GEOSCIENCE DIVISION
Map Cook Islands Federated Sates of Micronesia Fiji Kiribati Nauru Niue Papua New Guinea Republic of Marshall Islands Republic of Palau Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu
Country
Population
Land Area
Climate
Water resource
Water consumption
Country Cook Islands Cook Islands
Population 21,750 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 236.7 km2
Climate
Water resource
Water consumption
Country Federated Sates of Micronesia Federated Sates of Micronesia
Population 107,862 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 702 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 4,928 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Fiji Fiji
Population 918 675 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 18,270 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 2000 - 3000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Kiribati Kiribati
Population 107,817 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 811 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: South of the equator: 1,300 mm Tarawa: 2,000 mm Northernmost islands: over 3,200mm Eastern Line Islands: less than 1,000 mm
Water consumption
Country Nauru Nauru
Population 11,528 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 21 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 2,090 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Niue Niue
Population 1,625m(GoN statistics 2006)
Land Area 260 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 2,180 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea
Population 5,795,887 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 462,840 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall:1000-80000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Republic of Marshall Islands Republic of Marshall Islands
Population 20,842
Land Area 458 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 3,700 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Republic of Palau Republic of Palau
Population 61,815(July 2007 est.)
Land Area 11,854.3 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: Southern attols: 4,000mm Northern attols:2,000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Samoa Samoa
Population 214,265
Land Area 2,944 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 3,000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Solomon Islands Solomon Islands
Population 566,842
Land Area 28,450 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall:1500-5000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Tonga Tonga
Population 116,921
Land Area 748 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: Varies from north and south of tonga with an estimated average of 2500 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Tuvalu Tuvalu
Population 11.992 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 26 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 3000mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Vanuatu Vanuatu
Population 211,971 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 12,200 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 2000 - 4000 mm per annum
Water consumption
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IWRM News


"Call for Expressions of Interest to Develop a National Water Resources Allocation Policy for the Government of Samoa"

                                                                                   



The Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) currently executes the European Union (EU) funded Pacific Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) National Planning Programme. The Programme is designed to support 14 Pacific Island Countries to strengthen their governance structures and frameworks to mainstream IWRM and Water Use Efficiency (WUE) into national planning processes. 
 
Through the Pacific IWRM National Planning Programme, SOPAC has been requested by the Government of Samoa to secure technical support to assist in the preparation of a National Water Resources Allocation Policy (NWRAP) and associated Implementation Plan. This support will compliment other ongoing efforts and assistance to Samoa through the Water Sector Support Programme (WaSSP), financed by the European Commission under the 9th EDF.
 
The objective of this contract is to assist the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and in particular its Water Resources Division (WRD) under the auspices of Working Group 1, to draft a comprehensive National Water Resources Allocation Policy (NWRAP) including a Draft Implementation Plan for the policy.  The Consultant will be required to work within the legal and policy context already defined, and will in effect be assisting the Ministry to implement the provisions of the Act relevant to water allocation.  In undertaking this work, the Consultant will contribute to the building of longer term capacity within the WRD.  
 
The call for the EOIs can be accessed by clicking here. (Attach TOR). 
 
Pacific Wide Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Launched in Nadi, Fiji
Pacific Wide Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Launched in Nadi, Fiji
Pacific Wide Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Launched in Nadi, Fiji
Pacific Wide Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Launched in Nadi, Fiji

                                               
Nadi, Monday 14 September, 2009: Pacific Island countries have uniquely fragile water resources due to their small size, lack of natural storage, competing land use and vulnerability to natural hazards. In many Pacific countries, even small variations in water supply can have a significant impact on health, quality of life and economic development.
In opening the first meeting of a regional initiative that seeks to sustainably manage the Pacific’s water and wastewater, Fiji’s Minister for Primary Industries, Mr Joketani Cokanasiga, made the point that climate change will put further pressure on the Pacific’s water resources.

“Water remains a valuable natural resource and is linked to the socio-economic development and environment protection of any nation,” Mr Cokanasiga said. “With enormous variability in the climate, coupled with rapidly increasing demand on water, its depletion is a serious concern to all people. It therefore should be everyone’s business to address this issue with concerted efforts.”

“This is why I am supportive of the Integrated Water Resources Management approach because it reflects the most intelligent and acceptable decision making process,” Mr Cokanasiga said. “It takes into account the range of views of stakeholders, the needs of the environment and considers these along with available information to pave the way for the best possible solution.”

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is funding a regional and nationally based project to build the capacity of Pacific Island countries to manage water resources. 14 demonstration projects will be run in 13 Pacific countries to show the practical benefits of integrated sustainable water resources and wastewater management.

The projects will executed regionally by the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC). SOPAC’s Director, Cristelle Pratt, said water management can’t be viewed or treated in isolation. 
“This project is key if our countries are to live safe and worthwhile lives,” Ms Pratt said. “Water is a cross cutting development priority and should be addressed by whole-of-government approaches.”

The United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Deptuy Resident Representitive, Toily Kubanov, said it is important that Pacific island countries see themselves not only as “victims” of climate change, but also as the leaders of the global effort to recognize and deal with its consequences.
“This project offers exactly such opportunity with practical on-the-ground activities on effective resource management and adaptation to climate change.” Mr Kubanov said. “It has been designed through a collaborative effort between national and regional partners, it looks at some urgent issues and concrete steps to prevent additional stress in environmental systems, and it is well-resourced.”

UNDP and the United Nations Environment Programme are implementing agencies for the project.

The GEF Pacific IWRM Project will address water management issues prioritized by each country. They are:
Watershed management projects, which will take place in the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu.

Wastewater management and sanitation projects, to be run in the Marshall Islands, Nauru and Tuvalu.
Water resources assessment and protection projects in the Cook Islands, Fiji and Niue.
Water efficiency and safety projects, which will be run in the Solomon Islands and Tonga.

ENDS
Contact:
Tiy Chung, SOPAC Media Advisor, mobile (+679) 872 8439, email: tiy@sopac.org