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Nature Conservation Index

Species do not exist in isolation; they are interconnected. A key element to addressing environmental problems, such as improving water quality and renewing biodiversity, involves addressing nature conservation at its core.  What can be done to support a more effective global approach to biodiversity protection and sustainable development?

Governing Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction: Roles and Opportunities for the Private Sector

The entry into force of the “Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction” (BBNJ Agreement) marks a historic moment. This white paper presents practical insights into the agreement’s implications from companies operating in these areas.

PDF paper

How do severe tropical cyclones affect invasive species prevention and management efforts on Pacific Islands, and how can we adapt as the climate changes?

On May 24, 2023, Typhoon Mawar, one of the strongest Northern Hemisphere tropical cyclones ever recorded in the month of May and the strongest globally in 2023, hit the U.S. Territory of Guam in the Western Pacific. With winds up to 145 mph, the category 4-equivalent typhoon was the strongest storm to affect the island in over two decades. After enduring 15 hours of destructive winds and torrential rain, residents found an island littered with defoliated and uprooted trees, toppled signs and damaged buildings, and flood waters that were waist-deep in low-lying areas.

Leveraging deep learning and computer vision technologies to enhance management of coastal fisheries in the Pacific region

This paper presents the design and development of a coastal fisheries monitoring system that harnesses artificial intelligence technologies. Application of the system across the Pacific region promises to revolutionize coastal fisheries management. The program is built on a centralized, cloud-based monitoring system to automate data extraction and analysis processes. The system leverages YoloV4, OpenCV, and ResNet101 to extract information from images of fish and invertebrates collected as part of in-country monitoring programs overseen by national fisheries authorities.

Remote sensing techniques for mapping and monitoring mangroves at fine scales

Mangrove ecosystems play a critical role in harbouring biodiversity and providing a variety of ecosystem services. The need for developing better techniques for classifying and monitoring mangroves is increasing, especially with the growing demand in blue carbon markets. However, many countries are challenged by the need to improve their mangrove cover estimates to inform decision-making on coastal land use and to guide local conservation efforts including restoration planning.

Sea Turtle Monitoring Manual

This manual is not a summary of all that is known about sea turtles. There are already very good books and resources that do that. It is also not exhaustive about research and monitoring. Nor it is the global synthesis of all turtle research options. Advanced research into breathing rates and blood plasma and stable isotopes and hearing and endocrinology are a bit out of our scope. Here, we will deal with the basics that inform conservation and management.

An international assessment of the barriers influencing the effectiveness of island ecosystem management

Island ecosystems are disproportionally impacted by biodiversity loss and as such their effective management is critical to global conservation efforts. Practitioners worldwide work to manage island sites and species to conserve them, but various day-to-day barriers compromise these efforts, reducing management effectiveness and preventing local and potentially even national biodiversity targets from being met.

A Comparative Analysis of Protected Area Management Effectiveness (PAME) Evaluation Tools for the Pacific Islands Region

This report was commissioned by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to raise awareness and understanding of the tools available to evaluate Protected Area Management Effectiveness (PAME); to provide case studies from the region on PAME assessment; and to help inform decision-making when choosing tools and planning assessments.