News about environment work and issues in Tonga by the Department of Environment, including regional and world environment news relevant to Tonga
London, ENGLAND – August 6, 2020: 2,45pm (COMSEC): Mangroves are disappearing at an alarming rate, with conservationists across the Commonwealth striving to save them from local extinction. These nearshore forests that straddle land and sea provide a range of vital services to both humans and fish, such as coastal protection. In a recent webinar organised Read More …
Nuku’alofa – August 4, 2020: 11am (Enviro News): The Tonga Ocean Plan has made the rounds around the Kingdom over the past three months, with a resounding ‘all for it’ given by members of the public. Following community consultations in Vava’u, Ha’apai, Niuafo’ou, Niuatoputapu and Tongatapu, the Plan is being given the approval it needs. Read More …
By Courtney Farthing New York – USA – July 21, 2020 (GLOBAL FISHING WATCH): The world is at a standstill. Over the last few months, COVID-19 has challenged health systems, crippled economies, and put our most vulnerable at risk. The pandemic has impacted almost every community worldwide, leaving us uncertain about what the future holds. Read More …
Nuku’alofa – July 17, 2020: 1,35pm (PEJN): Tonga has been hard at work in ensuring that the environment is clean and healthy over the past two years. It has been a government effort as the threat of climate change is realized across the Kingdom and the Pasifika. Joining hands in taking the lead role are Read More …
Nuku’alofa – July 16, 2020: 1.30pm (Tourism Tonga): A total of 14 locals have been awarded with the Certified Restricted Skipper Master Class 5 certificates in whale watching, as part of a training organised by the Ministry of Tourism here in Nuku’alofa. The 14 were awarded at a certificate presentation ceremony held at Lata’anga, on Read More …
Nuku’alofa – June 14, 2020: 11.15am (Enviro News): The first community consultation meet on the draft Tonga Ocean Plan for Tongatapu was held at Kolonga village last night. The draft was taken to members of the Niutoua, Afa and Kolonga communities by the members of the Marine Spatial Planning team, working with the Tonga Ocean Read More …
Nuku’alofa – July 3, 2020: 3.15pm (Enviro News): Strengthening national and regional capacities to reduce the impact of Invasive Alien Species on globally significant biodiversity in the Pacific is what the Department of Environment is also tasked with in Tonga. That work will now be boosted with the commissioning of a new vehicle at the Read More …
Nuku’alofa – June 5, 2020: 12.30pm (Enviro News): The Prime Minster, Honourable Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, had today launched Tonga’s first ever State of Environment Report on the closing of the week-long commemoration of World Environment Day in Cabinet, Nuku’alofa, Tonga. World Environment Day is a yearly event organized by the United Nations Environment Programme and is Read More …
Honiara, SOLOMONS – June 4, 2020: 4.20pm (WORLD BANK): Dr Katy Soapi’s work researching marine Genetic Resources has played an important role in ongoing United Nations negotiations over the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. Dr Katy is also one of the founders of the Tetepare Descendants’ Association Read More …
Opinion by Sefanaia Nawadra – Head of the UN Environment Programme, Pacific Office Suva, FIJI – JUNE 4, 2020: 5.04PM (UNDP): Around the globe there are more than one million plant and animal species on the verge of disappearing forever. The planet is not in good shape because of us. Nature is suffering biodiversity and Read More …