Biodiversity and Conservation in the Pacific Islands: Why Are We Not Succeeding?

Brodie, Gilianne D.; Pikacha, Patrick; Tuiwawa, Marika

doi:10.1002/9781118679838.ch21

Cited by 15 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…It is likely that insufficient scientific understanding is less of an obstacle to effective conservation and natural resource management in Oceania's SIDS than are inadequate resources and local capacity to implement management actions (Brodie et al. ; Weeks et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…). Of particular concern is the threat posed by invasive vertebrates and vascular plants, which have irreversibly altered small‐island species assemblages (Brodie et al ). Although the risks of invasive species to biodiversity are recognized, effective control or eradication programs may require long periods of funding with large associated costs (Simberloff ).…”

Section: High‐priority Questionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Key threats to biodiversity within SIDS in Oceania include habitat loss and degradation, overharvest, and invasive species (Brodie et al. ). As with species management, ecosystem management and restoration programs must be cost‐efficient.…”

Section: High‐priority Questionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…; Brodie et al. ). Thus, information needs for conservation and natural resource management in SIDS might be expected to differ from those identified for other regions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Research priorities for conservation and natural resource management in Oceania's small‐island developing states

Adams

2017

Conservation Biology

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: High‐priority Questionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: High‐priority Questionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…; Brodie et al. ). Thus, information needs for conservation and natural resource management in SIDS might be expected to differ from those identified for other regions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Research priorities for conservation and natural resource management in Oceania's small‐island developing states

Adams

2017

Conservation Biology

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“…The region is experiencing rapid economic growth and a rising human population, which place growing demands on natural resources. Agricultural expansion, overexploitation of natural resources, deforestation, pollution, coastal development, and invasive species are causing fragmentation and destruction of habitats, which in turn pose serious threats to the many rare and endemic species found on these islands [11][12][13][14]. The addition of climate change and sea level rise to these threats exacerbates the pressures and challenges that will be faced by the biodiversity of this region, especially in light of the rate of climate change forecast by the latest IPCC report [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global Climate Change Impacts on Pacific Islands Terrestrial Biodiversity: A Review

Taylor

Kumar

2016

Tropical Conservation Science

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The islands of the Pacific region hold three of the 35 global biodiversity hotspots with large numbers of endemic species. Global climate change will exacerbate the challenges faced by the biodiversity of this region. In this review, we identify trends in characteristics for 305 terrestrial species threatened by climate change and severe weather according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). We then review the literature on observed and potential impacts of climate change on terrestrial biodiversity, focusing on the species' characteristics that were identified. High-elevation ecosystems such as cloud montane forests are projected to disappear entirely by the year 2100, with corresponding global losses of their endemic biodiversity. Sea level rise threatens restricted range species on small low-lying atolls. Shifts in distribution may be possible for generalist species, but range shifts will be difficult for species with small distributions, specialized habitat requirements, slow dispersal rates, and species at high elevations. Accurate assessments of climate change impacts on biodiversity of the region are difficult because of confusion about nomenclature, the many species unknown to science, the lack of baseline data on species' ecology and distributions, and lack of fine resolution elevation data for very small islands. Furthermore, synergistic interactions of climate change with other threats like habitat loss and invasive species have not been comprehensively assessed. Addressing these knowledge gaps will be difficult for Pacific island nations due to limited financial resources and expertise.

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Traditional knowledge for climate resilience in the Pacific Islands

Nunn,

Kumar,

Barrowman

et al. 2024

WIREs Climate Change

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Pacific Islands, many relatively remote and small, have been occupied by people for more than 3000 years during which time they experienced climate‐driven environmental changes (both slow and rapid onset) that challenged human survival and led to the evolution of place‐based coping strategies expressed through traditional knowledge (TK). In today's globalized Pacific Islands region, into which western worldviews and global adaptation strategies have made significant inroads, most plans for coping with climate‐changed futures are founded in science‐based understandings of the world that undervalue and sideline TK. Many such plans have proved difficult to implement as a consequence. This paper reviews the nature of extant Pacific TK for coping with climate change, something that includes TK for anticipating climate change (including climate variability and climate extremes) as well as ancillary TK associated with food and water security, traditional ecological knowledge, environmental conservation, and settlement and house construction that represent coping strategies. Much of this TK can be demonstrated as being effective with precedents in other (traditional) contexts and a compelling plausible scientific basis. This study demonstrates that Pacific Islands TK for coping with climate change has value and, especially because of its place‐based nature, should be central to future climate‐change adaptation strategies to enhance their uptake, effectiveness and sustainability. To this end, this paper proposes specific ways forward to optimize the utility of TK and ensure it has a realistic role in sustaining Pacific Island communities into the future.This article is categorized under: Climate, History, Society, Culture > Ideas and Knowledge Paleoclimates and Current Trends > Modern Climate Change Assessing Impacts of Climate Change > Observed Impacts of Climate Change

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Biodiversity and Conservation in the Pacific Islands: Why Are We Not Succeeding?

Abstract: success and sustainable environmental practices that will enhance the future health of Pacific Island communities.

Cited by 15 publications

References 14 publications

Research priorities for conservation and natural resource management in Oceania's small‐island developing states

Research priorities for conservation and natural resource management in Oceania's small‐island developing states

Global Climate Change Impacts on Pacific Islands Terrestrial Biodiversity: A Review

Traditional knowledge for climate resilience in the Pacific Islands

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