APIA, Samoa (April 25, 2019) — Samoa faced huge flooding in 2018 after torrential rain fell overnight, leaving a trail of destruction, 330 people evacuated and US$10 million of infrastructural damage. The lessons learned from this experience made Samoa a suitable location to host the fifth Commonwealth Global Biennial Conference on Small States under the […]
Stories
Posted inTonga
Thousands to benefit from stronger, sustainable fisheries in Tonga
More than 40 coastal communities in Tonga and some 10 thousand Tongans directly engaged in fishing will benefit from improved management and recovery of fishery stocks, as well as better regulations, under a US$10 million grant approved today by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors. The Tonga Pathway to Sustainable Ocean Project aims to improve […]
Posted inStory / Fiji
Fiji landowners hail rejection of Malolo project
MALOLO,10 APRIL 2019 (RNZ PACIFIC) Villagers on Fiji’s Malolo have welcomed the cancellation of a Chinese resort project and are calling on the government to stop tourism expanding on the island. Fiji’s Environment Department has revoked Freesoul Real Estate’s Environment Impact Assessment approval, following substantial environmental damage to the island. The headman at Solevu Village […]
Posted inStory / Fiji
USP Journalism secures $US20k grant to boost environmental journalism
The Journalism Programme at The University of the South Pacific has won major recognition through a $US20,000 ($F42,617) grant in a boost for environmental reporting in the Pacific. The programme was one of 14 recipients of the competitive Internews/Earth Journalism Network (EJN) Asia-Pacific and Bay of Bengal media grants, 2019. The EJN sees the grant programme as […]
Posted inStory / Fiji
EJN Awards Grants to 14 Asian Organizations Focused on Expanding Access to Environmental Information
Internews’ Earth Journalism Network has selected 14 organizations as recipients of its annual media grants supported by our Asia-Pacific and Bay of Bengal projects. The competitive grant program is an opportunity for media, civil society organizations and academic institutions throughout Asia and the Pacific to think critically and creatively about how to build local resources for […]
Posted inStory / Papua New Guinea
PNG demonstrating global leadership on climate action
Why action against climate change is so important and how partners are helping the people of Papua New Guinea? A man in East New Britain says to his son, ‘the wet seasons do not come when they should and the sun feels hotter than when I was your age.’ They stand overlooking their vegetable garden. […]
Posted inStory / Papua New Guinea
Changing Climate, Changing Home
TIGAK ISLANDS, Papua New Guinea–The Pacific Islanders face some of the most dire consequences of rising seas—from flooding to disruptions on various islands, saltwater intrusion and the inevitable relocation of people from disappearing shorelines. They face similar challenges from the changing climate, yet these are exacerbated by their remoteness and smallness. In the atoll communities, […]
Posted inStory / Solomon Islands
The Rising Stars of a Sinking Island
From rising seas an island finds sport, and a campaign to combat climate change
Posted inStory / Tonga
Saving Tongan Whistlers
Nuku’alofa, Tonga – Mount Talau on the island of Vava’u in Tonga, is a conservation area. It is also a favourite sight-seeing place for many – locals and tourists alike. Hovering over Neiafu town, the view from the top is majestic. One gets to see the Bay of Refuge and surrounding islands from the mountain […]
Posted inStory / Tonga
Return of the kanahe in Vava’u
NEIAFU, Vava’u – Mullets (scientific name Mugilidae) were caught in waters of Vava’u around 50 years ago. “We used to have kanahe (mullet) around our island shores,” says Ulaiasi Vaisima, the town officer and local businessman. “Then they disappeared and for most of our lifetime, we did not see this species of fish again.” Vaisima’s […]