May 21st 2013
Support for water supplies in the Pacific
Methods to sample and keep track of water supplies will be taken back to Samoa, after members of the country’s water authority toured the region last week.
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May 20th 2013
Guam to host 27th Pacific Islands Environment Conference
Guam have opened registrations for the 27th Pacific Islands Environment Conference.
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May 17th 2013
Using mobile technologies to fight climate change in the Pacific
More than 40 development experts from across the Pacific met this week to discuss existing and potential ways to incorporate Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) into climate change, disaster risk and development programmes.
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May 8th 2013
Pacific Nations engage in Tsunami preparedness exercise
More than 30 Pacific Rim countries are taking part in a United Nations- backed tsunami warning exercise to improve their ability to respond to an alert and enhance regional coordination in the event of a disaster.
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May 7th 2013
Two million dollar agreement for Renewable Energy in the Pacific
A major highlight of the opening session of a regional meeting relating to renewable energy and energy efficiency in the Pacific was the signing of a two million dollar agreement.
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May 6th 2013
Tonga re-elected to International Renewable Energy Agency
Tonga has been re-elected for a second term as member of the International Renewable Energy Agency Council (IRENA).
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April 26th 2013
New Caledonia bans shark fishing
The government of New Caledonia said Wednesday it had decided to ban fishing of sharks, which are being decimated to feed growing demand for luxury goods.
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April 18th 2013
Study predicts trouble for low-lying Pacific Islands facing rising sea levels
Low-lying atolls in the Pacific Ocean will likely be inundated by sea water sooner than previously anticipated as the planet warms, a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey suggests.
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April 12th 2013
Shark species disappear from Kiribati reefs
Researchers say the disappearance of two species of shark from the reefs surrounding Kiribati could be linked to shark-finning.
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April 8th 2013
PACIFIC REGION
Report shows huge deep sea mining potential in the Cook Islands
A comprehensive report into Cook Islands mineral resource has been finished, and its author predicts great things for the country.
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April 5th 2013
Yellow Crazy Ant infestation in Kiribati
With the recent discovery of the Yellow Crazy Ant pest in Kiribati the small island is scurrying to contain and eradicate the problem.
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April 5th 2013
Tokelau increases penalties for illegal fishing
Tokelau plans big lift in fines for illegal fishing in its exclusive economic zone.The small island nation earns over US$4 million a year from fishing activities in its EEZ but there is worry this could be under threat by illegal fishing.
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April 2nd 2013
Walking around the world to battle climate change
Latin N’Drihin will trek through more than 25 countries to promote ecological peace in the face of climate change. Papua New Guinea’s Climate Change Ambassador, Latin N’Drihin, from Manus Island is getting ready to embark on a five year journey to raise awareness about climate change.
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April 2nd 2013
RENEWABLE ENERGY
NZ Government to provide assistance for renewable energy in the Pacific
The New Zealand government announced they will be giving $65 million in funding for Pacific Island countries to build renewable energy projects.
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March 26th 2013
Kiribati residents set to benefit from reliable solar energy
This week (March 25) the World Bank signed a formal agreement with the Government of Kiribati to deliver reliable solar energy to the people of the Pacific island nation. The project will be jointly funded by the Australian Government and the Global Environment Facility.
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March 22nd 2013
First climate change glossary translated into Pacific language
For the first time in Fiji, three government ministries have worked together to publish a glossary of climate change terms, translated into the iTaukei vernacular language.
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March 20th 2013
Pacific nations meet to discuss mining potential
South Pacific countries like Fiji and Papua New Guinea have made significant earnings through the extraction of natural resources like oil, gas and minerals. Last week they met to discuss the management of extractive industry resources for the advancement of human development in their respective island states.
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March 18th 2013
Palau's president proposes new marine sanctuary
Palau's president has proposed banning all commercial fishing in the Pacific nation's waters to create one of the world's largest marine reserves, covering an area roughly the size of France.
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March 18th 2013
Stronger regulations needed for Pacific mining
Tongan deputy prime minister, Samiu Vaipulu, says Pacific island nations need stronger regulations to protect their deep sea mineral resources.
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March 15th 2013
Fiji and Tuvalu develop fisheries and trade
Co-operation between Fiji and Tuvalu on fisheries issues will be further developed. This is after the Ministry for Industry and Trade permanent secretary Shaheen Ali met and discussed with the Tuvaluan Natural Resources permanent secretary Kakee Kaitu this week (March 13).
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March 12th 2013
Quest for Samoa's healthiest green leaf
Finding Samoa’s most nutritious green leaf vegetable is the quest of a new research study. The Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research and Women in Business are working together under independent consultant Mary Taylor to also look at what healthy leaf vegetables are popular in Samoa.
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March 8th 2013
Micronesia looks to coconuts for sustainable energy
An energy group working to revitalise the coconut industry in the Federated States of Micronesia says it could have far reaching implications for the rest of the Pacific region.
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March 7th 2013
Calls for sustainable approach to mining in Solomons
Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo, has called for a new, more sustainable approach to management of his country's mining, fisheries, and forestry sectors.
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March 6th 2013
National organic committee takes to the field
Inspecting organic farm developments was the order of the day for Samoa’s Organic Committee. Chaired by the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, the committee visited Women in Business’ demonstration and production site at Nu’u and the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (SROS) at Vailima last week.
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March 6th 2013
PNG lagoon diversity faces development threat
A scientific team from America has reported that development in Papua New Guinea’s Madang province could threaten a treasure trove of new species previously unknown to science.
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March 5th 2013
Pacific warriors campaign against climate change
Young people from 14 Pacific Island nations have called for action against climate change as part of the 350.org Pacific Warrior Day of Action. Organisers from 350.org Pacific used the message "we are not drowning, we are fighting" in a push to make global carbon emitters accountable for their actions.
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March 1st 2013
Interpol moves to halt illegal fishing in Pacific
International criminal police organisation Interpol has held its first ever meeting to address illegal fishing, in a bid to curtail the multi-billion dollar black market.
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February 28th 2013
Tokelau MP joins Global Ocean Commission
A politician from the Pacific territory of Tokelau says he’s hoping to bring a frontline view of ocean issues to the newly formed Global Ocean Commission. The Global Ocean Commission has been set up to tackle the serious challenges and threats facing the high seas.
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February 27th 2013
Pacific climate change portal training programme heads to the Northern Pacific
A recently-launched regional initiative to improve online access to current and accurate climate-relevant information reached yet another landmark this week as Northern Pacific users of the Pacific Climate Change Portal came together in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, to undergo training on using and contributing to this regionally-owned information system.
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February 27th 2013
New Zealand funds $4.5m for Pacific Islands environment management
SPREP and the New Zealand Government have announced this week (Feb 25) a new partnership to support Pacific Island countries in their efforts to manage their environment and ensure sustainable development.
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Febraury 27th 2013
Vanuatu coconuts go organic
Vanuatu is converting its largest coconut plantations to organic starting this month. Four hundred hectares of coconuts, farmed by 216 growers from Sanma Community Coconuts, on Espiritu Santo Island are converting to organic.
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February 21st 2013
Tuvalu gifted with 700,000 litres of water
A cistern that can hold 700,000 litres of water has been gifted to the community of Lofeagai in Tuvalu under the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Project (PACC).
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February 18th 2013
Fijian reef dependent on four fish species
According to a recent study, just four species of fish are responsible for keeping a reef inside a Fijian marine reserve healthy.
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February 15th 2013
Concerns over increased shark finning in Fiji
Marine conservationists in Fiji are concerned that local fishermen are taking up shark finning in greater numbers. Divers across the country are currently engaged in the annual Great Fiji Shark Count which monitors sharks on reefs and surrounding waters.
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February 14th 2013
Turtle tagging monitor encouraged in Pacific
Coastal communities are being urged to notify environment authorities if they come across a tagged turtle.
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February 11th 2013
Divers slaughter starfish in order to save Samoa reef
National Park Service divers have killed almost 90 crown-of-thorn starfish in waters off American Samoa to protect the reef. The Park service said last week (Feb 7) a single alamea starfish may eat more than 100 square feet of living coral in a year.
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February 5th 2013
New plant discovered in Fiji
A new plant belonging to the non-vascular group of bryophyte plants was recently discovered in the lowlands of Viti Levu- Fiji’s largest island. The genus called Cephaloziella has never been previously recorded in Fiji.
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February 4th 2013
Evan | Five days after a cyclone
New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Samoa, Nick Hurley shares his experience of the five days immediately following Tropical Cyclone Evan which struck Samoa, then Fiji, in December.
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