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In March, the government of Fiji declared that the nation’s marine
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is to become a whale sanctuary. The sanctuary
covers 1.26 million km2 of water used by migrating humpback whales for
breeding and calving. The governments of Australia, the Cook Islands,
French Polynesia, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Vanuatu,
Samoa, as well as the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) have applauded
Fiji’s efforts and emphasized the need for conserving whales in
other Pacific island states. Besides implementing its main function
– protecting marine biodiversity – the sanctuary is predicted
to become a major tourist attraction, as has been the case in Tonga,
New Zealand and Australia (ENS 2003).
The first regional marine plan under Australia’s Oceans Policy
was launched in July. More than two million km2 of Australia’s
ocean territory around Victoria, Tasmania, eastern South Australia and
southern New South Wales, as well as the sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island
falls under the jurisdiction of this policy (National Oceans Office
2003). The development of the ocean management plan involved all relevant
stakeholders, including commercial and recreational fishers, indigenous
Australians, the conservation sector, industries and officials from
different governmental bodies. The National Oceans Ministerial Board,
established as a coordinating body, will provide for a comprehensive
governmental framework for decision-making in the field of ocean protection.
This is a big step toward protection of key ecosystems as well as the
promotion of sustainable development of marine industries currently
valued at more than US$19 400 million a year (National Oceans Office
2003).
Asia also has a great diversity of birds.
Its 2 700 species represent over 27 per cent of all bird species described.
However, one in eight (12.5 per cent) of all bird species in the Asia
region is globally threatened. The two primary threats are habitat destruction
and human overexploitation. A total of 323 bird species are at risk
of extinction over the next 100 years (Birdlife International 2003).
Of this number, 41 are listed as “critical” and a further
65 are “endangered,” meaning that these species face a high
risk of extinction over the next 10 years. The declining populations
of birds such as the hornbill in Nepal (Box 2) reflect the general deterioration
of biodiversity and the environment in the region (BirdLife International
2003).
Box
2: Endangered hornbill in Nepal |
According to the IUCN’s 2003 Red List of Endangered
Species, the hornbill is among Nepal’s most critically
endangered birds. Habitat loss is the main threat to the hornbill,
as deforestation in the region destroys nesting trees and
feeding sites. The hornbill is also hunted by poachers who
sell its beak and fat (which they call ‘hornbill oil’)
for medicinal purposes. The dire circumstances of Nepal’s
four species of hornbill are indicative of the survival challenges
of many Asian birds, which are faced with habitat destruction
and overexploitation.
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| Sources: Poudel 2003; Birdlife International 2003 |
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