Most atoll ecosystems and a wide range of terrestrial and marine organisms, and genetic or cultivars varieties of
traditional food and other multi-purpose plants are declining in abundance and under threat of either “economic extinction” or extirpation and in need of some form of protection. The severity of the situation is greatest on those more urbanized atolls where both the biodiversity and the local knowledge of biodiversity are threatened.
*see R Thanman pdf report for more information*
Terrestrial and marine plants and animals that are rare, endangered or in short supply,
and in need of protection in the atolls of the Pacific Islands.
This excel file include four spreadsheets each representing a separate theme (EMG = Environmental Monitoring and Governance, IOE = Island and Ocean Ecosystems, CCR = Climate Change Resilience, WMPC = waste). Within each theme are the core national environment indicators (scrolling from left to right).
This report was presented by Tuvalu during the 3rd international conference on small island developing states. It reported the status of sustainable development (SD), outlining the good progress that has been achieved in the pursuit of sustainable development as the country follows the strategies recommended by the international community for small island developing states (SIDS).
A direct internet link to easily access information on fisheries management in Tuvalu hosted on the FAO website
This academic paper investigates the vulnerability of households to climatic disasters in the low-lying atoll nation of Tuvalu. Using the most recent household surveys available, the authors constructed poverty and hardship profiles for households on the different islands of Tuvalu, and combine these with geographic and topographic information to assess the exposure differentials among different groups using spatial econometric models.
The map is a fundamental tool for local resident and island management. It was constructed by latest and high-resolution satellite images and the measured results of field investigation by Foram Sand Project, J-PACE and SOPAC.
Tuvalu's shallow marine environments are dominantly fringing and patch reefs. Five of the islands are true coral atolls, with a continuous eroded reef platform surrounding a central lagoon, three islands are comprised of a single islet made up of sand and coral materials (McLean & Hosking, 1991). This article documents the status of corals reefs of Tuvalu, including threats to coral reef biodiversity.
The Funafuti Conservation Area project has been relatively successful, therefore this report documents the lessons learned as well as providing a useful model for similar marine conservation projects at other sites within the country and around the region.
The Global Nutrition Reports capture the status of nutrition at the country, regional and global level.
This country profile for Tuvalu aggregate the very latest data on child, adolescent and adult anthropometry and nutritional status, as well as intervention coverage, food supply, nutrition spending and demography. Interesting environmental data relating to water and sanitation are also briefly presented.
This project report has two components
1) a field survey of the fish biodiversity of Tuvalu’s reefs and lagoons, as well as documenting the species commonly caught by local fishermen and
2) a field survey of selected macro-invertebrate and fish densities in Tuvalu’s lagoons, to assess the stocks of valuable species on each atoll and test the effectiveness of the Conservation Areas (CAs).
This study addresses rainfall trends, the frequency of droughts, La Niña influences and the relationship between rainfall and Sea Surface Temperature (SST) in Tuvalu. The findings revealed that;
* de-trended rainfall time series show declining trends in all four rainfall stations over the period 1953-2012;
* the frequency of drought ranges from three to fourteen years with a mean of nine years
* the occurrence of drought appears to follow the La Niña years
* boplots provide an effective option for defining drought
This article presents an analysis of shoreline change in all 101 islands in the Pacific atoll nation of Tuvalu. Using remotely sensed data, change is analysed over the past four decades, a period when local sea level has risen at twice the global average (~3.90 ± 0.4 mm.yr−1). Results highlight a net increase in land area in Tuvalu of 73.5 ha (2.9%), despite sea-level rise, and land area increase in eight of nine atolls.
This report describes the high-resolution bathymetric mapping survey carried out in 2004. The survey achieved good coverage of the seafloor from approximately 10 m depth in the nearshore reef slope area, to an average offshore depth of some 2000 m, at an average slope angle of 2. The objective was to investigate the seabed and provide information about water depths around the islands using a multibeam echosounder (MBES).
This paper investigates the water quality of the densely populated lagoonal coasts in Fongafale Islet, and the occurrence of water pollution. A comparison was then made with less populated natural coast in the islet. The primary pollution sources and pollution mechanism were identified. Through this investigation, the need for effective water quality control measures for coastal conservation is demonstrated.
Waste Policy and Action Plan
uPOPs Action Plan
Tuvalu’s environment is under pressure: sea-water rise contaminating the soil with salt, direct impact on waste and sewage systems from rising human density contributing to further damage. The 1987 UN Brundlandt report has definitely shown the existing link between environment/ecology and development /economy. Tomorrow’s economy stems from today’s environment.