Invasive species a growing problem for the Pacific

Invasive species are a rapidly increasing problem across the Pacific islands region and countries are calling on the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to assist with raising public awareness and increasing government engagement in addressing the problem.

A working paper presented by New Caledonia at the 21^st SPREP meeting recently held in Madang, Papua New Guinea, highlighted issues relating to invasive species and their impact on livelihoods and ecosystems of the Pacific. The main aim of the paper, titled “Mainstreaming Invasive Species and Biodiversity,” was to inform members of the risks to livelihoods and ecosystems posed by invasive alien species and their predicted interactions with climate change.

Photo: Mont Panié Reserve, site of pest animal management by local communities, North Province, New Caledonia by Dr. Alan Saunders

Dr Alan Tye, SPREP’s Invasive Species Officer, explained that more emphasis on public awareness and government support for invasive species management should be given.  The paper sought the Meeting’s approval for SPREP to undertake a programme to increase public awareness of the value of biodiversity and healthy ecosystems in the Pacific.

He said that, during discussions at a workshop titled “Helping Islands Adapt” in Auckland earlier this year, the Pacific group determined that the fundamental problem which currently prevents adequate investment in managing the impacts of invasive species is lack of political support.

“This is compounded by the fact that modern society does not value biodiversity highly enough and does not understand the magnitude of the impacts of invasive species on economies, livelihoods and the environment,” he said.

The working paper explained that invasive species are recognised as a major driver of biodiversity loss worldwide and that island ecosystems were particularly fragile and vulnerable to invasive species. Although islands cover only 5% of the Earth’s land surface, they are home to about 20% of all known terrestrial species and almost half of all endangered species.

According to the paper, more than 70% of the world’s terrestrial species extinctions have occurred on islands, and most of these were caused by invasive species.

Dr Tye added that invasive species management represents an effective form of ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change and that every effort should be made to secure the financial resources necessary to build political support and inspire environmental stewardship. 

Some of the recommendations outlined by the working paper at the 21^st SPREP meeting included: reaffirming the importance of healthy ecosystems in helping Pacific islands to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change; reaffirming that invasive species constitute a primary threat to livelihoods and ecosystems; fully supporting SPREP in its search for resources to address the invasive species threat; and requesting SPREP to develop a social marketing strategy and programme that emphasises both political mainstreaming and environmental inspiration for the very young. 

For more details please contact SPREP’s Invasive Species Officer Dr. Alan Tye at alant@sprep.org

Notes:  The Pacific Group at the “Helping Islands Adapt” workshop in Auckland comprised of representatives of Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands, and several international and regional organisations.

Palau and Vanuatu sign MoU to protect Dugongs

Palau and Vanuatu have become the final two Pacific dugong range states to sign the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs and their Habitats throughout their Range (UNEP/CMS Dugong MoU) at the opening of the first official meeting of signatory states to this MoU. 

Palau's Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism, the Hon. Harry R. Fritz singing the MoU in Abu Dhabi

This now means that all members of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) that are dugong range states have signed this MoU, which is in line with the aim of the SPREP Regional Dugong Action Plan 2008.  Action 8.2 in the plan is to “Encourage Pacific range states to sign the CMS MOU for the Conservation and Management of Dugongs and their Habitats”. 

Palau’s Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism, the Honourable Harry R. Fritz, signed the MoU on behalf of Palau and Mr Vatu Molisa of the Vanuatu Department of Environment and Conservation signed the MoU on behalf of Vanuatu.

The CMS Dugong MoU Signatory Meeting is being held in Abu Dhabi, 4-6 October, 2010

For more details please contact SPREP’s Marine Species Officer Mr. Lui Bell at luib@sprep.org

Notes:

UNEP - The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

CMS - The Convention for the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals

Pacific Reporters to Provide Media Coverage at International Biodiversity Conference

The Pacific Voyage Media Team will be releasing daily media reports for the Pacific region on the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan this month. The team includes Ms. Bernadette Carreon Editor and Senior Reporter of the Palau Horizon a weekly newspaper and Mr. Mata’afa Keni Lesa Editor of the Samoa Observer a daily newspaper. 

Mata'afa Keni Lesa, Editor, Samoa Observer

“The Pacific Voyage” is the campaign to promote the Pacific Voice to the thousands of participants attending the biggest international biodiversity conference from 18 to 29 October. Side events and exhibitions will be staged by SPREP and Pacific members as part of the communications campaign to promote the biodiversity efforts in our region.

“We look forward to working with both Bernadette Carreon and Mata’afa Keni Lesa to provide media coverage on this very important conference,” said Nanette Woonton SPREP’s Media and Public Relations Officer.

“We have a big challenge ahead of us, to ensure that our Pacific region is kept well informed as to the happenings at this meeting. I am confident we have an exceptional team to report on decisions made and the events that happen at the CBD COP 10”.

Both reporters will also attend a two day media training coordinated by the CBD Secretariat which will help provide them with insight as to the issues at this conference. It is also planned that experiences learnt at the CBD COP 10 be shared nationally with their fellow media colleagues upon return.

This project to enable reporters to attend the CBD COP 10 to provide daily news reports and help build capacity is supported by UNESCO and the CBD Secretariat. UNESCO is also providing further support to work in partnership with SPREP to ensure national media training can take place in the home countries of the two reporters to share experiences and lessons learnt.

It is planned that daily news bulletins will be provided for the region, as well as updated news and photographs on the “Bionesian – Pacific biodiversity” blogsite and on the SPREP website – www.sprep.org.

Should you wish to receive the daily updates and you are currently not on the SPREP news mailing list, please contact Nanette Woonton at nanettew@sprep.org for more details.

To read the Palau Horizon online please visit: http://www.mvariety.com/palau-|-pacific-news/

To read the Samoa Observer online please visit:  http://www.samoaobserver.ws/