Many terrestrial ecosystems, especially forests in Papua New Guinea, are subject to increasing resource extraction and are being depleted through commercial forestry operations or cleared for mining or agriculture. Mining for copper and gold, particularly in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji, and sand mining throughout the Pacific, has had significant negative impact on the environment.  Open cast mining operations and the direct discharge of mining waste into streams and rivers, which ultimately impacts corals and sea coasts, are of particular concern. Tropical Pacific marine systems are a major source of food, particularly for atoll nations such as Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Tokelau and Tuvalu. However, these resources are increasingly threatened by overexploitation and destructive fishing methods. In addition, valuable mangrove areas are at threat from coastal development and inappropriate agriculture practices.

Many of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, climate variability and sea level rise are in the Pacific. Vulnerability to sea level rise and storms is particularly high in low-lying atoll nations such as Kiribati and Tuvalu, and is compounded by high population density, accelerated coastal development, shoreline erosion, and rising environmental degradation.

Environmental governance, particularly in the resource extraction sectors, and institutional capacities for implementation of sound natural resource and environmental management practices remain weak in most Pacific Islands, though some countries (e.g. Palau) have made significant progress in recent years.

The World Bank’s largest program of environment-related assistance is in Papua New Guinea. Its main pillar is the Forestry and Conservation Project.

In collaboration with several of the smaller Pacific Islands, the World Bank has produced an important Regional Economic Report entitled “Cities, Seas and Storms,” which proposes improvements in ocean resource management and a series of first steps on climate change adaptation. The World Bank has followed up on the latter issue by starting preparation of a GEF-supported Climate Change Adaptation Project for Kiribati, one of the most climate-vulnerable small island states. Support has also been provided to Palau to upgrade its natural resource valuation skills and to help Samoa recover from a recent cyclone and establish its first marine protected areas.

More information:
  Papua New Guinea Environment Monitor - Natural Resources (732kb pdf)
  Catastrophe Insurance Pilot Study: Developing Risk Management Options for Disaster in the Pacific Region
  Cities, Seas, and Storm: Managing Change in the Pacific Islands Economies