News

Ocean conservation is the 14th of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world’s plan to end poverty and achieve sustainability by 2030.

PACIFIC journalists have been given a fresh reminder of their role in disseminating critical information.

This explainer is written using information summary provided by Dr Neeraj Shankar for SPREP. The reporter was flown to Apia, Samoa by the Secretariat of the Pacific Environment Programme (SPREP) to learn more about loss and damage and to help amplify the stories from the Pacific.

Deep in the forests of New Caledonia, the undergrowth hides one of the hottest commodities in the exotic pet trade. The world’s largest geckos, rare species that once flourished in the Pacific territory, can fetch thousands of dollars online.

Environmentalists in the Cook Islands have criticised former Prime Minister and Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) head Henry Puna for joining the board of a deep sea mining company.

The Cook Islands is the chair for the Pacific Region’s Project Steering Committee (PSC), which has the largest portion of the GEF ISLAND fund.

Cook Islands National Environment Service (NES) hosted the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Asia-Pacific regional training workshop for Operational Focal Points (OFPs) this week at the Edgewater Resort, Rarotonga marking a significant milestone for the country.

The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) annual Christmas Bird Count once again showcased the vital role that community volunteers and conservation efforts play in protecting the islands' unique bird populations.

“WE don’t want foreigners exploiting our seas,” said Tui Moala Ratu Irivi Draunidalo as he raised concerns over the increasing foreign fishing activity around Moala Island. He said the presence of ‘outside’ vessels was putting pressure on the island’s marine resources and livelihoods.

Funding from the Birds New Zealand Pacific Islands Bird Conservation and Research Fund was used to support seabird surveys and monitoring training for staff from the Ministry of National Resources and Environment and the Samoa Conservation Society.