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Home , Eiao, French Polynesia, Hatutu, Mohotani, Pitcairn Islands, Polynesia

East Pacific hub 2 entities (FR / EN )

An larger than continental with over 120 and 20% of the world’s on the front line of climate change Results from ecosystem profiling in French and the Islands Flora ARTZNER, Pacific Aurélie BOCQUET UICN Comité Français Context -

Map of Europe mainland area and French Polynesia (FP) territory • Marine territory as big as mainland Europe (5 million km²)

• 118 islands in 5 groups (Society, Marquesas, Austral, and East Pacific hub Tuamotu)

• < 300,000 inhabitants, 70% on Tahiti

East Pacific hub Context - French Polynesia

• Main income sources:   Black pearl production  Fishing

• Environmental trends:  Increasing number of MPAs but management challenging  Pollution from increasing Hotel in a of FP urbanization

French Polynesia Biological importance of the

• Remarkably rich in species due to isolation

Coral (12,800 km²) • 170 species - 18 endemic • Ecosystem services: coastal protection, tourism, fishing, pearl industry Marine species reef diversity • ~ 5000 species recorded # East Pacific hub Group • Deep ecosystems still mostly unknown Species rate Molluscs ~ 2400 2 to 20%

Fishes ~ 1200 ~ 5% Crustaceans ~1100 - Mammals + 21 - Turtles 5 -

French Polynesia Biological importance of the region

Main terrestrial biodiversity in high islands (rainforest, wet areas, sub alpine & altitude forest)

Te Mehani, Altitude forest (« cloud forest »)  Highest concentration of endemic and threatened species Moorea  Ecosystem services (fresh Endemism Groups # Species rate water sources,East …) Pacific hub Terrestrial Local endemic species: Monarque - gasteropode 525 ~95% only found in 2 valleys on (snails + slugs) Terestrial 64 86% Vascular flora ~ 900 + 60% Fresh water + 40% 37 Up to 100% Bugs 2049 (some )

French Polynesia Threats and pressures on biodiversity

175 endangered species (according to IUCN Red List) incl. 47 plants + 31 birds

Invasive alien species (IAS), human activity (infrastructure development, coastal water pollution), economic activitiesEast (tourism, Pacific hub fishing…), climate change

 Miconia invasive tree covers about 2/3 of Tahiti island  direct threat to70 endemic Tahiti plant species

Miconia invasive species

French Polynesia Key biodiversity areas (KBAs) Methodology :

Several data sources: • Important areas for birds (21 ZICO including 7 AZE) • Papers related to protected areas and / or management for conservation • Recent studies on important sites of marine and terrestrial biodiversity Identification of the most relevant criteria for FP territory: • Biological importance of the area, threats, area management facility Local consultations: • Bilateral consultations: local institutions, environment specialist, NGO’s • Workshops • Survey sent to all identified stakeholders • Database created with all the information, available to stakeholders (ecosystem profile) 50 KBAs pre- • Analysis of results and validation by local conservation experts identified • Final KBAs detailed and mapped in the ecosystem profile 25 final KBAs

French Polynesia Key biodiversity areas (KBAs)

25 KBAs KBAs names

Tahiti, Raiatea-Tahaa, 4 Marine areas -, group

Tahiti (7 areas), Raiatea, 12 Terrestrial areas , , , RimataraEast Pacific hub

Moorea, , 7 Global (marine + , , Nuku terrestrial) areas Hiva, , , Mangareava, Rapa Tahiti’s KBAs FP

French Polynesia French Polynesia KBAs map

Legend:

200 km FP KBAs Key biodiversity areas (KBAs) Tahiti’s KBA map :

East Pacific hub

French Polynesia Current conservation activities • Current Regional MPAs (Biosphere Reserve of Fakarava, Scilly and Bellinghausen atolls strict Reserves, Moorea MPA, prohibition on fishing some protected species) • 2 programs for MPAs creation ( and Marquesas ) Examples for specific conservation activities:

Awareness raising Protection of Species Fight against Integrated coastal Research & environmental natural areas conservation invasive species areas management

• PALIMMA: study • Partula’s Eradication RESCUE Many marine, some Different actions by on relationship of programme/PICP programmes against: INTEGRE (2013-17), terrestrial programs: local associations culture and to terrestrial snails create large MPA in • Miconia (invasive 3 areas in French • PACIOCEA (BEST): Marquesas • BEST project on plants), East PacificPolynesia hub development of marine spatial planning framework • PUKATAI: protection of FP • Fire , (EU funded) • CORAIL (BEST): ES creation of 6 birds: developing • Rats educational marine management strategy from coral reefs as areas managed by for 32 IBAs decision making tools local schools • REMMOA: marine • Global Ocean species inventory Legacy: • Biocode: genetic consultations and barcode species inventory evaluation for the • IDEA (Island Digital creation of large Ecosystem Avatar): MPAs modelling human dependency on biodiversity & ES

French Polynesia Current conservation investments

• Public: French Polynesia , , EU, regional organisations (SPREP, SPC) • Private: Polynesian, French and foreign foundations and businesses

French Polynesia often notEast eligible Pacific hub for international conservation funding programs due to its special political status

French Polynesia Conservation priorities & investment niches • 7 thematic priorities identified by stakeholders during 2 workshops

• Investment niches (examples):

 Improved management of current protected areas and regulation (there Workshops and brainstormings, , are some protected areas but poorly managed Tahiti, FP mainly due to a lack of financialEast support) Pacific hub

 Capacity building and training of local civil society, especially on remote islands (very few environmental associations apply for financial aid)

French Polynesia : Context • 4 UK Pitcairn Islands: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno ~50 km2 of land area

Pitcairn Islands and their (EEZ)

• 52 inhabitants

• Economy depends on annual budgetary aid (UK), small East Pacific hub revenue from international trade (handcrafted souvenirs , …)

• Pitcairn Council - internal affairs

Pitcairn islands Biological importance and threats of the region

Islands Biological importance Threats 10 endemic plants Intense deforestation ( Pitcairn Important Bird Area (IBA) and marine biodiversity erosion), Spread of invasive Algal species richness species (goats, rats), Pristine atoll Climate change effects ( Oeno Relatively limited vascular flora impacts), Important Bird Area (IBA) and marine biodiversity Invasive species Pristine atoll Climate change effects, Extremely impoverished vascular flora (2 species) Invasive species Ducie East Pacific hub Important Bird Area (IBA) and marine biodiversity Coral reefs cover 56% UNESCO World Heritage Site Climate change effects, Hender Important Bird Area (IBA), and marine biodiversity Invasive species son Coral reefs virtually intact Algal species richness

Pitcairn islands Key biodiversity areas (KBAs)

 Remote stakeholders consultations through many email exchanges and experts consultations

 All 4 Pitcairn Islands will be considered as Pitcairn KBAs

East Pacific hub

BEST Meeting with A. Shonfield just back in Tahiti from a few Map of Pitcairn Islands months spent in Pitcairn islands studying birds

Pitcairn islands Current conservation activities & investments Conservation activities:

• No regular budgets for the environment but eligible for project funds from the UK for specific initiatives

• Henderson Island is a World Heritage site since 1998 with a management plan (2004-2009) for raised coral

• Intention to create a fully protected marine reserve within the Pitcairn Islands’ EEZ was announced Eastby the Pacific UK Government hub in March 2015

Donors and ongoing programmes and projects: EU, Secretariat of the (SPC), Project INTEGRE, Darwin Initiative, …

Pitcairn islands Conservation priorities & investment niches

 Improve marine research programs

 Communication with local population and tourists about the environmental importance (now very little information to visitors)

 Fight against invasiveEast species Pacific hub

 Fight against marine litter

Investment niches under consultation

Pitcairn islands French Polynesia & Pitcairn

Contact us in the East Pacific hub Flora Aurélie Jean Eleonora ARTZNER BOCQUET KAPE AVAGLIANO BEST III [East BEST III BEST III [East BEST III Pacific Hub] Regional Pacific Hub] [East Pacific Ecosystem Coordinator Hub] Expert Coordinator profile officer [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

French committee of IUCN www.uicn.fr