Search the SPREP Catalogue

The Government of the Republic of Kiribati has formally proposed to the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) that the islets, lagoon and reefs of North Tarawa Atoll be designated a Conservation Area under the South Pacific Biodiversity Conservation Programme (SPBCP). The proposal for a "North Tarawa Conservation Area Project" has been approved, subject to the completion of a detailed Project Preparation Document (PPD). This document constitutes the PPD.

Marovo Lagoon is an area of coral reefs and small islands that is part of Solomon Islands, a Melanesian country in the south Pacific (See map). Its name derives from Marovo Island, one of the first localities where European traders and navigators made regular friendly contact with local peoples in the early 19th century. The people of Marovo traditionally make their living by fishing, collecting shells and doing small-scale agriculture, although today they are also involved in logging and tourism. The current population numbers some 12,000 individuals.

Samoa was first sighted by Roggerwein in 1722,. He gave the Samoa Islands the name the Isles of the Navigators, when he noted how much the natives used canoes.

The climate of Tonga is tropical. It lies within the southeast trade wind zone of the South Pacific. Climatic parameters include rainfall, temperture. wind and sunshine hours. Tonga's annual rainfall can be defined by two seasons, the wet and dry seasons. Wet season is also known as the cyclone season and it is noticeable from November to April. Dry season runs from May to October. The wettest months are particularly January. February and March that may exceed 250mm of rainfall per month. During dry season, the amount of rainfall received per month is less than 250mm.

As a small island developing state, Samoa is expected to be particularly vulnerable to climate change. Projected sea level rise could increase coastal erosion, cause loss of land and property, and dislocate island inhabitants. Changes in tropical cyclone systems may alter risks to life, property and ecosystems. Water supplies and food security could be threatened by changes in climate. As a Least Developed Country, Samoa is considered to have limited ability to cope with the risks associated with changes in climate. This has been recognized by the international community, and in Article 4.4 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which makes explicit commitments to the most vulnerable developing countries: