group of the Roundtable for Nature Conservation in the Pacific Islands

Pacific island nations are already experiencing the effects of a changing climate. Cyclones and severe flooding have hit Yap, Niue and Fiji recently. Air temperature, the number of cyclones and sea level are all predicted to rise, and changes in rainfall are also predicted across the Pacific (1). Forces driving climate change are beyond the control of island nations. Pacific islands, while constituting 0.12 per cent of the world’s population, release only 0.003 per cent of the world’s carbon dioxide from fuel combustion (2). Adaptation to climate change should now be the focus of Pacific Island nations. The most practical climate-change adaptation action is to improve ecosystem resilience and focus on sustainable development. Invasive species (introduced pests, weeds and diseases) threaten biodiversity and livelihoods across the Pacific and must be considered when planning climate change adaptation strategies. Found in terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, invasive species adversely affect the livelihoods, lifestyles and health of island dwellers and cause harm to ecosystems and biodiversity. The global cost associated with invasive species is estimated at US$1.4 trillion annually- 5 % of the world economy (3)