occasionally. However, due to the vastness of the region and the relative lack of research activity in it, very little is known about the marine mammals in the SPREP region. Much of what is known about the distribution and seasonal occurrence of large whales has come from 19th century American, French and British commercial whalers (cf. Townsend, 1935) and from researchers working in conjunction with modern Japanese whaling operations (cf. Miyashita et al., 1995a). Much of what is known about the smaller whales, dolphins and seals comes from the non-systematic, often opportunistic efforts of individual scientists. Dugongs have been studied relatively intensively in some areas because of international concern about their endangered status.

Disposal of solid waste is a world-wide problem. The Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the Pacific increasingly share in this problem. As the economies of the island States develop and move toward a cash based, consumer goods society, the volumes and complexity of waste products increase. However, unlike the mainly organic waste of the past, much of the modem waste stream may take many years to break down. Some components of the waste may be harmful. Inadequately managed waste disposal has the potential to affect the health of the people, damage the environment of the islands and be a barrier to economic development, Further discussion on the extent of the problem in the region may be found in SPREP (1998): "Solid Waste Issues in Pacific ACP Countries" by Dr Suresh Raj.