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Over two-thirds of the world’s surface is covered by water. Open oceans, semi-enclosed or enclosed seas, coastal areas, estuaries, rivers and lakes are host to highly diverse ecosystems that span all of earth’s climatologic zones. The productivity of these ecosystems has largely shaped development of human society and led to human settlement along coastal margins. Globally, the number of people living within 100 km of the coast increased from ca 2 billion in 1990 to 2.2 billion in 1995, or 39 percent of the world’s population (WRI 2006).

The coastal ocean environment provides enormous value in fishery and other products, as well as
ecosystem services like coastal protection, water purification, and locations for ports, harbors, urban
centers, tourist destinations, and numerous recreational pursuits. Coastal environments can also
cleanse the soul, stimulate the mind, and restore the body. But 40% of all people live within 50 km of

During recent years, marine spatial planning (MSP) has been the focus of considerable interest throughout the world, particularly in heavily used marine areas. MSP offers countries an operational framework to maintain the value of their marine biodiversity while at the same time allowing sustainable use of the economic potential of their oceans. Essentially, MSP is an approach that can make key components of ecosystem-based management of marine areas a reality.

Life in the sea is diverse, exciting, good to eat and provides a myriad of services to humanity, many of which we barely even comprehend. However, human activities now pose serious threats to the oceans’ biodiversity and their capacity to support productive fisheries, recreation, water purification and other services we take for granted. These threats come at a time when we still know little about the life that exists in the sea. Even species we have been catching and eating for hundreds of years such as cod, tuna or halibut, have unknown secrets.

Fiji and other Pacific Island Countries face a high risk of communicable disease outbreaks caused by endemic, emerging and re-emerging disease, which are influenced by social, economic and ecological changes. Call Number: [EL]Physical Description: 2 p.

On Taveuni Island, organic farmer Liopoli Cirimaitoga is showing that with care and dedication, the land can heal.

By reforesting 100 acres of once-degraded land, Mr. Cirimaitoga is proving that farmers can sustain their livelihoods without encroaching into the Taveuni Forest Reserve. Through the Teitei Taveuni Land Care Project and support from #PEBACC+, he’s restoring the soil, supporting biodiversity, and securing a greener future for his community.Call Number: [EL]Physical Description: 2:49

Regardless of where we live, all of us depend upon healthy ocean ecosystems: either as
a source of food or revenue, or as a key shaper and regulator of climate and weather.
This dependency and the need to embrace sustainable development led nations of the
world to agree to a series of high-level political commitments for marine conservation
and marine protected areas. The World Summit on Sustainable Development, the 5th
World Parks Congress, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the G8 Group of

This guide is intended to provide a summary of the steps to develop wetland management planning
processes. Improved understanding of how to use these principles and planning steps will help achieve
more effective conservation and thus wetland wise use.
This summary guide has been prepared to help managers of sites listed under the Ramsar Convention
on wetlands as well as all other types of wetlands. It provides a summary of Ramsar's Handbook 16
Managing wetlands : Frameworks for managing Wetlands of International Importance and other

In this, the sixth and final volume in this series, Jenny Whyte and her colleagues at the Foundation of the Peoples

At the outset, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Government of French Polynesia for the warm welcome, and for graciously hosting us in your beautiful country.
I would also like to thank the Blue Cradle Foundation and collaborating partners for organising the Tiaki Moana Summit and Workshop on ‘Other Effective Area based Conservation Measures (OECM).Call Number: [EL]Physical Description: 1 p.