Download SPREP Biodiversity News 22 September 2010 Tonga and Tuvalu

SPREP Biodiversity News
22 September 2010
SPREP
Secretariat of the
Pacific Regional
Environment Programme
PO Box 240, Apia, Samoa
E: [email protected]
T: +685 21929
F: +685 20231
W: www.sprep.org
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Tonga and Tuvalu Collaborate to Protect Whales and Dolphins
News Brief - The Power of the Pen: Signatures Strengthen the
Commitment to Protect Marine Species
Turtle Conservation in Papua New Guinea: Karkum Conservation Area
by Clive Hawigen, International Year of Biodiversity Campaign
Coordinator at SPREP
For further information on the below please contact SPREP’s Marine
Species Officer Mr. Lui Bell – [email protected]
Tonga and Tuvalu Collaborate to Protect Whales and Dolphins
Tonga and Tuvalu are the newest signatories to the Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to protect cetaceans in the Pacific islands region. The
signing took place during the 21st Annual Meeting of the Pacific Regional
Environment Programme held in Madang, Papua New Guinea from 6 to 10
September. The Memorandum of Understanding for the conservation of
cetaceans and their habitats in the Pacific islands region operates in the
spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation toward the protection of whales
and dolphins and their habitats.
The non-legally binding arrangement was opened for signing in 2006 and now
has a total of 13 SPREP member countries signed. The MoU was concluded
under the auspices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species
of Wild Animals (CMS) in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional
Environment Programme (SPREP).
Under this MoU, whales and dolphins are recognised as an integral part of the
marine environment connect ecosystems and cultures and should be conserved
for the benefit of present and future generations. It also encourages countries to
implement the Whale and Dolphin Action Plan, the goal of which is to conserve
whales and dolphins and their habitats for the peoples of the Pacific Islands
region.
“We warmly welcome Tonga and Tuvalu and are pleased that they have signed
this important MoU,” said David Sheppard the Director of SPREP.
“While it is based on mutual understanding that we will cooperate to protect the
whales and dolphins in our region, it does come under the CMS which is a United
Nations Convention, thus providing wider recognition”.
The regional Whale and Dolphin Action plan has nine themes for achievement:
National, Regional and International Collaboration and Cooperation; Threat
Reduction; Ecosystem/Habitat Protection; Capacity Building; Education and
Awareness; Cultural Significance and Value; Legislation and Policy; Research
and Monitoring; Whale and Dolphin-based Tourism.
The MoU can develop into a legally-binding agreement which would require wider
consultation and negotiation.
News Brief – Pacific Countries sign to Protect Marine Species
In September at the 21st Annual Meeting of the Pacific Regional Environment
Programme six members signed different MoU’s under the Convention of
Migratory Species of Wild Animals.
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Papua New Guinea signed the Indian Ocean-South-East Asian Marine Turtle Memorandum of
Understanding
Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the
conservation of dugongs and their habitats through-out their range.
Nauru and Tuvalu signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the conservation of migratory
sharks.
Tonga and Tuvalu signed the Memorandum of understanding for the conservation of
cetaceans and their habitats in the pacific islands region
For more details on the Action Plans to protect these species in the Pacific please download the
Pacific
Islands
Regional
Marine
Species
Programme
2008
–
2012
at:
http://www.sprep.org/topic/pdf/marinespeciesweb.pdf
Turtle Conservation in Papua New Guinea: Karkum Conservation
Area
By Clive Hawigen, International Year of Biodiversity Campaign Coordinator at SPREP
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme’s (SPREP) financial assistance of
US$2000 to the Mas Kagin Tapani Association (also known as Makata), a community based
conservation organisation in Papua New Guinea, will aid efforts to protect nests of the endangered
Leatherback and Green sea turtles in the Karkum Conservation Area to help maximise hatchling
production for these two species. The collection of important nesting data, as well as general
education and awareness is also an integral component.
The Karkum Conservation area, situated some 60km north of the provincial capital of Madang, is an
initiative of the Duargo Community Development Association (DCDA). The Makata, whose name
means “Sea Guardian” in the local Bel or Takia languages of Madang, manages and supports the
initiative. The Duargo community, comprising six villages with over 3000 people, decided to establish a
conservation area covering their gray sand beaches to preserve the leather back turtle from extinction.
Mr Wenceslaus Magun, National Coordinator of the Makata, said they started the turtle conservation
project in 2006 and, by 2009, had motivated communities to change their habitual killing of turtles and
harvesting of turtle eggs.
He explained that a turtle training workshop facilitated by one of SPREP’s former staff, Job Opu, had
resulted in the DCDA forming beach rangers who are responsible for tagging turtles, recording data
and protecting nests by deploying protective grids over the nests. These protective grids are made
from bamboo, which grows in clumps along the adjacent foreshore.
He added that the beach rangers were also well versed with turtle and wider-marine conservation
issues and were able to articulate these through awareness campaigns to other coastal communities
along the Madang coasts.
Commenting on SPREP’s assistance to the Makata, SPREP’s Marine Species Officer, Mr Lui Bell
said, “Assistance from SPREP to the Makata is important to as it continues to support the Karkum
community’s conservation efforts.”
SPREP will continue to support both Makata and the DCDA in any way possible, with further long term
assistance being sought through linking Makata with potential donors.
Mr Bell said part of a Letter of Agreement which SPREP has with Makata includes submission of a
report documenting recommendations on needs for the improvement of the community project.
Of the seven species of the world’s marine turtles, six occur in PNG marine waters. These include the
Flatback, Green, Hawksbill, Leatherback, Loggerhead and Olive Ridley turtles. Of these six, the
Hawksbill, Green and Leatherback turtles are most common.
From previous survey results and anecdotal information, PNG has some of the largest remaining
populations of Hawksbill, Green and Leatherback turtles in the world today. However, these
populations and especially the leatherback turtle have rapidly declined.
For more details please contact SPREP’s Marine Species Officer Mr. Lui Bell [email protected]