Pacific Island Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas announced at UN Conference

18 October 2012, CBD COP 11, Hyderabad India – The 9^th Pacific Island Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas was announced during the Pacific Voyage Side Event in Hyderabad, India.

The 11^th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity was the venue for the special event.

The Minister for Local Government, Housing, Urban Development and Environment, Col. Samuela Saumatua announced the event which will be hosted in Fiji in 2013.

 “This is a premier conservation event which happens every 4-5 years in the Pacific since the first conference in 1975….Fiji is proud to host this event to showcase our unique biodiversity and the actions taken to conserve it.”

The theme of the 9^th conference is on “Natural Solutions: Building Resilience for a Changing Pacific”.  It reflects the role of ecosystem services as natural solutions to the threats of climate change while developing community resilience through sustainable development of natural and physical resources. 

Fiji is a fitting backdrop to the conference.  It is host to a unique ecological lattice threading and weaving together large expanses of coastal wetlands and mangroves; seagrass and algal beds, mudflats, lagoons; and a large diverse array of coral reefs. 

 The Fiji Islands contain almost 40% of intact forest with some of the riches natural communities of all the oceanic islands of the Pacific. The island of Kadavu has the highest number of endemic birds per land area in the world while the island of Taveuni has large expanses of forest from ridge to reef. Many species and higher taxa of flora and fauna are endemic to Fiji.

“Encompassed within this vibrant ecological framework are over 390 coral species in a complex coral system housing over 1200 varieties of fish and a multitude of invertebrates. Mangrove and seagrass habitats act as breeding and feeding grounds for the various species of fish, invertebrates, reptiles and seabirds of this eco-region.”

For more information on the 9^th Pacific Island Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas please see the below:

1. 

Navigating the Pacific Voyage at Nagoya biodiversity talks

The Pacific Voyage Media Team 26 October 2010 Nagoya Japan -

L - R Dr. Posa Skelton, Faleaga Toni Tipama'a, Easter Galuvao, Bernadette Carreon

Easter Galuvao is SPREP’s Biodiversity Advisor and one of the navigators of the Pacific Voyage at the CBD COP 10. Having only commenced her new position at SPREP in April this year, she has jumped in at the deep end with the task of coordinating the Pacific island “voyage” to the 10^th international conference of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Preparations for the Conference have involved hosting a regional preparatory meeting (known as the Pre-COP), dissemination of key information, coordinating support from  – regional organisations, NGOs and key partners and developing a briefing paper for Pacific island countries to help identify key issues for the region.

“This regional approach has enabled us to amplify the Pacific voice at the COP – presenting statements on behalf of the Pacific Island parties getting our messages across,” said Ms Galuvao.

This is important for small island nations striving to be heard at a 15,000 person-strong international event.

The Pacific countries have been working hard to make sure that their position on issues such as access and benefit sharing (ABS), invasive species, biodiversity and climate change, the strategic action plan and financing are well articulated at the global negotiations.

Ms Galuvao says that even though she was well-versed on the CBD, getting to fully understand the current issues for the negotiations has been a somewhat daunting experience.

“This is the first time I have attended a Conference of Parties as a SPREP representative and the first thing you need to learn is to understand the roles of IGOs in the process and how to effectively provide support to the Pacific Island Parties,” she says. “There are formal working group meetings, contact group meetings and, of course the plenary sessions – you have to get your head around all these fit together first before you can do anything else”.

“Then, of course, you have the history,” she adds. “The draft working papers often refer to some decision made two or even three meetings ago. Those who have been attending the various meetings sometimes take it for granted that everyone else has this background.”

In actual fact, having to learn the process first hand and in a short space has possibly been an unexpected advantage for SPREP’s new Biodiversity Adviser and for many of the new Pacific delegates.

“Because I have had to learn myself, I have probably been more empathetic of our delegates’ needs,” she explains.

Certainly, Ms Galuvao’s input to the preparations is not over. As the second week of the negotiations unfolds, she continues to provide her assistance where needed, and is now in the process of facilitating a high level event with Pacific Environment Ministers during the week. As one of the navigators of the Pacific Voyage, Ms. Galuvao looks forward to as smooth a sail as possible on their Pacific Voyage to Nagoya and back to the Pacific.

“The work doesn’t stop here; we now have to look at actions to implement the outcomes of the Nagoya conference,” she said.   

Attract 'better' tourists

The Pacific Voyage Media Team, 25 October 2010 Nagoya Japan

Samoa and other Pacific countries should be encouraged to attract “better” tourists to help biodiversity conservation, a senior Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) official said.

Oliver Hillel, Programme Officer for Sustainable Use, Tourism and Island Biodiversity, said there is some validity to claims tourism harms biodiversity.

“Historically speaking, tourism has had mixed reviews,” he said.

“There are cases in which tourism was extremely destructive. All you need to see is an aerial picture of Cancun in 1960 and compare it to what it looks like today.”

Mr Hillel was speaking during a side event at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the CBD at the Nagoya Congress Centre, Nagoya, Japan. The meeting has been described as the most important meeting on biodiversity in the history of the United Nations.

Some 16,000 participants from all over the world are negotiating ways to address the loss of biodiversity that’s been seriously compounded by global warming.

“What I would say to Samoa, which of course is very dear to us because we work with SPREP (Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme), and we have many, many projects in Samoa, I would say it’s not a question of more but a question of better tourists,” said Mr Hillel.

“Tourists who want to stay more, who are more respectful, who understand that the host is the one that defines the tourism product. In general, I would say Samoa should try to attract better tourists.” 

Tourism behaviour is universal and that sometimes threatens nature conservation.

“Tourists want to go to the most beautiful places,” Mr Hillel pointed out.

“They don’t want to go to places that are not beautiful. So therefore the potential for risk of destruction is doubled because they go straight to the most beautiful and biodiversity places where they can see the rare animals so that the potential and the risk are very great.”

Changes, however, are starting to emerge.

“In my professional life as a tourism practitioner, I’ve seen and I think Samoa you must have seen many of them as well, they’re excellent examples of islands who are well kept with a small lodge on 10 percent of the area and with the resources this provides can protect the whole area, have rangers and community involvement.

“There are many community based tourism initiatives that really benefit indigenous and local communities that are conserving and that in a growingly financial economy cannot cope without receiving additional resources from tourism.

“Lately, the tourism industry is beginning to realise that the tourism industry has a problem because its very complex. The moment you point the finger to the tourism industry, they all run out of this. They say all I’m not tourism I’m travel.

“It’s a difficult industry to deal with but it’s changing.”

Mr Hillel said the CBD Secretariat is looking into ideas to promote nature conservation and tourism.
“We have an indigenous tourism website award,” he said. “We are working with leading indigenous tour operators of the world.

“In the last ten years, we’ve seen more and more of the indigenous community decide on their own terms, in their own means of production to engage in tourism and that’s the best assurance we have that they are not only biodiversity but also cultural diversity is valued.”

Save the Pacific

The Pacific Voyage Media Team, 25 October 2010 Nagoya Japan

“The loss of biodiversity is killing us, it’s killing the rest of life and we’re going to kill ourselves. If we continue down this path, we’re going to make ourselves a world that will be very difficult to live in” – Pulitzer Prize winner Professor O E Wilson

A world-renowned biologist has called on world leaders to prioritise the plight of the Pacific islands; a region he said has been hardest hit by biodiversity loss and climate change.

The call comes from Pulitzer Prize winner for General Non-Fiction, Edward O Wilson,  as the final week of the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) gets underway in Nagoya, Japan.

A high-level delegation from the Pacific are among delegates from over 100 parties to the CBD negotiating a new framework for governments to combat biodiversity loss.   

Professor Wilson, an acclaimed researcher, theorist, naturalist and a respected authority on biodiversity matters, said the world often ignores the Pacific islands. 

“I think people should be more aware of what’s happening to the Pacific Islands,” he said. “There are entire nations that are under threat in ways most people simply don’t understand.”

Professor Wilson was speaking during a lecture at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Harvard University about the vast scope and importance of Earth’s biodiversity. The lecture was delivered live via an interactive videoconference to Nagoya in order to minimise carbon footprint.

“There are some very interesting cases in some of your countries,” Professor Wilson told the Pacific Voyage Media Team.

“There are islands such as Tuvalu and Kiribati who are in fact thinking about complete evacuation as their atoll land goes deeper and deeper under water.”

Rising sea levels has made it necessary for people to relocate to higher grounds. But the Professor said this poses challenges for biodiversity.

“As people retreat back from the shoreline and then as they move inland, they are going to be taking down more of the national environment in the interior of the islands,” he said. “I feel a very personal feeling for that because a lot of my early research was done in the islands. I have even done a study of the ants on your islands [Samoa]. I have considerable personal concern for the Pacific.”

Professor Wilson said it is a grave injustice for world leaders to ignore what’s happening in the Pacific.

“In the Pacific, we have people really directly affected,” he said. “We should hear more about that. And so any kind of protest or intervention you can think of on their behalf and their biodiversity ought to be welcomed and paid attention to in the United Nations and elsewhere.”

Professor Wilson’s work has won a number of prestigious prizes in the sciences, including the U.S. National Medal of Sciences, the Crafoord Prize and the Audubon Medal.

A University Research Professor Emeritus at Harvard University, Wilson was named one of TIME magazine’s 25 most influential people for his impassioned pleas to government and corporate leaders to address the damage to the planet.

In his book called The Future of Life, he wrote: "Now more than six billion people fill the world. The great majority are very poor; nearly one billion exist on the edge of starvation.

“All are struggling to raise the quality of their lives any way they can. That unfortunately includes the conversion of the surviving remnants of the natural environment. Half of the great tropical forests have been cleared.

“The last frontiers of the world are effectively gone.

“Species of plants and animals are disappearing a hundred or more times faster than before the coming of humanity, and as many as half may be gone by the end of this century. An Armageddon is approaching at the beginning of the third millennium.

“But it is not the cosmic war and fiery collapse of mankind foretold in sacred scripture. It is the wreckage of the planet by an exuberantly plentiful and ingenious humanity."

Professor Wilson said world leaders in Nagoya face a challenge that has perplexed policymakers for decades.

“We have to learn a lot, we have to learn it fast and we have to get across to our political leadership and public at large, people who are religious, people who are not religious, that this is urgent,” he said.

“The loss of biodiversity is killing us, it’s killing the rest of life and we’re going to kill ourselves. If we continue down this path, we’re going to make ourselves a world that will be very difficult to live in.”

Professor Wilson said the solution lies between people and nature working together.

“The central problem is how to raise the poor to an endurable quality of life, preserving as much of the natural world as possible,” he said during his lecture.

“What’s the connection? Both the poor and biological diversity are concentrated in the developing countries, the poor countries where most of the people live.

“And the solution to the problem flows from the recognition that both depend on the other.

“The poor especially, nearly one billion in absolute poverty [as classified by the United Nations], absolutely destitute, they don’t know where the next meal will come from, not having sanitation, not having easy access to clean water, they have little chance to improve their lives in a devastated environment, the kind of environment we’re creating. Conversely the national environment where most of the biodiversity is hanging on, these hotspots included, cannot survive the pressure of land hungry people who have nowhere else to go.”

Humanity needs a new way of thinking about nature, he said.

"A global land ethic is urgently needed. Not just any land ethic that might happen to enjoy agreeable sentiment, but one based on the best understanding of ourselves and the world around us that science and technology can provide.

In his book, The Future of Life, he concluded: "Surely the rest of life matters. Surely our stewardship is its only hope. We will be wise to listen carefully to the heart, then act with rational intention and the tools we can gather and bring to bear.”

The Pacific Voyage - Side Event

22 October 2010 Nagoya Japan -

Invitation to the Pacific Voyage Side Event:



Update on the Side Event from the ENB Bulletin :

Coverage of Selected Side Events at the Tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 10) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Available in full with images at:
http://www.iisd.ca/biodiv/cop10/enbots/ 
Date 22 October 2010

David Sheppard, Director, Secretariat for the Pacific Environment Regional Programme (SPREP), noted that SPREP is the main environmental organization in the Pacific region that focuses specifically on biodiversity, which he called the “lifeblood of the Pacific people.” To move forward with saving their lifeblood, Sheppard suggested the need to: build more effective and sustainable agencies for biodiversity management; create effective links between climate change and biodiversity; develop and encourage Pacific solutions to Pacific problems by building on traditional practices; and improve links between biodiversity conservation and sustainable development by building a strong economic case.

Eleni Rova Tokaduadua, Ministry of Local Government, Housing, Urban Development and Environment, Fiji, described the Locally Managed Marine Area Network, which was established primarily to address food security. She outlined a number of successes that resulted from the Network’s creation, including that species not seen in generations are returning and that there has been improved community organization and human wellbeing.

Ratita Bebe, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture Development, Kiribati, discussed the creation of protected areas on the Phoenix Islands and Kiritimati Island. She said the goal was to protect the islands, which are home to globally important seabird populations and vital to migratory bird routes across the Pacific.

Faleafaga Toni Tipamaà, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Samoa, discussed restoration of Nu’utele and Nu’ulua, Aleipata Islands, through work to eradicate Pacific rats and control yellow crazy ants, one of the largest invasive ant species in the world.

Julien Calas, French Development Agency, discussed lessons learned from locally-managed marine areas in the South Pacific Island Region, emphasizing the need for collaboration and communication between those involved on all islands to ensure that best practices are shared. He also noted the need to provide sufficient time for the projects to develop, which is approximately 10-15 years.

Participants discussed, inter alia: the impact of using poisonous rat bait on non-target species; and climate change and environmental refugees in the Pacific islands.

Photos from the Pacific Voyage Side Event:



  



Presenters

Eleni Tokaduadua, Easter Galuvao, Ratita Bebe

 Papua New Guinea - Chair of the Pacific Voyage

Eleni Tokaduadua of Fiji making a presentation

Addressing the room

Attending The Pacific Voyage side event

 Faleafaga Tony Tipama'a from Samoa

Ratita Bebe making her presentation

Julien Calas, Agence Francaise de Developpement

Mr. David Sheppard launching a case study on Voices of the Ocean Lessons from the Whales for the CBD

Questions from the floor

Bilung Gloria Salii and Tiare Holm (Palau)

Questions from the floor

 Lessons from the Whales at the CBD

Learning from past experiences and building lasting partnerships was the underlying theme of a report launched on Friday 22 October at the Pacific Voyage side event during the tenth Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP10). 

The report, titled “Ocean Voices: Lessons from the Whales for the CBD” outlines the status and trends of humpback whale populations in Oceania and presents a story of conservation efforts to address the steep decline in population numbers due to whaling in the early 1960’s.

Stacy Jupiter of WCS at the launch of the case study

Due to the highly migratory nature of humpback whales, effective conservation requires active partnerships at international, regional and national and local level.

Oceania humpback whales spend their time traveling between the Pacific Ocean and the freezing waters of the Antarctic. They feed in the food-abundant but ice-cold waters of the Antarctic and then migrate to the Pacific waters where they can breed. The warm waters of the Pacific Ocean are far friendlier to new-born whale calves, which have little body fat at birth and would probably die in the Antarctic.

The report highlights the value of whales to many Pacific islands where they are a tourist attraction, bringing in significant economic benefits. The report notes that the Oceania humpback whale population remains low and states that this is limiting the economic opportunities for Pacific islands from whale-watching tourism.

Various threats to whales face as they travel between the Antarctic and the Pacific are highlighted. Other than “direct take” or whaling, threats include death of whales by drowning in nets and eating plastic and other rubbish. Collisions with ships and boats, noise and climate change were also listed as significant threats to the well-being of whales.  Further research is necessary to understand and address these threats.

The report discusses the efforts of several Pacific island countries and territories in establishing or declaring their exclusive economic zones (EEZ) as marine mammal sanctuaries. To date, these are American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tokelau and Vanuatu. The marine mammal sanctuaries total over 11 million square kilometres of ocean.

A brochure summarising the full report noted that long term partnerships, commitment and investment is essential to foster recovery of this species. 

The report was produced through a joint partnership between the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the South Pacific Whale Research Consortium (SPWRC) and Conservation International and funded by the European Commission through its project on Capacity Building for Multilateral Environmental Agreements.

Further information or to obtain the full report, contact: Lui Bell. luib@sprep.org



The Pacific Voyage - Lessons from 2010

The Pacific Voyage Media Team

21 October, Nagoya, Japan - The sound of the Cook Islands drum beats echoed around the Communication Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) side event when the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) showcased the Pacific Voyage at the CBD COP10 in Nagoya.

The crew of SPREP took participants through a 45 minute journey on the Pacific va’a (voyaging canoe) to highlight the uniqueness of the Pacific islands and the importance of CEPA’s role in advocating for better and sustainable use of island biodiversity.

Ms Seema Deo, SPREP’s Education and Social Communications Adviser, guided the va’a through the event and, along with crew member, Ms Nanette Woonton, were instrumental in the Pacific Biodiversity Challenge, an interactive fun game designed to get the audience know facts about the Pacific.

Ms Deo, in her presentation, highlighted the role of SPREP in the Pacific.

She said one of SPREP’s functions was to provide training and communication advice and support to Pacific island countries and territories. She also noted the use of interactive games, vibrant music and drama to raise awareness in the islands region.

SPREP's Dr Posa Skelton wins the challenge!

An example from the Cook Islands during the Year of Biodiversity was highlighted as an example. The Cook Islands Biodiversity Challenge, similar to the popular TV series “The Amazing Race” was developed as a communication tool that was something both enjoyable and encouraged team building. 

She said at the same time they would learn about conserving the environment.

One enthusiastic voyager, Ambassador Amados Tolentino Jr, a former Ambassador to Papua New Guinea and the current Executive Governor for the International Council of Environmental Law, said the voyage felt like he had revisited the Pacific again.

Ambassador Amados Tolentino Jr also wins a prize

He said he was familiar with the Pacific but had not been there for a long time.

It was certainly a voyage worth experiencing as participants went out for the challenge around the Nagoya Conference Centre looking for clues and objects related to the Pacific.

Pacific Island Countries Statement:

19 October Nagoya, Japan - The following statement was prepared by the Pacific islands countries and presented at the plenary session of 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan today.

Thank you Chairman,

Vanuatu as the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, is making this statement on behalf of all Pacific Island Parties.

The Pacific Island Parties, wish to congratulate you, on your appointment as the chair of this 10^th Conference of the Parties.

The Pacific Island Parties, wish to extend our heartfelt appreciation, and gratitude to the Government of Japan, and the people of Nagoya, for hosting the 10^th Conference of the Parties. Thank you for your hospitality, and thank you for the warm welcome.

The Pacific Island Parties, also wish to extend our sincere appreciation, to the Secretariat, for the excellent preparations and organization of the meeting. We look forward to the continued partnership, and collaborations with the CBD Secretariat.

Ms. Touasi Tiwok making the statement on behalf of the Pacific

Mr Chairman, the Pacific Island communities inhabit the islands scattered throughout our Pacific Ocean, which some of the most inspiring migrations in human history, have taken place, over many thousands of years. Our Pacific Ocean covers over 30% of the world’s oceans.

Our Ocean, coastal and island ecosystems, contain high biological diversity that sustains the lives of Pacific Island communities. It contains the most extensive coral reefs in the world, globally important fisheries, significant seabed mineral resources and high number of threatened species. These ecosystems may contain many undiscovered resources of potential use to humankind.

Chair, the Pacific Island Parties reaffirm, our commitment to implement the three objectives of the Convention.

This was further underscored by the Pacific Environment Ministers, in their communiqué from the recent 21 SPREP Meeting held in September 2010 in Papua New Guinea.  

The Pacific Island Parties, wish to highlight the achievements and initiatives of the Pacific toward meeting the CBD objectives through community-based and co-management approaches as well as national and regional commitments. Examples include the establishment of Locally Managed Protected Areas, the Micronesia Challenge, the Coral Triangle Initiative, the Phoenix Islands Protected Area and the inscription of some sites to the World Heritage list.

Our achievements would not be possible without the commitment of our leaders, the Pacific Islands Forum and the continued support of our development partners – the donors, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, other members of the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific, non-governmental organisations and  our own Pacific communities.

To take these efforts and significant successes further, we would like to stress the inevitable need for adequate resources and the delivery of timely support to complement our Pacific actions and fully implement the objectives of the CBD, in particular, the new Strategic Plan.

                                                                                           

Chair, we cannot underscore enough, the vulnerability of Pacific Small Island Developing States in particular our biodiversity to the impacts of climate change, and wish to emphasise the critical role of biodiversity in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

We further highlight the urgent need to address the rapidly growing problem of invasive species and their impacts on our fragile island ecosystems, economies and livelihoods.

Pacific statement being made at the plenary session of the CBD COP 10

Chair, the Pacific Island  Parties invite and encourage all parties to join us at our Pacific Voyage  side event on Friday  22 October 2010 to share our experiences and lessons in conservation

In closing, the Pacific Island Parties are committed to working closely with you, and the Secretariat, and all Parties to ensure a successful outcome of these negotiations.

Pacific meets at CBD COP 10 in Nagoya

Pacific Voyage Media Team

17 October, Nagoya, Japan - The Pacific region is uniting at the 10^th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 10) for which the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is providing a coordinating role through technical and communication expertise.

Under the theme “The Pacific Voyage”, the region intends to raise its profile at the international conference, showcasing nature conservation successes, highlighting common needs and speaking as one voice at the negotiations.

Members from the Pacific at conference registration

While the conference proper begins on Monday 18 October, preparations are already taking place.  The majority of the 14 Pacific islands countries and territories that are parties to the CBD are already in Nagoya, attending meetings and preparatory briefings.  A key preparatory event was the “Island Briefing” organised by the Global Island Partnership (GLISPA) and partners, held on Sunday 17 October for all island states attending the CBD COP 10.

“This meeting has helped to further elaborate on some of the key agenda items particularly those of relevance to island parties," said Easter Galuvao, the Biodiversity Adviser for SPREP.

“It is an opportunity for us to meet together with other island parties not only to strengthen our networking but most importantly to identify areas where we as islands may share common views and positions."

Pacific participants at the Island Briefing

The strong Pacific delegation not only features those from the Pacific islands countries, but also nature conservation partners from the region, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and the SPREP secretariat.  With 2010 being the International Year of Biodiversity, this particular Conference of the Parties is a significant one as it is an opportunity for countries to report on their progress in meeting the 2010 target to halt the loss of biodiversity.  This leads to the other significant item on the agenda, which is the formation of the next 10 year strategic plan to come into being after 2010.

“I am really happy that we have a bigger delegation to this COP meeting, not only so we can cover the substantive areas that we’ll be discussing in the agenda that are important to the Pacific, but also using the side events to communicate what the Pacific has been doing in terms of our persistence and achievements in biodiversity conservation,” said Ms. Galuvao.

“We can also highlight the areas where we are still vulnerable and the idea is also to use the opportunity to expand our partnership to support and help us to fully implement some of our priorities that we are not able to implement due to resource constraints."

As part of preparations for the CBD COP 10, country representatives have committed to following different agenda items.  Each morning the Pacific delegates will be meeting to update each other on how the negotiations are progressing and to seek advice and input for the day.  

SPREP staff will be providing the necessary technical advice and support when needed by the Pacific delegates during the negotiations and will also help raise the profile of the Pacific region through The Pacific Voyage, a communications campaign involving several side events, promotional materials and exhibitions.

The CBD COP 10 is held from 18 – 29 October and is hosted by Nagoya Japan.  There are 14 Pacific island countries attending – The Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji,  Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.