The decision to develop a Regional Plan of Action on Sharks (PI-RPOA Sharks) for Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs)1 was a response to:
· the requirement for management of sharks2 in their national waters to be compatible with measures adopted by them as members/participating territories of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC);
Sepik Wetlands Management Initiative has promoted crocodile and wetlands conservation work in the Sepik (longest river on the island of New Guinea) through various strategies.
Fish is a mainstay of food security for Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs). Recent household income and expenditure surveys, and socio-economic surveys, demonstrate that subsistence fishing still provides the great majority of dietary animal protein in the region. Forecasts of the fish required in 2030 to meet recommended per capita fish consumption, or to maintain current consumption, indicate that even well-managed coastal fisheries will only be able to meet the demand in 6 of 22 PICTs.
In many developing regions of Melanesia, fishers’ traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) has been integrated with western science and management knowledge (SMK) to generate innovative and effective fisheries management. Previous research suggests that three factors initiate this process: depleted fishery stocks, limited SMK, and ownership of resources by local communities. In other contexts the extent of power-sharing through comanagement, and the cultural significance of species may also be important determinants of knowledge integration.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) has both very low absolute emissions and relatively low per capita emissions. The nation is, however, committed to also be a responsible global citizen contributes meaningfully to the reduction of global emissions by transitioning to a low carbon economy. PNG shares the deep concerns of its nearby Pacific Island neighbours in terms of existential threats to some of the more vulnerable low lying countries. In addition there are the same existential threats to coastal and low lying areas of PNG itself.
In Papua New Guinea, interviews were conducted remotely with participants from government departments, agencies and contractors addressing issues of environmental protection, waste management, legal matters, as well as the private sector and NGOs.
Additional interviews were conducted with external consultants and SPREP staff working on specific programs relevant to the Waste Legislative Review.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a country emblematic of the challenges facing developing rainforest nations in the Global South. Despite its rich natural resources (recent surveys indicate that between 50% and 70% of the country’s 46.4 million hectares remain covered with largely undisturbed lowland rainforest) and a relatively stable political climate, the country remains extremely poor, with an estimated 40% of the population living on less than $1 a day (Allen, 2010; AusAID, 2010; Shearman et al, 2010; UNDP, 2006).