Over the last decade the number of coastal and open ocean programmes collecting marine environmental data in the Pacific has grown substantially. Uptake and use of the data being generated by these programmes is relatively low amongst Pacific Island countries. A training workshop was therefore held in Nadi, Fiji, from 22-25 Sept 2008 with the aim of improving understanding and awareness of the data and data products that are currently available, and provide hands-on training in their use.

This evening disaster management specialists from the region met at the Suva Holiday Inn for the official launch of a new tool that could revolutionise disaster management throughout the Pacific.

The Pacific Disaster Net (www.pacificdisaster.net) is a web-based portal that will help to link disaster management specialists and resources throughout the Pacific region. It will directly help National Disaster Management Offices and all disaster risk management stakeholders to improve knowledge management, planning and decision-making.

Bangkok, Thailand (UN/ESCAP Information Services). Knowledge and familiarity with information and communication technology (ICT) in the Pacific receieved a boost with the holding of a key United Nations training programme for some of the region’s policy-makers and government officials.

The United Nations Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology (UN-APCICT), in collaboration with Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), held a four-day workshop on ICT on the Cook Islands from 2 to 5 September, 2008.

Cook Islands’ Senior Fisheries Officer Ngereteina George has spent the last two weeks at the Secretariat of the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) developing a Coral Reef Habitat Map for Aitutaki Lagoon.

The Coral Reef Habitat Map for Aitutaki captures the present characteristics of the marine ecosystem which is critical as a management tool to address the economic and environmental concerns including understanding the possible impacts and developing the best options to enlarge the present shipping channel on Aitutaki.