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Pacific Environment Information Network [PEIN] Country Profile and Virtual Environment Library

Niue

Compiled by the SPREP IRC and Library the Pacific Environment Information Network [PEIN] Country Profiles are a browsable compilation of country profiles , national environment reports , technical reports and academic literature for the countries of the Pacific Islands. Contributions of weblinks and documents, whether in hardcopy or digital form are welcome and can be sent to irc@sprep.org .

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Documents can be requested from irc@sprep.org .

Contents

Overview
Country Profiles

Country Reports

Technical Reports

Multimedia - posters, videos etc
Academic literature and research
Websites

Overview

* Excerpt from Niue National Strategic Plan 2009-2013 (2009;217kb)

5 – ENVIRONMENT

VISION:

SUSTAINABLE USE AND MANAGEMENT OF NIUE’S NATURAL RESOURCES AND
ENVIRONMENT FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS

AIM

Utilise the abundant natural resources in a way that not only maximises the economic benefit
but also ensures that future generations will be able to enjoy them to the full.

The need for sustainable use and management of the environment and natural resources
begins at the village level. All residents of Niue are responsible for the management and
sustainable use of the environment.

Niue is susceptible to environment changes and a category 5 cyclone that devastated the
island in 2004 demonstrated Niue’s vulnerability.

The Department of Environment in collaboration with other departments will continue to
ensure that the resources are managed effectively and that any adverse effects resulting from
climate change are mitigated. Niue is an active participant in a number of international and
regional discussions on climate change and environmental concerns and will continue to meet
its reporting requirements.

Environmental impact assessments will be compulsory for all development programmes. A
national waste management plan will be implemented along with resource management plans
(such as fisheries and forestry). These plans will be implemented over the next five years
and financial and technical resources will be required from development partners and
international organisations.

The management and protection of the water lens and water bores is fundamental given
Niue’s vulnerability. Awareness programmes will educate the residents of Niue on
sustainable use and management of the environment.

STRATEGIES

Agriculture
Develop and implement sustainable land and soil use management policies

Fisheries
Enhanced management and conservation of the marine resources. Enhanced management of the
marine resources and environment within Niue’s 200- mile EEZ to provide sustainable economic returns. Enhanced conservation of the marine biodiversity, consistent with international conventions and policies .

Environment
Develop and implement national environment conservation plans by harmonising existing
environmental policies and frameworks. Strengthen the capacity to sustainably manage natural resources and the environment, reflecting the principles of sustainable development and good governance . Implement a consolidated national environment conservation plan. Strengthen national environmental monitoring and reporting against national and international commitments.

Climate Change and Natural Disasters
Establish a coordinated disaster risk reduction and management approach to natural and non natural disasters, including climate change. Develop and implement a national programme of
initiatives to address mitigation and adaptation to climate change and disaster risk reduction and management, Promote mitigation measures and implement renewable energy projects. Submit Climate Change Convention Second National Communication Report. Develop mitigation and
adaptation projects to address Climate Change. Incorporate climate change issues into relevant sectors.

Solid and Hazardous Waster and Pollution
Review, and implement a national programme of initiatives to address solid and hazardous waste and marine pollution.

Biodiversity Conservation
Implement a national programme of initiatives to conserve national marine, freshwater and terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystems. Develop and implement a programme of initiatives to
integrate the values inherent in sustainable development into all aspects of learning.

* Excerpt from Niue Integrated Strategic Plan 2003-2008 (2003?; 418kb)

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE

Sustainable management of Niue’s natural resources for future generations.

BACKGROUND

As a small isolated land mass Niue has a unique unspoilt environment typified by its pristine water, abundant vegetation and clean air. These attributes can be used to commercial advantage in marketing the country and its products through organic farming, eco tourism and whale watching.
Valuing the environment in this manner will ensure that it is protected and preserved for future generations. Niue is an active participant in international environmental initiatives and signatory to international treaties.

AIM

Utilise the abundant natural resources in a way that not only maximises the economic benefit but also ensures that future generations will be able to enjoy them to the full.

STRATEGIES
Management of Resources Prepare and implement management plans for the sustainable use and ongoing monitoring of our natural resources.

Global Responsibilities

1) Participate in international environment programmes to assist Niue in meeting its global environmental responsibilities.
2) Seek international assistance in implementing sound environmental policy.

Country Profiles

Adaptation Learning Mechanism [climate change adaptation] country profiles
Niue

Biosafety Profiles [CBD Biosafety Clearinghouse Mechanism]
Niue

Birdlife [Avifauna] Profiles

see Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World - browsable by country and by individual island within the Pacific region - excellent data source

see also a checklists of birds of FIJI, AMERICAN SAMOA, NIUE, SAMOA, TOKELAU, TONGA, TUVALU AND WALLIS & FUTUNA compiled by Dick Watling

see also Guide to the Birds of Niue [SPREP] (1998;10mb)

see also Species profiles [*For the Globally Threatened Birds (those evaluated as Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable), each factsheet contains a summary account, range map and an illustration, plus additional data tables. For Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Near Threatened, Least Concern and Data Deficient species, each contains a concise summary paragraph and some additional data tables.] [Birdlife International]
Niue

see also Endemic Bird Areas [EBAs] of the Pacific [incl. Aitutaki (secondary area) ; East Caroline Islands ; Fiji ; Gilbert Islands (secondary area) ; Henderson Island ; Mariana Islands ; Marquesas Islands ; Marshall Islands (secondary area) ; Nauru (secondary area) ; Niuafo‘ou (secondary area) ; Niue (secondary area) ; Northern Line Islands (secondary area) ; Palau ; Pitcairn (secondary area) ; Rapa (secondary area) ; Rimatara ; Rotuma (secondary area) ; Samoan Islands ; Society Islands ; Southern Cook Islands ; Tonga (secondary area) ; Tuamotu archipelago ; Wake Island (secondary area) ; Wallis and Futuna (secondary area) ; Yap Islands ] [Birdlife International]

see also Important bird areas of the Pacific [IBAs] (2010) [Birdlife Pacific]

IBA Profiles:
Niue

IBA Reports:
Niue

* order the complete CD-ROM 'Important bird areas in the Pacific: a compendium' from the SPREP IRC

see also Pacific regional overview [Birdlife International]
see also Globally Threatened Birds (those evaluated as Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable) of Oceania [Birdlife International]
see also State of the World's birds website and report [Birdlife International] - including Pacific country case studies

Earthtrends Thematic Country Profiles [WRI]
Agriculture and food, Biodiversity and protected areas, Climate and atmosphere, Coastal and marine ecosystems, Economics, business and the environment, Energy and resources, Environmental governance and institutions, Forests, grasslands and drylands, Population, health and human well-being, Water resources and freshwater ecosystems.

Environment Statistics - Country Snapshots [UN; 2009]
Niue

Environmental Vulnerability Index - Country Profiles [SOPAC / UNEP]
Niue

EU Pacific Country Environment Profiles

see EU Country Partnership Profiles [incl. environment and EDF10 strategies]
Niue

FAO Country Profiles and Mapping Information System
Niue

FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Country Profiles
Niue

Fishbase Biodiversity Country Profiles (all fish)
Niue

Forestry Country Profiles
Forestry Department Country Profiles [FAO]
Niue

see also FAO Forest Resource Assessment : Country Reports [2010]
Niue (2010; 162kb)

see also FAO Forest Resources Assessments - Data collection for the Pacific region [2000]
Niue

see also State of the World's Forests 2007: Asia and the Pacific [FAO] (2008; 1.77mb)
see also Tropical and subtropical forest profiles prepared by the World Wildlife Fund

Global Biodiversity Information Forum [GBIF] Country Profiles
Niue

see also GBIF Google Earth Country Links
Niue

Global Environment Facility (GEF) Country Profiles
Use the drop down menu to go to the individual profiles - includes GEF-4 Allocation and Utilization , Approved Projects and Projects Under Preparation

Integrated Water Resource Management Profiles [SOPAC]
Niue

Invasive Species : Country Profiles [ISSG]
Niue

see also PIER reports on invasive species in Pacific islands:
Niue (2000) / Niue (2004)

Land-based pollutants inventory for the South Pacific region: Part 2: Regional summary and country profiles [SPREP] (1993; 19mb)

Laws and legislation

SPREP National Laws and Legislation clearinghouse
Niue

see also 'Legislative reviews' in Country Reports (below)

Mangrove and Wetlands Profiles

see : A Directory of Wetlands in Oceania [1993]
see also: Wetlands of the Pacific Island Region (2008; 882kb)
see also: IWMI Global Wetlands - Interactive Web Map Server - includes countries of Oceania
see also: Wetlands in Oceania - country profiles and wetlands information [UNEP-WCMC] - Niue

Marine Resource Profiles

see :

State of the marine environment in the South Pacific Region (1990; 3.48mb)

see also:

Reefbase Country Profiles (coral reefs, reef fish, biodiversity)
Niue

see also GIS data for corals in the Pacific from Reefbase - browse by country and reef profile
see also GIS data for marine protected areas in the Pacific from Reefbase - browse by country and ecosystem

see also:

Status of Coral Reef Systems of the World: 2008 (2008; 20mb)

Chapter 13 - Status of Coral Reefs in Polynesia Mana Node Countries: Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Niue, Kiribati, Tonga, Tokelau and Wallis and Futuna (2008; 1.85mb)

MPA Global Profiles (marine protected areas database)
Niue

Millenium Development Goals - Country Profiles
Niue
see also SPC's Millenium Development Goal summaries and in particular regional data for Goal 7 - Ensure environmental sustainability

National Communications Support Programme [Climate] Profiles [UNDP]
Niue

Pacific Biodiversity Information Forum Country Data:
Niue

Pacific Regional information System - PRISM [SPC]
Environmental and Climate Statistics
Niue

Protected Areas

~Pacific Protected Areas database (PBIF)
Niue

~World Database on Protected Areas - Pacific site profiles
Niue

see also: Protected Areas of the Pacific Islands profiles [UNEP / WCMC]
Maps of the Pacific Islands
Wetlands in Oceania - country profiles and wetlands information - Niue

see also Protected Area profiles on www.protectedplanet.net
Niue

see also GIS data for marine protected areas in the Pacific - browse by country and ecosystem
see also MPA Global Profiles (marine protected areas database) above

SPREP Country Profiles: Exchange of Information by Members at SPREP Annual Meetings:
- Exchamge of information by Members on National Developments related to Natural Resource Management Priority of the Action Plan [2007]
see Agenda Item 6.1: Country Profiles of the Report and record of the 18th SPREP Meeting of Officials in Apia, Samoa on 11th to 14th September 2007

- Exchange of information by Members on national developments related to Pollution Prevention priority of the SPREP Action Plan [2008]
see Agenda Item 8.6: Country Profiles of the Report and record of the19th SPREP Annual Meeting of Officials in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia on 8–12 September 2008

- Exchange of Information by Members on National Developments Related to the Climate Change Focus Area of the SPREP Action Plan [2009]
see Agenda Item 11.2: Country Profiles of the Report and record of the 20th SPREP Annual Meeting of Officials in Apia, Samoa on 17 - 20 November 2009

- Exchange of Information by Members on Year of Biodiversity [2010]
see Agenda Item 11.3: Country Profiles of the Report and record of the 21st SPREP Meeting of Officials in Madang, Papua New Guinea on 6-10 September 2010
see also individual profiles for: Wallis and Futuna

Sustainable Development Profiles (UN Agenda 21)
Niue

Threatened species: Summary of species on the 2008 IUCN Red List
Niue

UNCCD Country Profiles:
Niue

UNEP Country Profiles [* poorly maintained and little information available]
Niue

Water Resource Profiles [SOPAC - Pacific water - http://www.pacificwater.org/]
Niue

see also "Pacific Regional Consultation on Water in Small Island Countries" - country briefing papers (2003)
Niue

WHO Environmental Health Profiles
Niue

World Factbook Country Profiles [CIA]
Niue

World Ocean Database 2005 [NOAA]
Geographically sorted data for the Pacific Ocean [datasets]

see also Environmental indicators: South Pacific (UNEP: 2004; 6.23mb)
see also Polynesia / Micronesia Biodiversity Hotspot Ecosystem Profile (2007; 1.16mb)

see also Paciifc Biodiversity Information Forum website and databases

National Reports

Country Strategy Papers and National Indicative Programmes [European Union - EDF10]
Niue (2008-2013; 1.9mb)

Legislative Reviews
Niue (1993; 4.77mb), Niue - analysis (2007; 382kb), Niue - review (2007; 437kb)

National Action Programmes (NAP) to combat land degradation [UNCCD]
Niue (2004; 1.44mb)

National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans (NBSAP)
Niue (2001; 1.66mb)

National Biosafety Frameworks
Niue (2006; 295kb)

National Capacity Self Assessment (NCSA)

Stocktake Reports: Niue (2006; 404kb)

Thematic Assessment Reports:
Biodiversity: Niue (2008;204kb)
Climate Change: Niue (2008;204kb)
Land degradation: Niue (2008;204kb)

Cross-cutting Analysis: Niue (2008; 644kb)

Action Plans:
Niue (2008; 1.27mb)

NCSA Status (NCSA website)
Niue ,

National climate change policies
Niue (2009; 55kb)

National Environment Management Strategy (NEMS)
Niue (1993; 6.74mb)

National Integrated Water Resource Management : Diagnostic Reports - drafts only [SOPAC]
Niue (2007; 1mb)

National Invasive Species Strategy

Invasives reports: Niue (2004; 873kb)

see also Invasive alien species in the Austral-Pacific region: national reports and directory of resources [GISP] (2002; 3.75mb)

see also Invasives Species on Pacific Islands [reports] - HEAR / PIER project website

National [Sustainable] Development Plans / Strategies [ForumSec]
Niue 2003-2008 (2003?; 418kb) , Niue 2009-2013 (2009;217kb)

National Assessment Reports: Niue (2006; 327kb)

Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change [PACC] - reports, activities and PACC news updates
Niue

Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change [PACC] - report of in-country consultations
Niue (2009; 145kb)

Pacific Regional Consultation on Water in Small Island Countries - Country briefings
Niue (2003; 93kb)

Pacific Regional Energy Assessment: Country Reports (PIREP)
Niue (2004; 1.25kb)

Regional overview report (2004; 2.59mb)

Peristant Organic Pollutants (POPs): Country Plans
Niue (2003; 395kb)

National Implementation Plans
Niue (2005; 7.88mb)

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (Basel Convention, 1989), the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (Rotterdam Convention, 1998) and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) (Stockholm Convention, 2001) together provide an international framework for the environmentally sound management of hazardous chemicals throughout their life cycles.

Priority Environmental Concerns (PECs) Reports
Niue (2004; 373kb)

Sea Level & Climate: their present state: Country reports
Niue (2006; 979kb)

Ships' Waste Management in Pacific Islands Ports: Country reports
Niue

State of the Environment Reports
Niue (1994; 5.43)

see also State of the Environment of the South Pacific 1983 (UNEP: 1983; 1.66mb)
see also State of the marine environment in the South Pacific Region (1990; 3.48mb)
see also State of the Environment of the South Pacific 2005 (2005; 382kb; see also ~ http://www.unescap.org/esd/environment/soe/2005/mainpub/ ~)
see also Regional perspectives: Asia and the Pacific (UNEP, GEO-4. 2007; 382 kb)

see also the archive of SPREP Country Reports between 1980-1983 as follows:
Niue (1980; 308kb)

United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED: Brazil, 1992)
Country Reports : Niue (1991; 630kb)

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, 1992) and the Rio Declaration highlighted the need for sustainable development-socially responsible economic development that protects the resource base and the environment for the benefit of future generations. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which was one of the outcome instruments of the UNCED process, also highlights the need for conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)
National Reports: Niue 1 (2001; 53kb), Niue 2 (2001; 278kb), Niue 3 (2005; 796kb), Niue 4 (2010; 210kb)

see also Country profiles compiled by the Secretariat for the UNCBD.

see also: National Reports on Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: First Regular National Report (2007)
Niue (2010; 250kb)

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which was one of the outcome instruments of the UNCED process, highlights the need for conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (Land Degradation) (UNCCD)
First National Report: Niue [summary only] (2000; 12kb)

Second National Report: Niue (2002; 8.06mb)

Third National Report: Niue (2006; 514kb)

National Action Programmes (NAP) to combat land degradation
Niue (2004; 1.44mb)

see also UNCCD Country Profiles:
Niue

see also UNCCD Reports clearinghouse mechanism

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is an agreement to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements.

United Nations Development Programme Country Programme Action Plans [CPAP]:
Niue (2008; 384kb)

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
(i) National Communications and In-depth Reviews
Niue (2000; 3.09mb)

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC,1992) is concerned with global warming and the consequent rise in sea levels that may result in the flooding of coastal areas, and submerging islands, which could adversely affect coastal communities. The treaty aims at reducing emissions of greenhouse gas in order to combat global warming. Although the treaty as originally framed set no mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions for individual nations and contained no enforcement provisions; it did include provisions for updates (called "protocols") that would set mandatory emission limits. The principal update is the Kyoto Protocol.

World Summit on Sustainable Development [Rio+10 - Johannesburg 2002]

National Assessment Reports:
Niue (2002; 217kb)

Pacific WSSD Regional Assessment (2002; 91kb) and Pacific Position Paper (2004; 91kb)
see also: Synthesis Report for Asia and the Pacific (2001; 1.22mb)

The WSSD Plan of Implementation calls for the management of the natural resources base in a sustainable and integrated manner. In this regard, to reverse the current trend in natural resource degradation as soon as possible, it is necessary to implement strategies which should include targets adopted at the national and, where appropriate, regional levels to protect ecosystems and to achieve integrated management of land, water and living resources, while strengthening regional, national and local capacities.

The Johannesburg Declaration and the Plan of Implementation arising from the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD, 2002) reconfirmed the commitment of States to advance and strengthen the interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development-economic development, social development and environmental protection-at the local, national, regional and global levels.

Technical Reports

Reports available online from the SPREP Library and IRC database
Reports available online from SOPAC [Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission]
Reports available online from ReefBase Pacific

search also SPC Coastal and Oceanic Fisheries Digital Library

Multimedia - posters, videos etc

Paradise lost [Niue]
- how the island nation Niue -- the smallest democracy in the world -- is relying on techniques new and old to save itself from climate change. This is a companion to the full NOW program "Paradise Lost," about global warming's effect on tiny islands in the South Pacific, an effect that is not hypothetical, but a catastrophic reality.

Academic literature and research

via Google Scholar

Websites

Niue - govt. website

Niue - Meteorological Office

see also:

The Pacific Environment Information Network [PEIN] Regional Frameworks and Strategies Directory [SPREP]

SPREP Library and IRC collection [SLIC] - includes online full text access to a wide range of Pacific environment materials.

The Pacific Environment Information Network [PEIN] Virtual Library - full text publications from SPREP, SOPAC, SPC and other CROP agencies, Pacific govt. environment depts. , regional institutions, and NGOs active in the area of environment conservation.

Pacific Environment Databases and Recommended Internet Resources

see also:

SPREP's International Instruments' webpage
"International instruments relevant to SPREP's work in the areas of Sustainable Economic Development, Ecosystems Management, Climate Change, and Waste Management."

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Compiled by Peter Murgatroyd. Last updated 3 November 2010

© SPREP