Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 2. Human Activities
Draft 1 March 2007
In May and June 1973, an ecological survey was conducted on Abariringa (Canton), Birnie,
Enderbury, Manra (Sydney), Orona (Hull), and Rawaki (Phoenix) (Fosberg et al 1973). The
purpose of this survey was to report on the ecological impacts of SAMTEC operations, assess
the status of terrestrial ecology of islands visited, and to make recommendations to minimise
adverse ecological effects of SAMTEC operations.
The history of postal cancellation stamps used in the Phoenix Islands was reviewed (Kyle
1974). There were examples of stamp cancellation from Enderbury. The other Phoenix
Islands never had postal services.
In July 1979, the U.S. Air Force SAMTEC facility on Enderbury was closed down (Garnett
1983a). It was operational from 1970 to 1979 (Garnett 1983b).
In 1979, the Treaty of Friendship signed between the United States and the Government of
Kiribati gave the U.S. Government the right to construct facilities, after consultations with the
Government of Kiribati on Abariringa (Canton), Enderbury, and Orona (Hull) (Trease 1993).
MANRA (SYDNEY)
In 1947, there were 294 people living on Manra (Sydney) (Freeman 1951; Maude 1953a;
Robson 1956; 294 or 300 according to Garnett 1983a). Of these 123 were males and 171
were females (Pusinelli 1948). Manra (Sydney) had its own villages, schools, hospital,
churches, and co-operative society (Garnett 1983a).
By 1948, there were 299 persons on Manra (Sydney) (Bryan 1951).
In 1949, the colonists were moved from Manra (Sydney) to Nikumaroro (Gardner) (Clune
1951).
Manra (Sydney) was the only island that did not have a cooperative since all inhabitants had
been removed (Cooper 1963). The coconut plantation was operated by the Phoenix Islands
Co-operative Society. The copra collection ship visited the Phoenix Islands once every four
months.
There was a mysterious mortality amongst infants on Manra (Sydney) (Clune 1951 and
Halstead 1950). Research indicated that fish from one side of the island were poisonous, but
did not adversely affect adults. However, it was fatal to infants.
In the early 1950s, there was a series of droughts on Manra (Sydney) that resulted in the
elders of Manra (Sydney) to request that the colony be transferred elsewhere (Knudson 1965
and 1977). However, not all of the settlers of Manra (Sydney) wished to move (Knudson
1965). These were primarily Catholic converts. According to Luke (1962), the reason for the
move was because the soil on Manra (Sydney) was too salty for coconut trees, the lagoon was
too salty for fish, and many of the fish around Manra (Sydney) were poisonous.
A number of families on Manra (Sydney) had to be moved to Nikumaroro (Robson 1956).
The importance of Portulaca in the diets of settlers of the Phoenix Islands was reported by
Turbott (1954). It was an important source of vitamin C and a major part of the diet.
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