The dual threats of invasive species and climate change dominated the stage at the World Summit on Island Sustainability in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador this June, where over 150 island leaders and experts gathered at the Galapagos Science Center to share research and ideas, as well as their visions of a sustainable future for islands worldwide. Pacific RISA co-lead PI Dr. Brewington was invited as a featured speaker to share some of the bright spots, and challenges, surrounding these issues from Pacific Islands.
islands make up just 6% of the world’s total land area but are hotspots of biodiversity. They are also epicenters of biodiversity loss. Over 60% of species extinctions have occurred in islands and of those, more than 80% were caused by invasive species. In addition to reducing biodiversity invasive species also cause habitat loss, which changes the ecosystem services that islands provide such as food, water, recreation opportunities, and cultural practices. Invasive species also impact infrastructure, trade, food prices, jobs, and human health.
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Pacific Research on Island Solutions for Adaptation
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Posted on May 25, 2023 by Laura Brewington
The Pacific RISA is excited to announce our new program name!
Why make a change?
Fifteen years ago, we adopted NOAA’s national program moniker “Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments” into our name to clearly demonstrate our relationship with the NOAA RISA network. In 2022, however, NOAA selected a new program name and all of the former RISA teams are now collectively known as “NOAA Climate Adaptation Partnerships“. This gave us an opportunity to consider whether to keep our current program name or explore other options. Read More
Rediscovering Island Abundance at the 2023 Guam Conference on Island Sustainability
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Posted on April 30, 2023 by Laura Brewington
What does “Island Sustainability” look like? Is it workforce training to remove harmful invasive plants from forests and ensure abundant freshwater supplies? Is it promoting a circular economic model that collects discarded waste products and converts them into small business opportunities? Is it summer camp opportunities for youth to learn how to protect marine and terrestrial life by keeping rubbish out of the oceans?
At the 14th annual University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability this April, it was all of the above and much, much more. Read More
Pacific RISA Announces New Advisory Committee
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Posted on March 31, 2023 by pacrisa
Pacific RISA, a NOAA Climate Adaptation Partnership (CAP) Welcomes New Members to Advisory Committee
Honolulu, Hawaii – Pacific RISA is thrilled to announce the appointment of nine new members to its Advisory Committee for Phase IV of its 5-year grant cycle, Building Equitable and Just Climate Solutions for Pacific Island Resilience to Compound Disasters and Extreme Events. The new members, who will serve through Fall 2026, are Kelley Anderson Tagarino, Amanda Ellis, Dr. Kealoha Fox, Matt Gonser, Kaʻāina Hull, Trina Leberer, Malia Nobrega-Olivera, Ruby Pap, and Dr. Dave White. Read More
Hawaiʻi Makes History for the Birds
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Posted on March 26, 2023 by pacrisa
On March 24, Hawaiʻi’s Board of Land and Natural Resources made history by unanimously voting to approve an Environmental Assessment and issuing a “Finding of No Significant Impact” for a mosquito suppression program that is planned for East Maui. This program, which uses a natural form of mosquito “birth control” that has been applied in more than 15 countries to fight diseases such as malaria and dengue, may be the last opportunity to save at least four of Hawaiʻi’s critically endangered endemic forest birds. Read More
A Coordinated Approach is Needed: Outcomes of the First Pacific Ecological Security Conference
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Posted on October 27, 2022 by pacrisa
Over 100 representatives from across the Pacific region met at the inaugural Pacific Ecological Security Conference (PESC) that took place in Palau from 3–5 October. Hosted by the Government of Palau, the East-West Center, the Pacific Community (SPC), the Global Environment Facility, the Nature Conservancy, the US Office of Insular Affairs, and the US Forest Service, biosecurity experts, development partners, regional organizations, agricultural and natural resource managers, researchers, and government came together to identify and discuss how to address the critical threat of invasive species. Read More
2022 Palau Indigenous Knowledge Exchange
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Posted on September 13, 2022 by pacrisa
Islanders from across the Pacific Rim gather to share Indigenous Knowledge, climate adaptation practices
From July 23-30, a diverse group of Pacific Islanders working on traditional forms of aquaculture and navigation across the Pacific Rim came together for a knowledge exchange at the Ebiil Society in Ngarchelong State, Palau. The exchange was hosted by Ann Singeo, Executive Director of the Ebiil Society, an NGO that runs educational programs centered around environmental protection and proper management of natural resources through Indigenous Knowledge. The meeting brought together participants from Hawaiʻi, Guam, Palau, FSM, and the Pacific Northwest, who sought to support the re-learning of Indigenous technology; explore Indigenous coastal solutions for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience; and reestablish ancient alliances as well as build new ones for a united Pacific. Read More
Invasive Species, Climate Change take Center Stage at the World Summit on Island Sustainability
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Posted on July 26, 2022 by Laura Brewington
The dual threats of invasive species and climate change dominated the stage at the World Summit on Island Sustainability in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador this June, where over 150 island leaders and experts gathered at the Galapagos Science Center to share research and ideas, as well as their visions of a sustainable future for islands worldwide. Pacific RISA co-lead PI Dr. Brewington was invited as a featured speaker to share some of the bright spots, and challenges, surrounding these issues from Pacific Islands.
islands make up just 6% of the world’s total land area but are hotspots of biodiversity. They are also epicenters of biodiversity loss. Over 60% of species extinctions have occurred in islands and of those, more than 80% were caused by invasive species. In addition to reducing biodiversity invasive species also cause habitat loss, which changes the ecosystem services that islands provide such as food, water, recreation opportunities, and cultural practices. Invasive species also impact infrastructure, trade, food prices, jobs, and human health.
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New Report on the Intersection of Climate Change, Health, and Migration
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Posted on July 11, 2022 by pacrisa
Since 2016, the Pacific RISA has worked with researchers in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Hawaiʻi, and the US Pacific Northwest to study the relationship between climate change and migration, with an emphasis on the health impacts of climate change and how they are related to migration. Our latest publication, “Climate Change, Health, and Migration: Profiles of Resilience and Vulnerability in the Marshall Islands“ led by Pacific RISA PI Laura Brewington and East-West Center consultant David Krzesni, is now available online through the East-West Center publications website.
Climate change is already having negative impacts in the RMI, include changing sea levels, extreme events like cyclones and typhoons, heat waves, drought, and ocean acidification. Meanwhile, public health is also affected by climate change, in ways that may directly or indirectly influence people’s migration decisions. In this context, this research supported by NOAA’s International Research and Applications Project explored the nexus of climate change, health, and migration in the RMI and provides a better understanding of these relationships to inform research and policy agendas that build resilience and adaptive capacity. Read More
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Resilient and sustainable Pacific Island communities using climate information to manage risks and support practical decision-making about climate variability and change.
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