Atolls – the “biodiversity cool spots” vs hot spots: a critical new focus for research and conservation
This paper highlights the seriousness of the “biodiversity crisis” on atolls and the need to place greater research and conservation emphasis on atolls and other small island ecosystems. It is based on studies over the past twenty years conducted in the atolls of Tuvalu, Tokelau, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia. It stresses that atolls offer some of the greatest opportunities for integrated studies of simplified small-island ecosystems.
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
This study presents a “snapshot” of the current status of atoll biodiversity, including associated marine biodiversity, and stresses that atolls are “biodiversity cool spots”, which, apart from, in some cases, very considerable marine resources, have among the poorest and most highly threatened biodiversity inheritances on Earth.
Most atoll ecosystems and a wide range of terrestrial and marine organisms, and genetic or cultivars varieties of traditional food and other multi-purpose plants are declining in abundance and under threat of either “economic extinction” or extirpation and in need of some form of protection. The severity of the situation is greatest on those more urbanized atolls where both the biodiversity and the local knowledge of biodiversity are threatened. *see R Thanman pdf report for more information*
Atoll ecosystems that are threatened and in need of protection in the Pacific Islands.
Atoll ecosystems that are threatened and in need of protection in the Pacific Islands - CVS
Terrestrial and marine plants and animals that are rare, endangered or in short supply, and in need of protection in the atolls of the Pacific Islands.