Summary of Current Issues in Niue and SOPAC's Programmatic Response
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Ocean and Island Programme
Issues
- Management of Ocean, coastal and land-based natural resources
- Sustainability of ocean, coastal and island ecosystems
Concerns
- Lack of policies and legislation for the utilisation and conservation of natural resources
- Fragmented approach to environmental management
- Lack of community understanding of sustainable resource management
- Limited availability of baseline data
- Environmental impact of reef blasting and the siltation of reefs
- Coastal inundation, wave run-up and tidal surges from increasingly frequent and severe tropical storms
- Declining coastal water quality from land-based activities
- Land degradation and coastal erosion
- Limited coastal sand resources
- Shipping access and wharf integrity at Alofi
- Lack of capacity: technological and human
Response
- Niue is a beneficiary of the SOPAC-JAPAN Cooperative Deep-Sea? Minerals Programme for preliminary mapping and sampling within its EEZ
- The first Niue marine scientific survey has been planned for late 2003 to assess the potential for deep-sea mineral resources, and build capacity
- Currently cycles of the Certificate of Earth Science and Marine Geology CESMG enjoys the attendance of Niue's first national to enrol in the course
- The Pacific Islands' Global Ocean Observing System seeks to ensure that products from global, regional and national long-term observing systems are made available to Pacific Island end-users
- The South Pacific Sea Level and Climate Monitoring Project provides tide gauge and other data, and related products to the region
- SOPAC also offers assistance in the area of Ocean Governance in their member-country regions including Niue
Community Lifelines Programme
Issues
- Provision of foundations for healthy, productive and sustainable communities and economy [Energy, Water and Sanitation and ICT)
Concerns
- Limited availability of baseline data
- Increased dependence on freshwater lens and need to avoid salt-water intrusion
- Maintenance of sufficient, high quality water supply continues to be a key concern
- Need for quality testing and chemical analysis of Niue's underground water
- Management plans for sewage and organic waste are needed
- Need for comprehensive management of land, water and air pollution and waste
- Community / habitat mapping (GIS)
- The supply and use of energy: need to increase efficiency and improve maintenance as well as encourage renewable energy
- Need for continuous upgrade both technologically and through training and capacity building
- Lack of information / understanding for communities for resource management decisions and management of resources
- Population decline is a major cross cutting issue for Niue
Response
- Provision of technical advice on water and sanitation in the region: water and waste management awareness and the development of strategies to reduce vulnerability to drought
- The development of cost effective and suitable technology such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, intranet and internet technologies, and relevant support to government departments concerned
- The continual assessment of wind energy resource development and the technical assistance and training of staff for this
- Provision and maintenance of a database for decision making and capacity building
- The development of energy resources that incorporate appropriate technologies and their proper management for sustainability
- Review of existing policy and legislation in water, energy and relevant information and communication
- Representation of Pacific Concerns at global forums and coordination of regional action plans in these critical areas
Community Risk Programme
Issues
- Management of community vulnerability to natural hazards and risks which can have devastating impacts economically, socially and environmentally
Concerns
- Increase in severity of tropical storms and cyclones which cause coastal erosion and associated damages to the environment and infrastructure of Niue
- Lack of policies or national strategies to mitigate natural disasters and hazards
- Lack of protection of the Niue infrastructure, resources and communities from the devastating impacts of these hazards
- Lack of community awareness of risks and hazards mitigation
- Insufficient capacity / national strategies for strengthening community resilience to Disasters and mitigating the effects of Hazards.
- Current responses tend to be reactive as opposed to proactive
Response
- Support for Niue representation at international training programmes, workshops and conferences
- Promotion of mainstreaming of risk management through the application of Comprehensive Hazards Assessment and Risk Management (CHARM)
- CHARM national training courses and workshops
- The provision of post disaster technical or institutional support following disasters
- Development of the Environmental Vulnerability Index (EVI): to assess the vulnerability of countries and to assist national stakeholders in decision-making / policy to reduce vulnerabilities of Pacific Communities
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