Dugongs Respect and Protect

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Dugongs Respect and Protect f th Lady o e Sea DUGONGS RESPECT AND PROTECT Dugong profile for range states in the Pacific Islands Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme SRMP EP EMBERS DUGONG RANGE STAtes Dugong Range States in the Pacific SPREP Library/IRC Cataloguing-in-Publication Data CONTENTS Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Dugongs - respect and protect : dugong profile for range states in the Pacific Islands. – Apia, Samoa : SPREP, 2011. Introduction DAVDSH I EPPARD, DIRECTOR, SPREP 3 24 p. : col. ill. ; 29 cm. ISBN: 978-982-04-0435-9 (print) Pacific Year of the Dugong: Respect and Protect 4 978-982-04-0436-6 (online) 1. Marine mammals – Oceania. 2. Marine resource conservation – Oceania. 3. Dugongs – Protection – Oceania. I. Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) II. Title. Pacific Islanders Celebrate PYOD 5 599.55 Cover photograph: Mother dugong with calf © Colin Riddell SPREP Celebrates Regional Launch 6 Original dugong drawings, pp 4, 7, 10: from an art contest organized by the Environment Initiation Centre and the Southern Province,New Caledonia, 2010 Design: Joanne Aitken, The Little Design Company Palau Unveils Lady of the Sea Carving 9 Compiled by: Clive Hawigen With assistance from SPREP team: Lui Bell, Marine Species Officer; Nanette Woonton, Media and Public Relations Officer Australia DUGONG PROFILE 10 Contributors: Dugong range states in the Pacific © SPREP 2011 New Caledonia DUGONG PROFILE 12 The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme authorizes the reproduction of this material, whole or in part, provided appropriate acknowledgment is given. Palau DUGONG PROFILE 14 This publication is also available electronically from SPREP’s web site: www.sprep.org SPREP T: +685 21 929 PO BOX 240 F: +685 20 231 Papua New Guinea DUGONG PROFILE 16 Apia E: [email protected] Samoa W: www.sprep.org Bionesian Blog: http//bionesian.blogspot.com/ Solomon Islands DUGONG PROFILE 18 The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programe (SPREP) is the intergovern- mental ageny charged with the protection and sustainable management of the Pacific is- land region’s environment. SPREP’s vision is for a Pacific Environment, sustaining our liveli- Vanuatu DUGONG PROFILE 20 hoods and natural heritage in harmony with our cultures. SPREP works at the forefront of regional efforts to address environmental concerns by providing national-level technical advice programme support, human and institutional capacity building and coordinated Pacific Dugong FATSETC HE 22 regional responses to global issues and international agreements. The SPREP membership comprises 21 Pacific island countries and territories and Australia, New Zealand, France and United States of America. The work of SPREP is guided by a 5-year strategic Plan (2011- Pacific Seagrasses FATSETC HE 24 2015) which was formally adopted at the 21st SPREP Meeting in Papua New Guinea in Sep- tember 2010. For more information regarding SPREP and SREP’s contributions to conser- vation, resource management and sustainable development, please visit: www.sprep.org. Working together to save Dugong FATSETC HE 6 2 2 ITDUCTIONN RO P acific Year of the Dugong David Sheppard, Director, SPREP 2011 was declared the Pacific Year of the Dugong (PYOD). With a regional theme “Respect and Protect,” this campaign aimed at increasing protection of dugongs and their habitats by raising awareness, improving knowledge and fostering partnerships for conservation of dugongs and their habitats. Dugongs have high cultural value and are a valued • The dugong population in Palau is considered source of food, medicine and artifacts and thus are to be the most isolated in the world, and in an important species for coastal people. Dugongs addition to threats facing this population, it can also play a significant ecological role in maintaining be classified as “critically endangered”. coastal habitats. They feed in shallow waters often • Dugongs are also of high cultural value in many within areas that fall under traditional ownership or parts of their range, a valued source of food, community fishing grounds. medicine and artifacts and a flagship species for Even though dugongs occur in the waters of only coastal peoples. 6 of the SPREP members (Australia, New Caledo- • There is not much information available on dugong nia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and populations in the SPREP region and much work Vanuatu), the proposal to declare 2011 as the Pacif- is needed to improve information, awareness and ic Year of the Dugong received strong support and ultimately their management and protection. was endorsed by SPREP members at the 21st SPREP annual meeting held in Papua New Guinea in Sep- There were four main objectives to the PYOD tember 2010. Dugongs are one of the three groups campaign. These were to promote awareness and of marine animals of conservation concern that the conservation of dugongs at site level targeting key SPREP marine species programme focus on. The oth- stewards and the fishing industry; reduce dugong ers are marine turtles and cetacean (whales and dol- mortality from human activities; improve status phins) and each has a 5-year regional action plan. information and promote sustainable management of dugong populations and protection of their The campaign was considered necessary due to habitats at the national level through effective several factors, for example: practical national legislation; and policies and • Dugongs are considered vulnerable to extinction advance partnerships and to secure resources for on the global scale. long term support for dugong conservation in the region. • Dugong is the only surviving member of the family Dugongidae, with its closest relative, Stellar’s sea- This publication will give an overview of the six cow, hunted to extinction within 27 years of its dugong range states in the Pacific region and discovery in the eighteenth century. the measures they have in place to conserve and protect these pristine “ladies of the sea.” It will also • They have disappeared from several areas highlight some of the events that have taken place including waters off Mauritius, Taiwan, western Sri since the Pacific Year of the Dugong was launched. Lanka and the Maldives. This can be a reality in our region as well. David Sheppard, Director, SPREP 3 P acific Year of the Dugong: Respect and Protect Photos © Colin Riddell he campaign to progress the protection of the dugong, led by the Secretariat of Pacific T Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and its partner the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (UNEP/CMS), targeted local coastal and fishing communities and water craft users in the Pacific region. Awareness and outreach activities highlighting coastal and islands waters from East Africa to the need for protection of dugongs in the Pacific Vanuatu in the Pacific. Islands region were the focus of the campaign Specific to the Pacific Islands region, SPREP has a re- which was initiated through national launches gional Dugong Action Plan 2008–2012. The plan fo- and country activites in New Caledonia, Palau, cuses on nine key areas: education and aware- Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and ness, habitat protection, management, Vanuatu. traditional knowledge and resource A number of initiatives to management, capacity building, build local capacity to de- threat reduction, research and liver positive conservation monitoring, collaboration and outcomes for dugongs in the human and financial resourc- Pacific Islands region were es. Also the conservation also promoted throughout and plan developed under the Pacific Year of the Dugong. the United Nations Environ- ment Programme/CMS Mem- A new pilot project by CMS orandum of Understanding on using financial incentives to the Conservation and Manage- address direct hunting and the ment of Dugongs and their Habitats incidental capture of dugongs by throughout their Range (Dugong MoU) changing people’s practices and improving provides the framework for the cooperation for the livelihoods of local communities in Daru Papua the long-term protection of dugongs in their range. New Guinea was among the initiatives promoted All range states in the Pacific Islands region under the Pacific Year of the Dugong 2011. (Australia, Papua New Guinea, Palau, France (New Dugongs, which play a significant ecological role Caledonia), Solomon Islands and Vanuatu) have in the functioning of coastal habitats, live in warm committed to the Dugong CMS MoU as signatories. 4 Photo © Simon Allen P acific Islanders Celebrate 2011R YEA OF DUGONG Photo © GBRMPA ugong protection in the Pacific Islands region was highlighted in 2011 as part of the D Pacific Year of the Dugong. It proved to be a boost to the conservation of the species and its seagrass habitats. The regional campaign was launched in Korror, would be an effective deterrent within the general Palau in March 2011 by President Johnson Toribiong community. and Minister of Natural Resources, Environment & Raising the awareness on the status of dugongs Tourism, Hon. Harry Fritz. and related aspects including existing legislation Palau hosts the smallest, most remote and critically was also raised as an important area for immediate endangered dugong population in the region. attention. In launching the regional campaign Palau also Hon. Victor Yano, Minister of State, closed the commenced their national campaign with the launch by confirming Palau’s Government full reminder by President Toribiong that we are commitment
Recommended publications
  • Nishiwaki, M., T. Kasuya, N. Miyazaki, T. Tobayama and T. Kataoka. Present Distribution of the Dugong
    PRESENT DISTRIBUTION OF THE DUGONG IN THE WORLD MASAHARU NISHIWAKI University of the Ryukyus, Naha, Okinawa TOSHIO KASUYA Ocean Research Institute, University ef Tokyo, Tokyo NOBUYUKI MIYAZAKI National Science Museum, Tokyo TERVO TOBAYAMA Kamogawa Sea World, Kamogawa, Chiba AND TERVO KATAOKA Toba Aquarium, Toba, Mie ABSTRACT This is a result of hearing surveys on dugong distribution in the past 10 years. The species is distributed widely in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, between the longitude of 30°E and l 70°E, and between the latitude of 30°N and 30°S. Although nothing is known on movement and seasonal migration of the species, discontinuity of distribution or of density suggests the presence of at least five populations. They are (1) east Australian and east Papua New Guinean group, (2) west Australia-Molucca-Philippine group, (3) Sumatura­ Malaysia-Andaman group, (4) Indo-Sri Lanka group and (5) east African and Madagascar group. Their range might have been continuous before depletion by human activities, and the first three populations may still be continuous dispersely. The forth and fifth group seems to be on the verge of extinction. The total population of 30,000 individuals is roughly presumed by Nishiwaki. INTRODUCTION Since the Human Environment Conference of the United Nations held at Stockholm in 1972, conservation of marine mammals has been called loudly. Particularly calls were concentrated on cetaceans. Then conservation on sirenians followed as a matter of concern. Studies on the dugong and the species of mana­ tees have progressed at the same time (Bertram, 1976). The first step needed for conservation is to clarify the habitat, range of dis- Sci.
    [Show full text]
  • Saltwater Crocodiles and Dugongs Bonus Lesson
    Great Barrier Reef - Saltwater Crocodiles and Dugongs Bonus Lesson Calendar Time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN-rnqdjDI0 Music - Please continue to practice the program songs. I am Special https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39o3yfqzf8o Jesus is Alive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmWGY17kLnY&t=1s You Are My Sunshine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1zNfHrKZHE Clap Your Hands and Wind the Bobbin Up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMDpOKUY5yk Fun dance video KIDZ BOP Kids - Dance Monkey (Dance Along) Word Work- Trace, Cut, Match and Paste -at worksheet. Learning Without Tears- Use straights and curves you find around the house to write out your last name. Remember to start with a capital letter and follow with lower case letters. Building- Use your blocks to make a maze. Pretend that you have a dugong that is searching for seagrass. Have him follow the maze you built to make it to the grass at the end. This can be really fun to build if you have legos and a project board. Make the path just wide enough for a marble to roll through. Place the marble in your maze and tilt to board to help it roll through the maze. Science- You will need three clear cups, water, salt, food coloring (any color) and an ice cube. • Help your kids measure out one cup of water for each of the three cups. • Leave one alone and add two tablespoons of salt in the other two. Make sure to let your kids measure and pour. Stir the salt into the water to help it dissolve.
    [Show full text]
  • Report of the United Nations Visiting Mission to Palau, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, 1992
    T/1964 ' ' ~ . REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS VISITING MISSION TO PALAU, TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS, 1992 TRUSTEESHIP COUNCIL OFFICIAL RECORDS: FIFIY-NINTH SESSION (May-June 1992) SUPPLEMENT No. 1 ~ UNITED NATIONS T/1964 REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS VISITING MISSION TO PALAU, TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS, 1992 TRUSTEESHIP COUNCIL OffiCIAL RECORDS: FlFTY-NINTH SESSION (May-June 1992) SUPPLEMENT No. 1 UNITED NATIONS New '\brk, 1992 NOTE Symbols of United Nations documents are comp(lscd of capital letters combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document. T/1964 [Original: English] CONTENTS Chapter Paragraphs Letter of transmittal ............................................ iv I . GENERAL ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1 - 7 1 I I • INTRODUCTION •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 8 - 32 3 III. DETAILED OBSERVATIONS ON THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT OF PALAU ••••••••• 33 - 91 7 IV. SPECIAL ISSUES ••••••••••••••.•••.••••••••.•••••••••• 92 - 100 23 V. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ON THE UNITED NATIONS •• 101 - 104 26 VI. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ••••••••••••••••••••• 105 - 131 27 VII. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 132 - 136 33 Annexes I. ITINERARY OF THE VISITING MISSION •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 36 II • STATEMENT BY H. E. MR. THOMAS L. RI CHARDS ON, CHAIRMAN OF THE VISITING MISSION, ON 26 MARCH 1992 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 39 III. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED BY THE VISITING MISSION •••••••••• 41 Map. PALAU, TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS •••••••••••••••••••• 42 -Hi- LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 20 May 1992 Sir, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith, in accordance with Trusteeship Council resolution 2194 (S-XXI) of 19 December 1991 and rule 98 of the rules of procedure of the Council, the report of the United Nations Visiting Mission to Palau, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, 1992.
    [Show full text]
  • HUBBARD PREXY, FREEMAN VEEP 113 GARY ENGELL Ifuldeard Had Nearly a 450 Vote Lead Over Hank Ramp Male Represent Ate% E -At Large
    California State Library 3acroonto 9, California HUBBARD PREXY, FREEMAN VEEP 113 GARY ENGELL Ifuldeard had nearly a 450 vote lead over Hank Ramp Male Represent ate% e -at Large. Behr, 1339. W. Hs. after the first day of balloting. Ramp ended in second 130.2 Hubbard, outs1.anding track two-miler, cap- Don place. with 860 votes. Feinale K.presentatir-at-Large: on Tillow, l’ - night as he won the student tur cl another laurel Fr:day !:fan Croonquist. chief justice of the. Student Court. land us State College.. body piesidency of Sari ?het the three precincts set up on campus definitely 'Male mor Justice: Ariesela. Bucaria. ur Ray Freeman gain-sel tl..0 vice president's job, defeat- atli-ibuted to the increase in votes cast. They we -re- lo- 'Female sailior Justice: lie.hr. fi- ing Vern Perry on secoild place votes. catoei in the Outer Quad. near the Wanleffli Gym and Senior Representathr: NlePherson. 500. Ritterman no In closest race cf the. election. Al Behr, sopho- :it the corner of 7th and San Antonio streets. 265 ?e. Moil. president. won 6'; r Bob Weiss, sophomorr repre- -I do believe that with the high school music stu- Junior Representatise: Ai ithzton, 335, Ferris, 19.: us sentative, for the positicr of male retire 5..ntative-at-large dent, on campus and with some classes being dismissed. l'ee'.ci t I Is eh by 37 votes. Behr had 1339 and Weiss had 1302. At no that it hurt our vote total, but Pin completels satisfied sophomore Representative: Ryan. 381.
    [Show full text]
  • Fossil Middle Triassic “Sea Cows” – Placodont Reptiles As Macroalgae Feeders Along the North-Western Tethys Coastline with Pangaea and in the Germanic Basin
    Vol.3, No.1, 9-27 (2011) Natural Science http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ns.2011.31002 Fossil middle triassic “sea cows” – placodont reptiles as macroalgae feeders along the north-western Tethys coastline with Pangaea and in the Germanic basin Cajus G. Diedrich Paleologic, Nansenstr, Germany; [email protected] Received 19 October 2010; revised 22 November 2010; accepted 27 November 2010. ABSTRACT this plant-feeding adaptation and may even ex- plain the origin or at least close relationship of The descriptions of fossil Triassic marine pla- the earliest Upper Triassic turtles as toothless codonts as durophagous reptiles are revised algae and jellyfish feeders, in terms of the through comparisons with the sirenia and basal long-term convergent development with the si- proboscidean mammal and palaeoenvironment rens. analyses. The jaws of placodonts are conver- gent with those of Halitherium/Dugong or Mo- Keywords: Placodont Reptiles; Triassic; eritherium in their general function. Whereas Convergent Evolutionary Ecological Adaptation; Halitherium possessed a horny oral pad and Sirenia; Macroalgae Feeders; NW Tethys Shelf; counterpart and a special rasp-like tongue to Palaeoecology grind seagrass, as does the modern Dugong, placodonts had large teeth that covered their 1. INTRODUCTION jaws to form a similar grinding pad. The sirenia also lost their anterior teeth during many Mil- The extinct reptile group of the placodonts found in lions of years and built a horny pad instead and Germany and other European sites (Figure 1), a group specialized tongue to fed mainly on seagrass, of diverse marine diving reptiles, had large teeth cover- whereas placodonts had only macroalgae availa- ing the lower and complete upper jaws (Figsure 2-5) ble.
    [Show full text]
  • National Integrated Water Resource Management Diagnostic Report
    Sustainable Integrated Water Resources and Wastewater Management in Pacific Island Countries National Integrated Water Resource Management Diagnostic Report PALAU SOPAC Miscellaneous Report 642 November 2007 SOPAC IWRM National Diagnostic Report – Palau November 2007 Acronyms BFA Bureau of Foreign Affairs BITTA Bureau of Trade and Technical Assistance BLS Bureau of Lands and Survey BNM Belau National Museum BOA Bureau of Agriculture BPW Bureau of Public Works CIP Division of Design and Engineering (Formerly Capital Improvement Projects) DEH Division of Environmental Health EA Environmental Assessment EIS Environmental Impact Statement EQPB Environmental Quality Protection Board GEF Global Environment Facility IWRM Integrated Water Resource Management gpd Gallons per day JICA Japan International Cooperative Agency MAREPAC Marine Resources Pacific Consortium - Palau MCCA Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs MOA Ministry of Administration MOE Ministry of Education MOH Ministry of Health MOS Ministry of State MRD Ministry of Resources and Development NEMO National Emergency Management Office NEPC National Environmental Protection Council NGOs Non Governmental Organisations NOAA National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Services NSC National Steering Committee NWS National Weather Service OEK Olbiil Era Kelulau (National Congress) OERC Office of Environmental Response and Coordination PAN Protected Areas Network PALARIS Palau Automated Lands and Resources Information Systems PICRC Palau
    [Show full text]
  • WWII Pacific PP.Pdf
    Short Documentaries on War in the Pacific • The Pacific: Historical Background Part 1 (HBO) • The Pacific: Anatomy of a War (HBO) Japanese Aggression Builds • In the early 1900s Japan had a severe lack of natural resources. • Their plan was to invade and conquer neighboring lands that had the natural resources that they wanted. • Japanese expansion in East Asia began in 1931 with the invasion of Manchuria and continued in 1937 with a brutal attack on China. • On September 27, 1940, Japan signed a pact with Germany and Italy, thus entering the military alliance known as the “Axis Powers.” • The United States wanted to curb Japan Vs. the Japan’s aggressive actions. • They also wanted to force a United States withdrawal of Japanese forces from Manchuria and China. • So, the United States imposed economic sanctions on Japan. • Japan now faced severe shortages of oil, along with their shortage of other natural resources. • The Japanese were also driven by the ambition to displace the United States as the dominant Pacific power. • To solve these issues, Japan decided to attack the United States and British forces in Asia and seize the resources of Southeast Asia. Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor • However, because America is bigger and more powerful than Japan, a surprise assault is the only realistic way to defeat the U.S. • Japanese planes attacked Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands on December 7, 1941. • When the first Japanese bombs struck Pearl Harbor shortly before eight in the morning, the American forces were utterly unprepared. • Anchored ships, such as the Nevada, the Utah, and the Arizona, provided easy targets for bombs and torpedoes.
    [Show full text]
  • Morphological and Systematic Re-Assessment of the Late Oligocene “Halitherium” Bellunense Reveals a New Crown Group Genus of Sirenia
    Morphological and systematic re-assessment of the late Oligocene “Halitherium” bellunense reveals a new crown group genus of Sirenia MANJA VOSS, SILVIA SORBI, and DARYL P. DOMNING Voss, M., Sorbi, S., and Domning, D.P. 2017. Morphological and systematic re-assessment of the late Oligocene “Hali- therium” bellunense reveals a new crown group genus of Sirenia. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 62 (1): 163–172. “Halitherium” bellunense is exclusively known from a single individual from upper Oligocene glauconitic sandstone near Belluno, northern Italy. According to a review of its morphological basis, which consists of associated cranial elements, some vertebrae and ribs, this specimen is identified as a juvenile, because the first upper incisor (I1) and sup- posedly second upper molar (M2) are not fully erupted. However its juvenile status allowed only cautious conclusions on its taxonomy and systematic affinity. The presence of a nasal process of the premaxilla with a broadened and bulbous posterior end, and a lens-shaped I1, corroborate an evolutionarily-derived status of this species that places it well within the sirenian crown group Dugonginae. Considering these new data and in order to avoid continued misuse of the inap- propriate generic name of Halitherium, a new generic name, Italosiren gen. nov., and emended species diagnosis are supplied for this taxon. Key words: Mammalia, Tethytheria, Sirenia, Dugonginae, evolution, Oligocene, Italy. Manja Voss [[email protected]], Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany. Silvia Sorbi [[email protected]], Museo di Storia Naturale, Università di Pisa, Via Roma 79, 56011 Calci, Pisa, Italy.
    [Show full text]
  • Pacific Islands
    THE PACIFIC ISLANDS POLITICS, ECONOMICS, AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS TE'O I.J. FAIRBAIRN CHARLES E. MORRISON RICHARD W. BAKER SHEREE A. GROVES THE PACIFIC ISLANDS THE EAST-WEST CENTER was established in Hawaii in 1960 by the United States Congress "to promote better relations and understand­ ing between the United States and the nations of Asia and the Pacific through cooperative study, training, and research:' Some 2,000 research fellows, graduate students, and professionals in business and government each year work with the Center's interna­ tional staff on major Asia-Pacific issues relating to population, economic and trade policies, resources and the environment, culture and com­ munication, and international relations. Since 1960, more than 27,000 men and women from the region have participated in the Center's cooperative programs. Officially known as the Center for Cultural and Technical Inter­ change Between East and West, Inc., the Center is a public, non-profit institution with an international board of governors. Principal funding comes from the United States Congress. Support also comes from more than twenty Asian and Pacific governments, as well as private agen­ cies and corporations. THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS PROGRAM (JRP) became an autonomous program within the East-West Center in 1989. The Program advances the Center's overall objectives through work on foreign poli­ cy and related political, economic, and security issues. Program pri­ orities are to 1) promote research and dialogue directed toward creating a stable, peaceful Asia/Pacific community; 2) identify issues in U.S. re­ lations with the Asia/Pacific region and recommend means of strength­ ening these relations; 3) improve understanding of individual societies of the region through cooperative research; and 4) promote contact and dialogue among the region's future leaders.
    [Show full text]
  • Who Watches the Watchmen? the Conflict Between National Security and Freedom of the Press
    WHO WATCHES THE WATCHMEN WATCHES WHO WHO WATCHES THE WATCHMEN WATCHES WHO I see powerful echoes of what I personally experienced as Director of NSA and CIA. I only wish I had access to this fully developed intellectual framework and the courses of action it suggests while still in government. —General Michael V. Hayden (retired) Former Director of the CIA Director of the NSA e problem of secrecy is double edged and places key institutions and values of our democracy into collision. On the one hand, our country operates under a broad consensus that secrecy is antithetical to democratic rule and can encourage a variety of political deformations. But the obvious pitfalls are not the end of the story. A long list of abuses notwithstanding, secrecy, like openness, remains an essential prerequisite of self-governance. Ross’s study is a welcome and timely addition to the small body of literature examining this important subject. —Gabriel Schoenfeld Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute Author of Necessary Secrets: National Security, the Media, and the Rule of Law (W.W. Norton, May 2010). ? ? The topic of unauthorized disclosures continues to receive significant attention at the highest levels of government. In his book, Mr. Ross does an excellent job identifying the categories of harm to the intelligence community associated NI PRESS ROSS GARY with these disclosures. A detailed framework for addressing the issue is also proposed. This book is a must read for those concerned about the implications of unauthorized disclosures to U.S. national security. —William A. Parquette Foreign Denial and Deception Committee National Intelligence Council Gary Ross has pulled together in this splendid book all the raw material needed to spark a fresh discussion between the government and the media on how to function under our unique system of government in this ever-evolving information-rich environment.
    [Show full text]
  • Dugongs and Their Habitats (Dugong Mou)
    MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON THE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF DUGONGS AND THEIR HABITATS (DUGONG MOU) Dugong (Dugong dugon) © Kristina Vackova SUMMARY The Dugong MOU aims to promote internationally coordinated actions to ensure • Effective since 31 October 2007 the long-term survival of dugongs and seagrass habitats throughout their extensive range. The Dugong MOU Secretariat is based in CMS Office - Abu Dhabi. The • Covers 46 Range States across Africa, Asia and Oceania office is hosted by Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, on behalf of the Government • Activities guided by a Conservation and of the United Arab Emirates. Management Plan (CMP) Signatory States to the MOU implement activities which are guided by a Conservation • CMP implementation is supported through the and Management Plan (CMP) annexed to the MOU. Achieving the objectives of the Dugong, Seagrass and Coastal Communities CMP is underpinned by the Dugong, Seagrass and Coastal Communities Initiative. Initiative The Dugong Technical Group provides expert advice to Signatories to promote the Mission implementation of the CMP. To ensure a favourable conservation status for dugongs and their seagrass habitats throughout Signatories adapt the implementation of the CMP to the needs of the dugong their range populations and seagrass habitats in their coastal waters, and have the opportunity to shape the policy direction of the MOU as well. Conservation and Management Plan Objectives • Reduce direct and indirect causes of dugong Conservation and Management of Dugongs mortality
    [Show full text]
  • The Ecology and Conservation of the Dugong (Dugong Dugon)
    ANNEX 7 The Ecology and Conservation of the Dugong (Dugong dugon) Ecology and Conservation of the Dugong 1.0 Introduction The dugong (Dugong dugon), is a seagrass-dependant marine mammal of tropical and subtropical coastal waters, with high genetic biodiversity value. It is the sole member of the genus Dugong, which is the only extant member of the Family Dugongidae (UNEP, 2002; Bryden et al. 1998). The Dugongidae shares the Order Sirenia with just three species of manatee. Hence, the dugong’s genes are more unique than those of most species, which, more typically, have genera and Family-level relatives. The dugong is also one of a suite of large, long-lived marine vertebrates, including turtles and inshore cetaceans, which are under pressure from human activities (Preen, 1998). Dugong conservation therefore represents the opportunity and responsibility, to contribute significantly to the conservation of ocean biodiversity. Currently dugongs are classified as vulnerable to extinction under the 1996 World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. This classification describes taxon that face a high-risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future. In the case of the dugong, it is deemed A1: Population reduction in the form of the following: an observed, estimated, inferred or suspected reduction of at least 20% over the last 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer [Bryden et al. 1998, IUCN]. The long-term survival of the dugong will depend on adequate conservation and management throughout its extensive range. For further information on regional arrangements see “The Conservation of the Dugong Across its Range – A Framework Paper”.
    [Show full text]