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KIRIBATI State of the Environment Report 2000-2002 Government of the Republic of Kiribati 2004 PREPARED BY THE ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION DIVISION Ministry of Environment Lands & Agricultural Development Nei Akoako MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMEN P.O. BOX 234 BIKENIBEU, TARAWA KIRIBATI PHONES (686) 28000/28593/28507 Ngkoa, FNgkaiAX: (686 ao) 283 n34/ Taaainako28425 EMAIL: [email protected] GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI Acknowledgements The report has been collectively developed by staff of the Environment and Conservation Division. Mrs Tererei Abete-Reema was the lead author with Mr Kautoa Tonganibeia contributing to Chapters 11 and 14. Mrs Nenenteiti Teariki-Ruatu contributed to chapters 7 to 9. Mr. Farran Redfern (Chapter 5) and Ms. Reenate Tanua Willie (Chapters 4 and 6) also contributed. Publication of the report has been made possible through the kind financial assistance of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme. The front coverpage design was done by Mr. Kautoa Tonganibeia. Editing has been completed by Mr Matt McIntyre, Sustainable Development Adviser and Manager, Sustainable Economic Development Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). __________________________________________________________________________________ i Kiribati State of the Environment Report, 2000-2002 Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................. I TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................. II CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................... 1 1.1 GENERAL ........................................................................................................ 1 1.2 STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT ............................................................................ 2 CHAPTER 2. GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATION IN KIRIBATI.......................................... 4 2.1 POLICY STATEMENTS ............................................................................................. 4 2.1.1 Government ............................................................................................. 4 2.1.2 Environment and Conservation Division ............................................................ 4 2.2 LEGISLATION ..................................................................................................... 5 2.3 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND TREATIES: ................................................................... 6 2.4 PLANNING DOCUMENTS ........................................................................................... 7 2.4.1 National Development Strategies (NDS) ............................................................ 7 2.4.2 Medium Term Strategy (MTS)......................................................................... 7 2.4.3 National Environmental Management Strategies.................................................. 8 2.5 MAPS ............................................................................................................ 8 2.6 AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS: .......................................................................................... 9 2.7 SATELLITE IMAGERY/GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM:.....................................................10 CHAPTER 3. CLIMATE ............................................................................................ 11 3.1 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................11 3.1.1 General..................................................................................................11 3.1.2 Availability of Data ...................................................................................11 3.2 PRESENT STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT ......................................................................11 3.2.1 Temperature ...........................................................................................11 3.2.2 Atmospheric pressure.................................................................................12 3.2.3 Humidity ................................................................................................12 3.2.4 Solar radiation .........................................................................................12 3.2.5 Wind .....................................................................................................12 3.2.6 Cloudiness...............................................................................................12 3.2.7 Rainfall ..................................................................................................13 3.2.8 Droughts.................................................................................................14 3.2.9 Natural hazards ........................................................................................14 3.2.10 Evaporation ...........................................................................................14 3.2.11 Sunshine ...............................................................................................15 3.3 DATA GAP...................................................................................................16 CHAPTER 4 GEOLOGY ............................................................................................ 17 4.1 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................17 4.1.1 General..................................................................................................17 4.1.2 Availability of Data ...................................................................................17 4.2 PRESENT STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT ..........................................................................18 4.2.1 Geomorphology ........................................................................................18 4.2.2 Sediments & soils ......................................................................................19 4.2.3 Stratigraphy ............................................................................................21 4.2.4 Mineralogy ..............................................................................................22 4.3 PRESSURE ON THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT..............................................................23 4.3.1 Disturbance of reef flat ecology for reef build-up ..............................................23 4.3.2 Mining of sand and gravel ............................................................................24 4.3.3 Blasting of reef for boat channels ..................................................................24 4.3.4 Clearance of natural vegetation ....................................................................24 4.4 RESPONSES TO PRESSURE ON THE ENVIRONMENT.................................................................25 4.4.1 Foreshore Management Committee ................................................................25 4.4.2 Offshore Extraction of Sand and Gravel ...........................................................25 4.5 DATA GAPS..................................................................................................25 __________________________________________________________________________________ ii Kiribati State of the Environment Report, 2000-2002 5. LAND ............................................................................................................. 26 5.1 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................26 5.1.1 General..................................................................................................26 5.1.2 Availability of Data ...................................................................................26 5.2 PRESENT STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT ..........................................................................26 5.2.1 Classification .......................................................................................26 5.2.2 Development projects.............................................................................28 5.2.3 Extractive Industry Operations ..................................................................30 5.2.4 Land Use Potential.................................................................................30 5.2.5 Potentially Contaminated Land .................................................................31 5.2.6 Public Complaint Register........................................................................32 5.2.7. Scenic Sites and Landscapes: .......................................................................32 5.3 PRESSURE ON THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT .................................................................32 5.3.1 Urbanization on South Tarawa ..................................................................32 5.3.2 Development applications........................................................................33 5.4 RESPONSES TO ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURE ......................................................................33 5.4. 1 Mandating Environmental Impact Assessments ...............................................33 5.4.2 Contaminated Land Assessment .................................................................33 5.4.3 Resettlement schemes ............................................................................33 5.5.DATA GAPS .....................................................................................................33