News about environment work and issues in Tonga by the Department of Environment, including regional and world environment news relevant to Tonga
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 …
Nuku’alofa – June 1, 2020: 9.30pm (Enviro News): The National Environment Week 2020 kick started yesterday with a church service at the Church of Tonga in Pahu. A full week of activities has been planned by the Department of Environment to help promote the message for the week. This year’s theme is “PROTECT NATURE, RESPECT Read More …
London, UNITED KINGDOM – June 1, 2020: 9.10pm (Commonwealth Media): The Commonwealth Secretariat is joining forces with Vulcan Inc. to help member countries manage their ocean spaces via cutting-edge mapping technology. Commonwealth countries are responsible for more than a third of the world’s coastal ocean, and 45 percent of its coral reefs. The new tool will use satellite technology to create country-specific data and Read More …
Nuku’alofa – May 27, 2020: 4.45pm (Enviro News): Red algae have now been found to be affecting the growth of mangroves around Tongatapu. A team from the Department of Environment and MORDI Tonga have reported this following inspections carried out this week in areas around the main island. This included the mangrove plantations in Sopu, Read More …
Suva, FIJI – May 21, 2020 (FIJI TIMES): Fiji’s ocean resources generate about $2.5 billion (US$1.1 billion) worth of economic activity annually, according to the recently-released National Ocean Policy. The policy, prepared using data from a 2014 Marine Ecosystem Service Valuation report, said marine-related tourism contributed about $1.2 billion (US$531 million) to the national economy Read More …
Nuku’alofa – May 18, 2020: 8.15am (Enviro News): Two teams are reaching out to communities on Ha’apai and Vava’u this week with the draft Tonga Ocean Plan. The teams are part of the Tonga Ocean 7 working group, under the Marine Spatial Plan project, overseen by the Department of Environment, under the Ministry of MEIDECC. Read More …
Nuku’alofa – May 12, 2020: 11.35am (Enviro News): A Marine Survey team that conducted practical training on reefs close to the Nuku’alofa waterfront say early indications show that there might be over fishing in the area. Lead facilitator and Department of Environment’s Penikoni Aleamotua’a said the overgrowth of green algae indicates that there was a Read More …