Compilation of case-studies on the mainstreaming of biodiversity and integration of climate change in the Pacific region [presented at] Regional capacity development workshop for the Pacific region on National Biodiversity Strategies and Action plans, Mainstreaming of Biodiversity and Integration of Climate change, Nadi, Fiji, 2-6 February 2009

Abstract

The Pacific region has benefited from a number of regional and national programmes to both assess the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and develop programmes to adapt to climate change. Such programmes are critical considering that the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 1/ states that the Pacific region has already experienced temperature increases of as much as 1°C since 1910. Furthermore, studies found more than a doubling m the number of category 4 and 5 storms in the South-West Pacific from the period 1975-1989 to the period 1990-2004. Future predicted impacts of climate change in the Pacific call for increased beach erosion, a loss of sea-turtle nesting sites, more frequent coral-bleaching events, increased exposure to invasive alien species and increased cyclone-induced tree mortality and flooding.