Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter I. Introduction and Purpose
Draft 1 March 2007
Garnett (1983b) developed criteria for determining the conservation status of key features and
species. Summary tables for each major plant and animal species and physio-geographic
feature (freshwater lake, brackishwater lagoon, mudflats, small islets, etc.) were constructed.
Each of the Phoenix and Line Islands with that key feature/species was then listed and the
recommended status was then assigned to each island. Much of Garnett (1983b) was devoted
to presentation of the results of this rating system, first by key feature, then by island.
Garnett (1983c) made several recommendations regarding wildlife conservation in the Line
and Phoenix Islands. These included the following:
1) Protection of animals;
2) Protection of plants;
3) Control of introduced plants and animals;
4) Control of fires;
5) Control of vehicles;
6) Control of soils; and
7) Control of dumping and littering.
Under the 1994 Kiribati National Environmental Management Strategy (SPREP 1994), a
proposal was put forward for the review and improvement of conservation arrangements for
the Phoenix and Line Islands.
Bleakley (1995) reported that the following areas had been identified as being a national
priority for the establishment and management of MPAs: Birnie, McKean, Enderbury, and
Rawaki (Phoenix).
In 1995, the Government of Kiribati (1995) recommended that Spam Island on Abariringa
(Tunaari) be declared a wildlife sanctuary.
Kepler (2000) noted that the Phoenix Islands were widely scattered and mostly uninhabited.
This made monitoring of activities which may have detrimental effects such as illegal fishing
or disturbance from careless yachters extremely difficult.
Stone et al (2001) provided various recommendations for development of a management plan
for marine conservation in the Phoenix Islands. They noted that, “full development of an
integrated management plan may take 5 to 10 years…” Five key issues were identified: (1)
multiple-use management, (2) fully protected marine-terrestrial sanctuaries, (3) the
preservation of future options, (4) high seas issues, and (5) financing and economic
implications.
Anon. (2006) reported that CORAL [a U.S. organization] assisted in the creation of an action
plan for the long term protection of Kiribati’s reefs, including the Phoenix Islands. Attempts
by the PIPA office to obtain a copy of this action plan were not successful.
2. VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The guiding principles for the development of this management plan include the following:
1) Learn from history and scientific research, so that critical issues are revealed
and can be accounted for during planning.
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